Vista Tutorial - Desktop Icon size

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Vista

Information

This will show you how to increase or decrease the size of all the icons on the Desktop in Vista. The icons size is set to Medium Icons by default.

NOTE

To see the icons for internet URL shortcuts on the Desktop instead of the default e icon, you must have the View set to Classic Icons. For more on this, see: How to Add a Fully Functional IE7 Shortcut Icon to the Desktop in Vista

RELATED LINKS:

METHOD ONE:
Change Size with the Context Menu

1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop.

2. Click on View. (See screenshot below)

3. Select the size you want. (Classic, Medium, or Large Icons)

METHOD TWO:
Change Size with the Mouse Scroll Wheel

NOTE

This will work on all of the icons located anywhere in Vista.

1. Highlight the Icon.

2. Press and hold down the CTRL key (Control).
NOTE: You may need to also press and hold the right mouse button with some older mouse models.

3. Roll your mouse scroll wheel up or down to adjust the icon size
NOTE: The trick is not moving the mouse while rolling the scroll wheel. (up=larger, down=smaller)

4. Release the CTRL key when done.

That's it,
Shawn

**Terrorist** · 05-19-2008

I liked Method Two, More Controllable

**SIW2** · 09-07-2008

Hi Shawn,

I only need to hold down ctrl and scroll the mouse button - don't need to right click as well.

Think you only need to use right click as well if it doesn't work with just the ctrl key and scroll wheel.

I think this is true of most modern mice. ( The ones with clickable scroll wheels - in fact right clicking might stop you being able to do it if you have one of these). Seems it's the older ones where you also need to right click.

SIW2

**Brink** · 09-07-2008

Thank your SIW2. The tutorial has been updated for this.

Shawn

**elito** · 12-06-2008

How do you make this permanent ? When I boot, this setting is lost and I have to reset it again ?

**Brink** · 12-06-2008

Hello Elito, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It should stay set the way you set it by default unless you change it.

I'm not sure what may be causing this (bad video drivers?), but you can use the free program Iconoid to help maintain your desktop icon positions. You might also run a sfc/ scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files that may be responsible.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Grams21 · 12-09-2008

I am having trouble maintaining my icon size. When I try to get them to classic size, my icons immediately swell back to the large size. Neither method below makes my icons stay small.

What is happening?

Thanks,
Grams21

**Brink** · 12-09-2008

Hello Grams21, and welcome to Vista Forums.

At what point do they revert back to the large size? (ex: after playing a game, etc....)

Grams21 · 12-09-2008

It has happened most often after I have used the Skype video conferencing program. This never happened until I began to use Skype.

Additionally I am using my laptop with an external monitor attached.

Now everything is ok, but it has happened too many times. Everything is very very large!! It corrects by itself after I continuously click on the classic size. Sometimes it takes several hours to get my icons and all other programs back to a normal view.

**Brink** · 12-09-2008

With it being very large, it sounds like the DPI setting or screen resolution may be being lowered after using those items.

You might see if the free program Iconoid can help maintain your settings easier until you can get the issues with Skype worked out.

05-19-2008
Terrorist Tech. Terror Join Date: May 2008 Vista Home Premium 32bit 5 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size I liked Method Two, More Controllable
My System Specs

09-07-2008
SIW2 Master Join Date: Jul 2008 VISTA HOME PREMIUM X64/ 7 x64 / 7x86 2,292 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size Hi Shawn, I only need to hold down ctrl and scroll the mouse button - don't need to right click as well. Think you only need to use right click as well if it doesn't work with just the ctrl key and scroll wheel. I think this is true of most modern mice. ( The ones with clickable scroll wheels - in fact right clicking might stop you being able to do it if you have one of these). Seems it's the older ones where you also need to right click. SIW2 Last edited by SIW2; 09-07-2008 at 10:50 AM..
My System Specs

09-07-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size Thank your SIW2. The tutorial has been updated for this. Shawn
My System Specs

12-06-2008
elito Member Join Date: Sep 2008 vista home premium 64b 5 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size How do you make this permanent ? When I boot, this setting is lost and I have to reset it again ?
My System Specs

12-06-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size Hello Elito, and welcome to Vista Forums. It should stay set the way you set it by default unless you change it. I'm not sure what may be causing this (bad video drivers?), but you can use the free program Iconoid to help maintain your desktop icon positions. You might also run a sfc/ scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files that may be responsible. Hope this helps, Shawn
My System Specs

12-09-2008
Grams21 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Vista Home Premium 32 bit 3 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size I am having trouble maintaining my icon size. When I try to get them to classic size, my icons immediately swell back to the large size. Neither method below makes my icons stay small. What is happening? Thanks, Grams21
My System Specs

12-09-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size Hello Grams21, and welcome to Vista Forums. At what point do they revert back to the large size? (ex: after playing a game, etc....)
My System Specs

12-09-2008
Grams21 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Vista Home Premium 32 bit 3 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size It has happened most often after I have used the Skype video conferencing program. This never happened until I began to use Skype. Additionally I am using my laptop with an external monitor attached. Now everything is ok, but it has happened too many times. Everything is very very large!! It corrects by itself after I continuously click on the classic size. Sometimes it takes several hours to get my icons and all other programs back to a normal view.
My System Specs

12-09-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Icon size With it being very large, it sounds like the DPI setting or screen resolution may be being lowered after using those items. You might see if the free program Iconoid can help maintain your settings easier until you can get the issues with Skype worked out.
My System Specs

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