Microsoft KB Archive/289587

= How to Arrange or Move Icons on the Desktop =

Article ID: 289587

Article Last Modified on 3/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q289587



SUMMARY
This article describes how to arrange, move, and change icons on the desktop.



How to Arrange or Move Icons
To arrange icons by name, type, date, or size, right-click a blank area on the desktop, and then click Arrange Icons. Click the command that indicates how you want to arrange the icons (by Name, by Type, and so on). If you want the icons to be automatically arranged, click Auto Arrange. If you want to arrange the icons on your own, click Auto Arrange to remove the check mark.

How to Remove Icons
Some icons are shortcuts to programs on your computer. Shortcut icons usually have an arrow in the bottom-left corner. If you do not want a shortcut on your desktop, click the icon, and then drag it to the Recycle Bin. This action only removes the shortcut, not the program that it is pointing to. You can also right-click the icon, and then click Delete to remove a shortcut from your desktop.

Some icons such as My Network Places, Recycle Bin, and My Computer cannot be deleted.

How to Change Icon Pictures
Some icons have the option to change the picture that represents the icon. Not all icons have this option. To change the icon picture:
 * 1) Right-click the icon and click Properties.
 * 2) Click the Shortcut tab (if one is available), and then click Change Icon.
 * 3) Click the icon that you want to use from the list, click OK, and then click OK.

If there are no icons available in the list, the manufacturer may not supply additional icons. To find other icons, follow the same procedure on a different icon, locate its source file (usually an .ico file), and then go back to the original icon that you want to change. Follow the same procedure, but when you click the Change Icon button, browse to the location of the source file from the different icon.

NOTE: Third-party tools are available that enable you to change icons.

For additional information about changing icon pictures, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

253689 Cannot Change the Default Folder Icons in Windows Explorer

TweakUI
NOTE: TweakUI is an unsupported tool. The following information is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft Product Support Services is unable to answer questions about TweakUI.

If you are a Windows power-user, you can use TweakUI 1.33 to manipulate icons. However, this is an unsupported tool. Read the document that accompanies TweakUI carefully before you download and use the tool. For additional information about finding more help with icons, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

141859 How to Use a Bitmap Image as a 16-Color Icon in Windows

262885 Desktop Icons Displayed Incorrectly When You Change Settings

267499 Show Small Icons in Start Menu Setting Changes in Safe Mode

265132 Cannot Arrange Icons in Search Results Window

132668 Icons Randomly Change to Different Icons

Additional query words: icon shortcut picture modify remove rearrange place drag eliminate powertoys power toy

Keywords: kbinfo kbui KB289587

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