Creating desktop icons gives you easy access to your favorite programs, without having to hunt them down in your Windows Start Menu. You can create desktop icons in a number of ways, so you can use whatever method works best for your needs and comfort level.

Using the Start Menu
Creating desktop icons from the Windows Start Menu programs is relatively easy.

• First, click into the Start Menu, and mouse over the program for which you want to create an icon.
• Right click over the program, and select the option Send To.
• Select Desktop from the Send To menu.

You now have a desktop icon for your Start Menu item.

Creating Desktop Icons from Documents or Files
You’re not limited to creating desktop icons from programs in the Start Menu; you can create icons from documents, photos or pretty much any program or item you can access through Windows Explorer. To create a desktop icon from a program or document in Windows Explorer, use the following steps.

• Open My Computer.
• Browse to the folder that contains the file or folder that needs a shortcut.
• Left-click on the item to highlight it.
• Right-click to access the Action menu.
• Click on the Send To option.
• Select Desktop, and your shortcut icon will appear on your desktop.

Change an Existing Icon
You can also change icons for existing desktop items. To change an existing item:

• Right-click on the desktop item you want to change.
• Select Properties.
• Click on the Change Icon option.
• Browse to the folder that contains the new icon, and select the new icon for your desktop item.

Change All of Your Icons
If you want to change your icons and display settings simultaneously, you can do this by changing your Windows theme.

• Right-click on your desktop.
• Select Properties.
• The Themes tab is the default display tab from the Properties screen. Click on the arrow next to the drop-down box to display available themes, and click on the theme you want to use.
• Click the Ok button to apply the theme.

Create Custom Desktop Icons
You can create custom desktop icons using photo-editing software or drawing software. Create a folder to save your custom icons, where you can easily find them. Use your photo-editing or drawing software to create the icons, and save them in your custom folder. Use the instructions to change an icon for an existing desktop item, and you can have a lot of fun creatively customizing your icons. You can also download icons from the Internet to change up your desktop and give it a unique look.

Download a Desktop Icon Organizer
A desktop icon organizer can help you manage your desktop icons without navigating the Windows menus. You can use desktop icon organizers to organize your icons into groups, so it’s easy to find the programs or files you want. You can also use them to mass-edit your icon types, and easily change icon appearances and styles. Desktop icon organizer software gives you full control over your Windows icons without having to get knee-deep in menus and confusing clicks.