4 Steps to Enable the 'My Computer' Icon in Windows 7 GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows
Replace the 'My Computer' Icon on Your Windows 7 Desktop
Return this helpful shortcut to its convenient location
By Gilberto Perera Gilberto Perera Writer Nova Southeastern University Florida International University Miami Dade College Former Lifewire writer Gilberto J. Perera is a PMP and Six Sigma professional with more than 15 years of technology education experience and editor-in-chief of GilsMethod.com. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 4, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide Starting with Windows 7, you probably noticed that several icons are missing from the desktop, especially if you upgraded from an older version of Windows like Windows XP. One of the shortcuts you might miss in particular is for My Computer, which lets you quickly open Windows Explorer to see all of your system's hard drives and the folders where you find your files, programs, and other resources. Fortunately, the icon is not lost forever. In fact, it should take just 30 seconds or so to get it back on your desktop. As of January 2020, Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 7. We recommend upgrading to Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates and technical support. Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. Add the My Computer Icon to the Windows 10 Desktop
The method for adding a My Computer icon to the desktop in Windows 10 is unique to the operating system. Right-click any unused area of the desktop to open a menu. Choose Personalize in the menu that appears. Select Themes in the left pane. Select Desktop icon settings. Select the Computer check box in the Desktop Icon Settings window. Select Apply. A computer icon appears on the desktop. If desktop icons are not visible, right-click the desktop, choose View and select Show Desktop Icons. Replacing the My Computer Shortcut on the Windows 7 or Windows 8 Desktop
Right-click the desktop and choose Personalize from the menu. When the Personalization Control Panel window appears, click the Change desktop icons link on the left to open the Desktop Icon Settings dialog box. Put a check in the box next to Computer. Several other options appear in the dialog box, and most are probably unchecked, meaning that they're also not displayed on the desktop. Check any of the other options you want to enable as well. Click the OK button to save the changes and close the dialog box. When you return to the Windows 7 desktop, the My Computer icon is back in its place. There is also a My Computer shortcut in the Windows 7 Start Menu. Adding the shortcut back onto the desktop won't change this; you'll just have two ways to access your files and folders. Why Did the My Computer Icon Disappear
Beginning with Windows XP, Microsoft added a link to My Computer in the Start Menu. As a result, users had two shortcuts to access their files and folders via My Computer: one on the desktop and the other in the Start Menu. In an effort to declutter the desktop, Microsoft chose to remove the My Computer icon beginning with Microsoft Windows Vista. Along with this change, Microsoft also dropped the "My" from "My Computer," changing it to "Computer." Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Remove the Recycle Bin From a Windows Desktop How to Open Command Prompt (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) How to Open File Explorer in Windows 11 How to Add Shortcuts to Windows 10 Desktops How to Access the Windows 10 Startup Folder How to Properly Reboot (Restart) a Windows Computer What Version of Windows Do I Have? How to Change Icon Size In Windows 11 How to Sync Your Desktop to the Cloud with OneDrive 5 Best Free Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8 How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows What Is the Control Panel in Windows? A Brief History of Microsoft Windows How to Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows How to Update Drivers in Windows Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies