How to change desktop icon size?

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Solution 1

Does this apply to all files put on the desktop or just the one icon you're showing? If the latter, that probably means you did it accidentally. Right click the icon, then select "Restore Icon's Original Size...".

The first one, I don't know (yet) how that would happen.

Also, maybe you could try gconf-editor. In it, go to apps>nautilus>icon_view. There's a setting for icon size there. Maybe that's what you need.

If you are using dconf-editor, the path to "icon_view" setting is org>gnome>nautilus>icon_view

Solution 2

I had the same problem because I had changed the icon size in a window. So I fixed it back from top-right of an open file browser window!

Changing icon size in any file browser window will affect all your windows including Desktop!

Solution 3

gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.icon-view default-zoom-level 'small'

Solution 4

Just open Nautilus. Go to EditPreferences and change the percentage of the Icon View Defaults (in German, Symbolansicht) (33%, 50%, 66%, 100%, 200%).

Why this setting affects the size of the icons on your desktop will be a mystery forever! But that is the easiest way to resize all icons on the desktop at once without using any tool like gconf-editor.

Solution 5

  1. Right click the icon you want to resize. Select "Resize icon..."

    Screenshot of mouse hovering over "Resize icon..." option in context menu.

  2. Hold-click and drag the handles that appear over the icon to resize it.

    Screenshot of mouse dragging icon handles to make icon larger.

You can revert to the icon's default size by selecting "Restore Icon's Original Size" in the icon's right-click context menu.

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uemeulo
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uemeulo

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Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

  • uemeulo
    uemeulo about 1 year

    This is my desktop, the icon is too big. enter image description here

    I tried to use

    gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop font "Ubuntu 9"

    but the it changes only font size of the desktop icons.

    I tried to use Compiz, Advance Settings and Configuration Editor but they just have font size option, not icon size option.

    How to change the desktop icon size?

    • Admin
      Admin about 7 years
      Go to Files (file manager app), Visualize the Desktop folder, Choose grid view in upper right corner of window, Resize the icons. Maybe, it's a solution.
    • Frank Nocke
      Frank Nocke over 2 years
      In Ubuntu-MATE (thus Caja being the desktop manager) it's: Caja→Preferences→Views Tab→Icon View Defaults→Default zoom level. (and one can still do ctrl-+ to change sizing inside file explorer windows w/o affecting desktop icon size)
  • Bleeding Fingers
    Bleeding Fingers about 10 years
    -1 there is a difference between launcher icon and desktop icon
  • zarpio
    zarpio over 8 years
    I am not able to find nautilus after expanding the "apps" tree. Can you guide ?
  • kelvinilla
    kelvinilla over 8 years
    @zarpio This is because you're using the newer "dconf-editor." There's really very little reason to use this anymore for the same issue. There are better GUI fixes available like from the other answers. But if you must, since the editor controls offer more minutiae, the tree in the dconf Editor for nautilus has been moved to "org/gnome/nautilus."
  • Mythul
    Mythul over 8 years
    Wow, I just found out this. Really cool feature. Thanks for sharing :D
  • creative
    creative almost 7 years
    how to open nautilus ?
  • muru
    muru over 6 years
    @Hirak nautilus is the file manager. Open any directory, or look for Files in the Dash/Launcher
  • Gilberto Albino
    Gilberto Albino over 6 years
    No kidding! Feeling the dummiest on earth ever!
  • Vladimir Ch
    Vladimir Ch about 5 years
    it edit only one icon !!! wat will be if on desktop alot icons 100 ore more ????
  • Vladimir Ch
    Vladimir Ch about 5 years
    more faster, in nautilus switch into icon view, then hold control + rotate mouse wheel!!! icons on a desktop will resize simultaneously ))))
  • Nitin Kashyap
    Nitin Kashyap almost 5 years
    The reason I didn't think this was the case was that I had the folder display view in "Details" view rather than the icon view and was only seeing the issue on the Desktop. Thanks!
  • Scott Stensland
    Scott Stensland almost 5 years
    I loved this feature - its now missing on 19.04
  • Gabriel Staples
    Gabriel Staples over 4 years
    Definitely NOT the best answer here, but +1 for still being useful and good to know!
  • Snowcrash
    Snowcrash over 4 years
    gconf-editor zsh: command not found: gconf-editor
  • Snowcrash
    Snowcrash over 4 years
    I don't see that menu on the right when I click that middle icon.
  • Snowcrash
    Snowcrash over 4 years
    I don't see "Restore Icon's Original Size" in the icon's right-click context menu.
  • Snowcrash
    Snowcrash over 4 years
    Thank god for one person who posts something that actually makes some sense.
  • PhoneixS
    PhoneixS about 4 years
    @Snowcrash in my case the option is in the right icon (the three lines icon) and it is a percent instead of a slider.
  • rhys_stubbs
    rhys_stubbs over 3 years
    Perfect - this should have far more upvotes! I use Linux I don't want to fiddle with installing other software or tinkering with UIs to do this kind of thing!
  • BTR Naidu
    BTR Naidu over 3 years
    The best answer ever..
  • Sam Murphy
    Sam Murphy over 3 years
    This should be top answer.
  • Robert Nagtegaal
    Robert Nagtegaal about 3 years
    Very useful working advice. Thank you very much. 'Top answer' indeed.