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How can I make my Windows XP desktop icons smaller?

I've been dreaming about a new computer monitor for a while, but the sad reality is that there's no way I can afford it for a while yet, so I have to make do with my smaller screen. Which means I really want to make my icons smaller under WinXP. How do I do that?


Dave's Answer:

As regular readers know, I've been experimenting with an ASUS EeePC 1000HA, a cute little mini-laptop that has lots to like about it (tiny, light) but the 13" screen just doesn't have much resolution. In fact, it runs at 1024x600 so every pixel counts!

Needless to say, I feel your pain even as I probably operate at a lower resolution than you do. My little EeePC dreams of a 15" screen and perhaps even fantasizes about a 17" or 21" whopper of a screen. Who knows? :-)

Anyway!

To start, here are my icons, big:

Windows XP / WinXP desktop icons, big

To make them small, right-click on the Desktop and choose "Properties". You'll see this:

Windows XP / WinXP display properties: Themes

Click on the "Appearance" tab:

Windows XP / WinXP Display Properties: Appearance

We're not quite there yet. Click on the "Advanced" button:

Windows XP / WinXP display properties : appearance  :advanced

Half-way down is the box you want to uncheck, adjacent to "Use large icons". Change that setting, then click "Okay" and close up the windows. Now your icons should be smaller:

Windows XP / WinXP desktop icons, small

And there ya go!


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Categorized: Windows PC Help   (Article 8622, Written by )
Tagged: desktop icons, windows xp, winxp
Previous: How do I change the background picture on my Windows XP PC?
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Reader Comments To Date: 8

veronica said, on November 23, 2008 4:15 PM:

Hi, I became frustrated and began to punch my lap top keyboard, It is now broken and it has been at least six weeks. Is it possible to repair this type of problem, if so how much would the costs be? Thank you.

PaulM said, on November 24, 2008 2:53 PM:

Veronica, you probably should not be allowed to own a computer. Put the money you would have spent on a new keyboard into anger management classes.

A computer only does what you tell it to do.

dhirendra said, on January 11, 2009 12:54 AM:

when i want to make a net connection with my bluetooth device it is not not connecting with internet but conectedit is connected with my mobile. plz send me the fed back .

mandine said, on July 2, 2009 11:20 AM:

Hi, your tutorial is not quite right. In the 'Appearance' tab, you have to click on "Effects" to bring you to the right window.

mark said, on January 4, 2010 12:22 AM:

this information was really helpful.thanks

Tom said, on January 17, 2010 11:36 AM:

I'm having trouble with my popup size. For example, if I try to download something, there is usually an accept/decline at the bottom. I can not get to it because I can not get to the up/down arrows. Example 2, when I look at ebay (or most things) I always have to use the left/right arrows to see the rest of the screen.
How can I make the page size fit the screen. I'm using Windows XP?

Jeff said, on March 29, 2012 8:39 AM:

My problem is the opposite of the ones above. Everytime I use a projector, when I disconnect, everything is much smaller on my screen. I mean everything - icons, print size, pictures. How can I get the reguar sizing back? I am using windows XP.

Thanks.

WASIM said, on April 27, 2012 11:52 AM:

Kindly tell me advance feature of xp

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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