How To
by Niharika

How to Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 11 

September 19, 2026
0

You can change icon size on the Windows 11 desktop easily to customize how icons display, such as This PC on the desktop, and troubleshoot issues like too small or too large icons, or to match your icon preference.

Windows includes built-in methods, such as context menu (right-click menu) options, keyboard shortcuts, mouse scroll options, scale and layout settings, and Registry Editor options to change the desktop icon size. This article explains these methods in detail for Windows 11.

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How to Change Icon Size on Desktop

As mentioned before, context menu options, keyboard shortcuts, mouse scroll, scale and layout settings, and Registry Editor are ways to change your desktop icon settings. The easiest way to change the icon size is using the right-click menu. Desktop shortcuts come in handy when you want to change the desktop icon size quickly. Mouse scroll offers greater control over the icon size on the desktop. Changing the scale and layout settings works when you also want to change the size of all the text and other items on the desktop. Editing the Windows Registry is an advanced method that requires you to be extremely careful, as incorrect Registry changes can cause system instability. Below are all the methods explained step-by-step.

Method 1: Use the right-click menu (context menu) to change icon size

The right-click or context menu is the most beginner-friendly way to change the desktop icon size to large, medium, or small icons. Below are the steps to do this.

  • Right-click an empty desktop space.
  • Click View in the context menu.
  • Select Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons, depending on your preferences, from the options that appear. Note that these desktop icon sizes depend on the DPI settings and screen resolution. For example, the small or large options may be very small or very big for your desktop if you are using a 4K monitor with recommended DPI settings.
view icons

Also know: Best Easy Ways to Change Drive Icon in Windows 10

Method 2: Change icon size using keyboard shortcuts

Windows supports keyboard shortcuts to adjust desktop icon sizes quickly and easily in Windows 11. Below is how to change the size of icons using keyboard shortcuts.

  • Minimize all open windows to view the desktop.
  • Select any icon or an empty area.
  • Use one of the following key combinations to change the Windows desktop icon size.

Ctrl + Shift + 1: Huge desktop icons

Ctrl + Shift + 2: Large desktop icons

Ctrl + Shift + 3: Medium desktop icons

Ctrl + Shift + 4: Small desktop icons

Method 3: Use the mouse scroll to change desktop icon size

The scroll wheel on your mouse is another way to change the icon size on the desktop precisely to your requirements. Here are the steps to change desktop icons with the mouse scroll.

  • Minimize all open windows.
  • Click an empty desktop space.
  • Press and hold the Ctrl key.
  • Continue holding the Ctrl key while scrolling the mouse wheel upward to increase the desktop icon size or downward to decrease the icon size.
  • Release the Ctrl key when you are done changing the icon size according to your preference.

Method 4: Change scale and layout to modify the desktop icon size

Changing the scale and layout or display layout also changes the desktop icon settings. However, it also changes the text and all other items on the desktop. If you are fine with this change, below is how to change the display layout settings.

  • Right-click an empty desktop space.
  • Click Display settings in the menu that appears.
  • Next, click the Scale and layout drop-down in the right pane of Display Settings.
  • From the available options, select the scaling that matches your requirements.
scale and layout

Also know: Best Ways To Run PowerShell As An Administrator

Method 5: Use Registry Editor to change desktop icon settings

You can use the Registry Editor to change the icon settings on the desktop, adjusting the space between desktop icons. Create a Registry backup before editing it. To back up the Registry, follow the path: Windows key + R > type regedit.exe > press Enter > click File > click Export > select the location where you want to save the Registry backup> type a name for the backup file in the File name field > click Save. After creating a Registry backup, follow the steps below to change the vertical and horizontal spacing between desktop icons using the Registry Editor.

  • Press the Windows key + R.
  • Type regedit in the Run tool.
  • Press Enter.
  • In the Registry Editor, navigate to the path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
WindowMetrics
  • In the WindowMetrics folder, locate the IconSpacing and IconVerticalSpacing entries in the right pane.
change registry
  • Double-click IconSpacing to adjust the horizontal spacing.
  • In the Value data field, enter a value between -480 and -2730. A value closer to -480 reduces the icon spacing, while a value closer to -2730 increases the icon spacing. The default value is -1128.
  • Click
  • To change the vertical spacing, double-click IconVerticalSpacing and set a value between -480 and -2730.
  • Click OK to save the changes.
  • Lastly, restart your PC to apply the changes.

However, if you encounter issues like desktop icons not showing, blank space on the desktop after changing the icon size, or icons scattered all over the desktop, check the solutions below.

Troubleshooting Common Desktop Icon Size Issues

Follow the steps below to solve the desktop icon problems on your desktop.

  • Right-click the desktop, hover your mouse over the View option, and check View desktop icons if the desktop icons are fixed.
  • To fix the blank space on your desktop after changing icon size, right-click an empty desktop space, click Display settings, click the Scale and layout drop-down, click the recommended scaling option, and then restart your PC.
  • To fix the icons that are scattered all over the desktop, right-click the desktop, hover the mouse over the View option, and check the Auto arrange icons and Align icons to grid options.

Below you will find the answers to some of the most common questions about desktop icon size changes to clear up any persistent doubts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I change the icon size in Windows 11?

To change the desktop icon size, right-click an empty space, click View, and then click Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons depending on your preference. For details and more methods, refer to the guide above.

Q2. Why are my desktop icons so big?

A change in the screen resolution, an outdated or faulty video card, or an accidental icon size change may be why your desktop icons are suddenly so big.

Q3. How do I hide desktop icons on Windows?

Right-click an empty desktop space, click View, and then uncheck Show desktop icons to hide them.

Q4. How do I reduce desktop icon space?

To reduce icon space on your desktop, put the icons in a folder or right-click an empty space, click View, and then click Auto arrange icons.

Q5. How do I change Windows 11 taskbar icon sizes?

To change the taskbar icon size, back up the Windows Registry. Then, in the Registry Editor, navigate to the path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced, right-click the Advanced folder, click New, click DWORD (32-bit) Value, name the new value TaskbarSi, double-click TaskbarSi, change its Value data to 0 for small size/1 for medium size/2 for large size, click OK, close the Registry Editor, and then restart your PC.

Q6. How do I change Windows 11 folder icon sizes?

To change the folder icon sizes in Windows 11, press the Windows key + E, go to the folder where you want to change the icon size, click View, and then choose from Extra large icons, Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons in the Layout options.

Q7. How do I change Windows 11 app icons?

To change app icons in Windows 11, right-click the app icon you want to change, click Properties, click Shortcut, click Change Icon, select the icon you want to change to, and then click OK.

Hopefully, this answers all your questions about how to change the icon size on the Windows 11 desktop according to your preference. Leave us a comment if you have any unanswered questions or want to share your feedback about this post.

Author

Niharika

Niharika is a passionate soul who finds immense satisfaction in putting all her thoughts in writing. Being a technology enthusiast, she loves learning new things about tech and making everyone technologically literate through her articles. When not composing tech articles, you can find her bringing characters to life in her fictional stories, reading something intriguing, or spending time with her near and dear ones.

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Canon MF8500C Driver Download and Update for Windows 10, 11

Canon MF8500C Driver Download and Update for Windows 10, 11

March 12, 2024
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This article introduces you to the best methods to get the latest driver downloaded and installed for your Canon MF8500C printer.

Canon is celebrated across the world for manufacturing top-notch printing machines that can cater to the user’s personal and professional requirements. MF8500C is one such renowned printer series from Canon. However, like all other printers, it needs a Canon MF8500C driver to deliver the best performance.

The driver is a bridge that connects your printer to the computer. It translates your commands into a series of 0s and 1s so the system can understand and execute them correctly. Without a correct, compatible, and up-to-date driver, you may bump into problems like the printer not responding.

Hence, this article presents an effective guide to downloading, installing, and updating the Canon MF8500C driver for Windows 10 and 11. Let us get started with it without wasting your priceless time.

How to Download, Install, and Update the Canon MF8500C Driver

You can follow any of the below approaches to get the updated driver for the Canon printer series downloaded and installed on your Windows 11/10 computer.

Method 1: Download the Canon MF8500C driver from Canon’s website

Canon releases the latest version of drivers for printers on the official website. You can download and install the MF8500C driver from there. Here is the step-by-step way to do it.

  • To begin with, navigate to the official website of Canon.
  • Secondly, select Support from the on-screen menu.
  • Choose Software & Drivers from the on-screen support options.Canon - Software and Drivers
  • Now, you can search for your printer.
  • Select your printer from the search results to access its driver download page.
  • Click on the Download button to get the driver setup downloaded depending on your operating system. If you don’t know your computer’s operating system, you can follow the path Settings>System>About to find it.
  • Double-click on the downloaded driver setup to run it.
  • Follow the on-screen directions to complete the driver installation.
  • Lastly, restart your PC to complete the above process.

Also Read: Canon Pixma MP250 Printer Driver Download for Windows 10, 11

Method 2: Download and install the Canon MF8500C driver from Device Manager

You can use the built-in application in Windows called Device Manager to search for, download, and install the driver for your Canon MF8500C printer. Here is the series of steps you need to follow to do it.

  • To begin with, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Run box.
  • Secondly, input devmgmt.msc in the on-screen box and press Enter to open Device Manager.Type devmgmt.msc in Run Dialog Box
  • Double-click on the Printer or Print Queues category to get its expanded view.Select Print Queues in Device manager
  • Right-click on your Canon MF8500C printer and choose Update Driver Software from the context menu that appears.Click on update driver software
  • Select the option to Search automatically for updated driver software.Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software
  • Wait while the Device Manager finds, downloads, and installs the updated drivers on your computer. Please remember it may take an hour or two to do it.
  • Lastly, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Also Read: Canon MF240 (Printer & Scanner) Driver Download for Windows 10, 11

Method 3: Use Win Riser to update the Canon MF8500C driver automatically (Recommended)

The manual process of tracking old drivers and driver updation is a challenging and time-consuming endeavor. Hence, automatic driver updates through software like Win Riser are a workable yet simple way to download and install the Canon MF8500C driver update.

Win Riser offers one-click driver updates along with the speedy detection and elimination of malware. Moreover, this software allows you to roll back drivers to the older version to avoid any problems with updates.

Furthermore, Win Riser cleans invalid registries and junk to help manage your device’s limited storage. Additionally, it offers round-the-clock support to address your software-related concerns. Let us now look at the quick series of steps to use Win Riser.

Steps to Update Canon MF8500C driver automatically with Win Riser

  • Firstly, click on the link below to download the Win Riser utility.Download-Button
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the software installation.
  • Wait for a couple of seconds until the software searches for outdated drivers, malware, faulty registries, and other problems.
  • After the scan is complete, click on the Fix Issues Now option.Win Riser Update the All Outdated Driver Click On Fixes Now
  • Lastly, all you have to do is restart the computer to put the updates into effect.

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Canon MF8500C Driver Downloaded and Updated

So, that’s how you can download, install, and update the driver for your Canon MF8500C series of printers. You can follow any method from the above guide according to your level of technical knowledge and experience. However, if you have any doubts/questions/suggestions about this article, please feel free to let us know through the comments section.

How to fix Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed

How to fix Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed

February 2, 2024
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You do not need to panic if the Backend Fetch Failure Error 503 appears whenever you try to access a website, as here are the best solutions to this problem.

“Error 503 backend fetch failed” can be annoying when you are trying to view any website. The error typically appears when the web server fails to retrieve the requested data. Though it is generally a temporary problem that disappears after waiting a couple of moments, you may need to troubleshoot the issue if it does not seem to leave.

Since it can be challenging to solve this problem, this article presents a quick, easy, and effective guide containing the best fixes for this issue. However, knowing what may have triggered the problem is the first step towards solving it. Hence, let us first examine why you may be experiencing the error.

Causes of Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed

The factors below may be responsible for the backend fetch failure issue you are struggling with.

  • Poor network connectivity or slow internet speed
  • The website server is under maintenance
  • There is not enough memory available with the server to process the information

After learning the possible causes of the issue, let us understand how to fix it.

Fixes for Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed Error (Quick and Easy)

You can follow the below approaches to drive the backend fetch failure error away.

Fix 1: Close other tabs

Your browser’s cache server memory may get overloaded if you keep too many tabs open. Hence, you can close the other tabs to free up the required memory for the server to process the incoming information from the website you are trying to access. Hopefully, it will fix the “Error 503 backend fetch failed” issue. If the problem persists, below we have more solutions.

Also Read: How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Browser

Fix 2: Try refreshing the webpage

Sometimes complicated problems have the most uncomplicated solutions. For example, a simple webpage refresh can fix the annoying issue you are experiencing. Hence, you can click on the refresh icon alongside the address bar or use the keyboard shortcut F5+Ctrl or F5 to refresh the webpage.

Fix 3: Perform browser reset

Are you experiencing the “Error 503 backend fetch failed” problem on not one but multiple websites? If yes, you can reset your browser to default settings. While the steps to reset browsers are mostly the same for all browsers, they may slightly differ from browser to browser. Hence, here is how to reset Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Chrome browser reset

  • To begin with, click the three vertical dots located in the Chrome window’s top right corner.
  • Now, choose Settings from the menu you get on your screen.Open-Chrome-on-your-browser-window-and-click-on-the-three-dot-icon-placed-on-the-top-right-corner-of-the-screen
  • Select the Reset and Clean up option from the left section of the settings window.
  • You can now choose to Restore settings to their original defaults from the Chrome window’s right pane.Reset and Cleanup section and choose the Restore settings to their original defaults
  • Lastly, select the option to Reset Settings to conclude the process of resetting Google Chrome settings.

Firefox browser reset

  • To begin with, click the three horizontal bars present in the top right corner of the Firefox window.
  • Secondly, choose Help from the menu available on your screen.
  • Now, choose to get More troubleshooting information from the on-screen Help menu.More troubleshooting information
  • You can now Refresh Firefox.Refresh Firefox
  • Now, click on the Refresh Firefox button to confirm your wish to reset your Firefox settings.
  • Lastly, choose Finish to complete the reset process.

Also Read: How to Clear Chrome Net Internals DNS Error (Fixed)

Fix 4: Try another browser

Sometimes unexpected browser problems occur, leading to the Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed issue. In such situations, you can try a different browser to access the website you are trying to open. If you are confused about which browser you should try, you can choose from our top picks for the best browsers.

Fix 5: Try rebooting the WiFi router

Are you experiencing the backend fetch failure issue on more than one website? If yes, rebooting your WiFi router can help solve this problem. Here are the steps you can take to reboot the router.

  • To begin with, exit the browser and get your computer restarted.
  • Secondly, power off the router.
  • Now, wait for at least thirty seconds.
  • After waiting for thirty seconds, turn on your WiFi router.

Fix 6: Perform a ping test

Packet loss, connectivity dropouts, or other internet connection problems can cause the problem you are experiencing. Hence, you can try a ping test to solve the problem. The following are the steps to do it.

  • Firstly, input cmd in the Windows search box.
  • Now, right-click on the first search result, i.e.,Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator from the on-screen options.Type cmd in Start Menu Search Bar
  • Input ping 8.8.8.8 in the command line and press Enter to execute the command.

Also Read: How to Fix The Requested URL Was Rejected Error (FIXED)

Fix 7: Contact the website’s administrator

If none of the above solutions worked (it may happen if the problem is on the website’s end), you can contact the administrator of the concerned website to inform them of the error. You can get in touch with them through their social media groups or the contact information (if available) on the website.

Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed Fixed

Throughout this article, we talked about the causes of Error 503 Backend Fetch Failed and how to get rid of it. You can follow the fixes shared in the guide above to fix it. However, you do not have to try all the solutions. All you have to do is start troubleshooting with the first fix and stop when the problem disappears.

However, in case of any questions or suggestions about this piece of writing, you can leave a comment to get in touch with us. We will be pleased to help.

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