[Full Guide] How to Return to a Normal Desktop in Windows 10

How Do I Get My Desktop Back to Normal on Windows 10?

This section will guide you through restoring your Windows 10 desktop view to its default settings. If you encounter this issue, disabling Tablet Mode is an option to proceed.

1. Press the Windows, and I keys to open the Settings app.

2. In the pop-up window, select System.

3. On the left panel, Choose Tablet Mode.

4. When I use this device as a tablet, select the Don’t Switch to Tablet mode option.

5. Ensure the toggle is set to off according to your preference.

6. Finally, check whether your desktop has been restored to its default settings on Windows 10.

How to Restore Old Windows Desktop Icons?

To restore old Windows desktop icons and return to the normal desktop in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the space on your desktop and select Personalize.

2. On the left panel, choose Theme.

3. Go to the Desktop icon settings link on the right panel.

4. Select the system icons that you want to add.

5. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

6. After completing these steps, you will have restored the old Windows desktop icons and returned to the normal desktop in Windows 10.

How to Get Rid of Tiles in Windows 10?

If you want to return to the normal desktop in Windows 10, you may also choose to remove tiles. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Press the Windows and R keys together to open the Run dialog.

2. Type gpedit.msc in the box and click OK to continue.

3. Navigate to Local Computer Policy > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Notifications.

4. Double-click the Turnoff tile notifications entry on the right pane.

5. Choose Enabled, then click Apply and OK to save the changes.

After completing these steps, the tiles will be removed, and you will have returned to the normal desktop in Windows 10.

Organize Desktop Icons

You can use the following tool to organize desktop icons by dragging a blank spot on the desktop and selecting See. It allows changing icon width automatically, auto-arranging icons, and snapping them to the grid. You may also disable the Display desktop icon by removing the icon altogether.

Note: It will never encrypt all the documents you’ve created once the icon has been removed. You may also view files from Finder on the desktop. After having your visual layout in place, choose Sort from the menu options to automatically list your desktop icons according to various criteria.

Use the Show Desktop keyboard shortcut in Windows 10

One of the most convenient ways to access the Desktop is by using the shortcut Windows + D. Although there are other shortcuts mentioned in this tutorial, we find this one to be the most user-friendly, as it can be easily performed using one hand on a standard keyboard. This shortcut will instantly bring you to the Desktop by minimizing all the open app windows on your screen.

Uninstall Recent Windows updates

Here are the steps to uninstall recent updates in Windows 10:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

2. Click on Update & Security from the options available.

3. Select Windows Update from the left-hand side menu, then click on View update history.

4. Click on Uninstall updates at the top of the screen.

5. Choose the update you want to uninstall from the list of installed updates and click on it.

6. Click the Uninstall button, and follow the instructions to remove the update.

7. You may need to restart your computer for the changes.

Set a New Desktop Wallpaper and Lock Screen Background

Here are the steps to set a new desktop wallpaper and lock screen background in Windows 10:

Setting a new Desktop Wallpaper:

1. Right-click on an empty area on your desktop and select Personalize from the context menu.

2. Click on the Background option from the left-hand menu.

3. Choose the source of the image you want to set as your wallpaper. You can select a pre-installed image, browse your images, or use a slideshow of your images.

4. Once you have selected the image, you can choose how you want it displayed on your desktop. You can choose to have it centered, tiled, or stretched.

5. Close the Settings window, and your new wallpaper will be applied to your desktop.

Setting a unique Lock Screen Background:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I.

2. Click on Personalization from the options available.

3. Select the Lock screen from the left-hand side menu.

4. Choose the source of the image you want to set as your lock screen background. You can select a pre-installed image, browse your images, or use a slideshow of your images.

5. Once you have selected the image, you can choose how you want it displayed on your lock screen. You can choose to have it centered, tiled, or stretched.

6. Close the Settings window, and your new lock screen background will be applied.

Disable Background Slideshow Caused by Third-Party Apps

1. Open the Start menu and click the gear icon to open the Settings app.

2. Click on Personalization and click on Background in the left-hand pane.

3. Choose the picture or color you want to set as your background.

4. Choose the appropriate fit for your wallpaper.

5. Click on the Lock screen in the left-hand pane.

6. Select the picture or color you want to set as your lock screen background.

7. Choose the appropriate fit for your lock screen background.

8. Toggle the On switch to Off to disable the background slideshow caused by third-party apps in the Slideshow section.

Delete and Rebuild Your Icon Cache on Windows 10

The icon cache in Windows 10 stores all the icons for files, folders, and programs to be displayed quickly. If the icon cache becomes corrupted, it can cause icons to display incorrectly or not at all. To fix this issue, you can delete and rebuild your icon cache by following these steps:

1. Close all open programs and windows.

2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following folder: C:\Users<your username>\AppData\Local

3. In the Local folder, locate and delete the IconCache.db file. Note that this file may be hidden, so you may need to enable hidden files and folders to see it.

4. Once the file is deleted, right-click on an empty area of the Local folder and select New > Text Document from the context menu.

5. Rename the new text document to iconcache.bat.

6. Right-click on the iconcache.bat file and select Edit from the context menu.

7. Paste the following commands into the file:

@echo off taskkill /im explorer.exe /f cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local del IconCache.db /a start explorer.exe

8. Save the changes to the file and close the text editor.

9. Right-click on the iconcache.bat file and select Run as administrator from the context menu.

10. Wait for the command prompt to appear and then close it.

11. Restart your computer.

How to Return to Normal Desktop in Windows 11

Many of us keep our frequently used items on the desktop for easy access while multitasking. As a result, we often need to view the desktop frequently.

Suppose you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where several files are open and want to view your desktop quickly. In that case, you know that minimizing or closing each window individually can be time-consuming.

However, there are several shortcuts available to make this task easier. In this tutorial, we’ll show you some simple techniques to show the desktop on Windows 11 quickly.

Restore All Desktop Icons on Windows 11

The solution is even simpler if all the icons on your desktop are missing. In addition to This PC and the Recycle Bin, you may have lost all your icons.

To restore them, right-click on an empty space on your desktop, hover (or click) over View, and then select Show Desktop Icons.

Open Desktop From the Taskbar

The easiest way to show the Desktop on Windows 11 is by using the taskbar. However, if you are not familiar with this method, you can follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to the Windows taskbar.

2. Drag your cursor to the bottom-right corner of the screen.

3. Once you do so, a button pops up. If you hover over the icon, it says Show Desktop. So, click on it.

4. All your documents get hidden, and you can view your Desktop. But, if you wish to toggle back to your old window, click on the button again.

Quickly View Desktop Items in File Explorer

If you prefer to work on your desktop items rather than view them, you can access them through File Explorer. Follow these basic steps to learn how to display your desktop items quickly:

1. Open File Explorer from your Windows taskbar.

2. On your left side, navigate to This PC.

3. Next, select Desktop. This will display all your desktop files in a window rather than opening the desktop.

Get Back to a Clutter-Free Desktop and Enjoy a Streamlined and Efficient User Interface

Discover how to restore a normal desktop in Windows 10 with our comprehensive guide. Say goodbye to clutter and enjoy a streamlined user interface that enhances productivity and efficiency. Follow our step-by-step instructions to customize your desktop and create a workspace tailored to your needs. Take control of your Windows 10 experience and optimize your desktop for a seamless computing journey.