How do I reduce the desktop icon size in Windows 7?

Question

How can I reduce the size of my desktop icons if the video resolution is already on the highest setting?

Solution 1

If you click a blank bit of the desktop, hold down the Ctrl key and scroll down using the mouse wheel, you can scale down the desktop icons until they're almost non-existent.

Ctrl + scroll wheel works to zoom in most applications (browser, MS Office, Windows Explorer, etc.).

Solution 2

Right click the desktop > View > Small Icons (Classic on Vista). That is the smallest icon size you can have.

If these sizes are still not small (or big) enough for you, then you can hold down Ctrl whilst scrolling the Scroll Wheel to change it to the exact size you want.

Solution 3

I haven't tested this but I would've thought this was a registry setting, according to google it is :)

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"Shell Icon Size"="36"

The value '36' is the default (medium size) if I'm correct, a smaller value means smaller icons.

Note: Fiddling with the registry can be dangerous so only use this if the default 'small/medium/large/extra large' don't suffice.

Comments

[Basj]

This answer allows to change icon size, horizontal and veritcal spacing, without rebooting!

[Motti]

Works on Vista too

[Joe]

I have tested this and there was no influence on the desktop icons size (though I did not attempt to restart).

[acheron55]

What if you have a busted mouse wheel like mine? It is very hard to control precisely. I wish there was a keyboard combination

[Brett]

Best answer - doesn't the mouse wheel just control the zoom? Pretty sure mine was on the smallest zoom already (default).