Dorsum in the days of Windows 7, you lot could chop-chop change the default icon spacing for the desktop by visiting the operating organization's Appearance and Personalization settings folio. This selection is, however, missing in newer Windows versions.

If you're using Windows 11 or Windows 10, this commodity will show yous how to modify desktop icon spacing either by tweaking the system registry or by relying on third-political party desktop customization software.

Of import: Make a Fill-in of the System Registry

Changing the desktop icon spacing in Windows 11 and Windows ten involves editing the organization registry. However, incorrectly modifying it can result in serious issues, so we recommend that you back information technology up before proceeding.

For comprehensive pace-by-stride instructions, check out this guide to backing upwardly and restoring the Windows registry.

Change the Registry to Alter Desktop Icon Spacing

Y'all tin can modify the horizontal and vertical desktop spacing in Windows 11 and 10 by irresolute the values of the two relevant entries inside the system registry. The steps below should help you locate and edit them.

one. Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

two. Blazon regedit and press Enter.

three. On the Registry Editor window, copy and paste

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics into the Registry Editor's accost bar and press Enter.

4. Y'all should find the 2 registry entries that touch on the default desktop icon spacing to the right of the window:

  • IconSpacing: Affects the icon spacing horizontally.
  • IconVerticalSpacing: Affects the icon spacing vertically.

The default value is –1125 for both entries, while the range tin exist between –480 to –2730.

Note: Increasing the value decreases spacing as the values are negative while lowering it increases the spacing.

5. Make changes to 1 or both keys and select OK to save your changes.

For example, the screenshot below shows the horizontal desktop icon spacing after modifying the IconSpacing registry entry with a value of -2000.

Note: Irresolute the horizontal spacing besides impacts the bounding areas of icons. That affects the way text appears underneath them.

Additionally, the screenshot below shows the vertical desktop icon spacing with the IconVerticalSpacing set to -2000.

Important: To update the Windows 11 or 10 desktop with the changes, you must sign out and dorsum into your user account or restart your computer.

If yous want to revert the changes, simply re-open the Registry Editor and ready the IconSpacing and IconVerticalSpacing keys to -1125.

Employ 3rd-Party Desktop Customization Software

If you'd rather not poke effectually the organisation registry in Windows eleven or Windows 10, yous can use third-political party desktop customization apps to modify the default desktop icon spacing. Desktop Icon Spacing and DesktopOK are ii complimentary programs that tin help y'all with that.

Desktop Icon Spacing

Desktop Icon Spacing is lightweight and easy to utilise and enables irresolute the default desktop icon spacing on Windows.

Later on downloading the app, only run the executable file and utilize the sliders next to Horizontal and Vertical to modify the icon spacing equally needed. Then, check the boxes adjacent to All data saved and All other windows closed and select Apply. That prompts File Explorer to restart automatically, and your changes shall reflect correct abroad.

If you want to roll them dorsum, open the Advanced bill of fare and select Set Default.

DesktopOK

DesktopOK is some other app that not just lets y'all modify the default icon spacing on your Windows desktop simply likewise offers a slew of additional options, including adjusting icon sizes, fonts, saving icon layouts past screen resolution, and so on.

After downloading DesktopOK, extract it and run the executable file. On the DesktopOK window that shows upwardly, open the Tools menu and select Windows Metrics.

On the Windows Metrics window, use the sliders next to Horizontal Spacing and Vertical Spacing to make the required changes to icon spacing. The changes should apply immediately. If they don't, select Restart Explorer to force-restart File Explorer.

Select the Default button adjacent to the two sliders if yous desire to switch back to the default spacing.

Set up Your Preferred Desktop Icon Spacing Easily

The instructions above should've helped y'all ready the desktop spacing in Windows xi and Windows 10 merely the style y'all similar. Equally a reminder, messing around the registry can crusade issues, so remember to back information technology up earlier making additional changes. If you desire to play it safe, apply ane of the 2 apps above instead.

Then with that out of the way, here'southward what you tin can do to jazz up your desktop by fully customizing icons.