Overview – Show This PC in Windows 11
This PC acts as a repository for all of your local drives including your hard disc, CD drive, and any USB drives attached to your system. On some Windows versions, this PC is also referred to as “My Computer”. It appears that you were accustomed to using the “This PC” till Windows 10, but this icon is disabled in your version of Windows 11.
By the end of this article, you will be able to add “This PC” icon on the desktop:
1. Show “This PC” Icon on Desktop via Windows Settings
Step 1: Open the Windows Settings from the Start menu or press the “Windows Logo key + I” key combination on the keyboard.
Step 2: Select the “Personalization” tab from the left sidebar/navigation pane and select the “Themes” option on the right side.
Step 3: Select the “Desktop icon settings” button in the Themes Section under the Related Settings section.
Step 4: The “Desktop Icon Settings” panel will appear in form of a popup. Check the “Computer” option and press the apply button and “This PC” icon will be visible on the desktop again.
2. Show “This PC” Icon on Desktop via Shortcut
Step 1: Open any folder on the computer.
Step 2: Press the restore button (previously called maximize button) from the top-right corner of the window.
Step 3: You will see “This PC” option in the left sidebar. Single click, hold, drag it to the desktop and leave it. “This PC” shortcut icon will be visible on the desktop.
Note: If you don’t know the difference between an icon and a shortcut, you can refer to this thread.
3. Show “This PC” Icon on Desktop via Control Panel and Keyboard Shortcut
Step 1: Search for Control Panel in the Start Menu and press the enter key.
Step 2: On the top right corner of the windows, you will find the search bar. Search for “File Explorer Options“.
Step 3: The “File Explorer Options” panel will appear in form of a popup.
Step 4: In the “General” tab, select the “Open File Explorer to This PC” option from the dropdown and press the apply button.
Step 5: Press “Windows button + E” Key Combination and “This PC” window will appear.
Note: If you don’t follow the steps above and press the “Windows Key + E” key combination, the File Explorer will open by default.
Next Steps
We’ve covered three methods to show This PC icon in Windows 11. Microsoft has provided the flexibility to modify the User Interface (UI) depending on the user’s preferences. So, apart from the “This PC” icon, we can show and hide various other icons from the desktop. Now, you can quickly access “This PC” directly from your desktop.
Related Articles
Show or Hide Recycle Bin Icon in Windows
Recover the missing recycle bin icon on the desktop or simply remove the existing icon from the desktop.
Hide or Show System Tray Icons in Windows
Want an organized system tray at the taskbar? Learn how to show or hide the system tray icons based on your needs in Windows.
Enable or Disable Background Slideshows in Windows
Enable or Disable the Desktop Slideshows on Windows 11 and show different wallpapers after a certain delay continuously.
Delete Windows Old Folder in Windows 11
Remove the unused Windows Old folder and instantly free up 15-25 GB of storage on your hard drive.
