This could be one of the display or accessibility problems for many people who, when using Windows 7, do not have the possibility of seeing perfectly well the icon that has been displayed on the desktop of this operating system.
Being able to make the icons that are found as shortcuts on the Windows desktop larger or smaller is one of the most important tasks that we must carry out if we have some kind of problem when recognizing them easily. For this reason, we will now mention the 3 most important alternatives that exist to be able to change the size of these icons of the shortcuts located on the desktop, a method that can serve perfectly well both for Windows 7 and for higher versions although, with certain restrictions and adopting a few tricks that we will mention below.
1. Using the mouse wheel
This is perhaps one of the simplest methods that we could use, although there could also be a certain number of problems when restoring to the default configuration by Microsoft. The method suggests the use of the wheel of our mouse (or its similar in laptops).
The only thing we need to do to see the desktop icons bigger or smaller is hold down the CTRL key and then rotate the mouse wheel up to make the icons bigger or down if we want to have the icons with a smaller size; The method is one of the easiest to do as we suggested from the beginning, although the problem could occur when trying to restore the size to the default, as there is no special function for it.
2. Using the context menu
The 2nd method that we will mention at this time is also one of the easiest to perform, since only we will rely on one of the functions of the context menu that are built into Windows operating systems.
We should only click with the right mouse button on some empty space on the desktop to be able to admire this contextual menu; Right there we will have to go to the "view" option and then choose any of the sizes of the icons shown there, these being:
- Large icons.
- Medium icons.
- Small icons.
The changes are made in real time, that is, the moment we select any of the sizes of the icons proposed on the desktop, at that same moment we will be able to see the requested changes.
3. Configuring the appearance in Windows 7
The methods we suggested above are valid for both Windows 7 and later versions; Now, the one that we will now describe does not work in Windows 8 and its subsequent updates because Microsoft considered it pertinent to eliminate some advanced features in handling the appearance of these versions. The problem could also occur in basic versions of Windows 7, which mainly refers to the Home Basic version and the Starter version.
If you have a Windows 7 Ultimate or professional, then you can try to change the size of the icons on the desktop with the following steps:
- Right-click on an empty space on the Windows desktop.
- From the options shown in the contextual menu choose «Customize now«.
- Choose the Button at the bottom of the window that says «Window Color«.
- Now click on the link «advanced appearance settings ...«.
- In "element: »Choose«icon«.
If you followed these steps according to what we have indicated, in this last part of the procedure you will come across customizing the size of the icons; Next to the chosen element (icon) is the feature that will allow you to change its size, since you only have to define (with a number) if you want these desktop icons small, large or the one you want according to the value placed there.
There are 3 procedures that we have mentioned at this time, there are many others more alternatives to be able to change the size of the icons displayed on the Windows desktop, although some of these alternatives may suggest the use of third-party tools.