Windows 11 · Windows
Add the This PC Icon to the Windows 11 Desktop
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Open Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings, select Computer, and apply the change. This uses Windows' built-in system icon rather than a shortcut.
Open Windows personalization
Open Settings > Personalization > Themes on the Windows account whose desktop should show the system icon.
Open Themes settings
Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes.
Open Desktop icon settings
Under Related settings, select Desktop icon settings.
Enable This PC
Select Computer, then choose Apply and OK. The This PC system icon appears on the desktop.
Show hidden desktop icons
If nothing appears, right-click the desktop > View and make sure Show desktop icons is selected.
Verify the This PC system icon
Open This PC from the desktop and confirm it shows the computer's drives. Sign out once and verify the icon remains selected.
Hide it again if needed
Return to Desktop icon settings and clear Computer to remove the icon without deleting files or drives.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If “Add the This PC Icon to the Windows 11 Desktop” remains unresolved, identify the first numbered step that produces a different result and preserve that screen, log, file, or message. Recheck the specific account, permission, storage, connection, driver, or hardware prerequisite above, then follow only the matching Microsoft Support recovery path; do not combine unrelated resets, bypasses, unofficial installers, or third-party repair tools.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform update.