# Restoring the This PC Icon on Windows 10 Desktops A step-by-step guide to recovering hidden system icons on modern Windows versions. - **Source:** [How-To Geek](https://www.howtogeek.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-01 - **Topic:** [Operations](https://brifing.si/c/operations) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/217d4134-c7e6-47e3-a5c2-12e55b7db330 ## Legacy Icon Visibility Changes The My Computer icon, now rebranded as This PC, was a staple of older Windows versions for decades. With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft opted to hide this icon by default to streamline the desktop interface. Users must now manually navigate through the system settings to restore this classic shortcut functionality. ## Accessing Personalization Settings To begin the restoration process, right-click on any empty space on your desktop and select Personalize from the context menu. Once the Settings window opens, navigate to the Personalization section and select Themes. From there, locate and click on Desktop icon settings, which is found under the Related settings menu category. ## Enabling System Desktop Icons In the Desktop Icon Settings dialog box, you will see a list of available system icons including Computer, User's Files, Network, and Control Panel. Simply tick the box next to Computer and click Apply. The icon will immediately appear on your desktop, providing quick access to your local drives and system folders. ## Troubleshooting Hidden Desktop Icons If your icons are completely missing, right-click the desktop, hover over View, and ensure Show Desktop Icons is checked. If this setting is disabled, Windows hides everything on your desktop regardless of your icon preferences. This simple toggle is the most common reason for a seemingly empty and clean desktop environment. ## OneDrive Path Redirection Issues Sometimes icons appear missing because OneDrive has redirected your Desktop folder to a cloud backup path. To verify, open File Explorer, right-click the Desktop folder, and check the Location tab in Properties. If it points to a OneDrive path, click Restore Default to point it back to your local user directory. ## Fixing Blank Icon Squares If your icons appear as blank white squares, the Windows icon cache is likely corrupted. Press Win + R, enter the path to the Explorer folder, and delete all files starting with iconcache or thumbcache. Restarting your PC forces Windows to rebuild these files, effectively restoring the original appearance of your desktop icons. ## Cross-Version Compatibility Notes The process for restoring the This PC icon remains largely consistent across Windows 10 and Windows 11. While Windows 10 support officially ended on October 14, 2025, these configuration steps still function perfectly. We recommend upgrading to Windows 11 for continued security updates, though the desktop customization workflow remains familiar for long-time users. ## Customizing Your Desktop Environment Beyond restoring default icons, you can further personalize your workspace by right-clicking the This PC icon to change its appearance. For those who prefer a unique look, Windows allows you to assign custom images as icons. This flexibility ensures that your desktop remains both functional and tailored to your specific aesthetic preferences. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.howtogeek.com/202/display-my-computer-icon-on-the-desktop-in-windows-10/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._