# Where is my desktop icon?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 15, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428 "2003-05-15T13:33:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428/1 "2003-05-15T13:33:03Z")

</div>

I have Win XP Pro and for some reason my desktop icon, (you know, the one in the task bar that minimizes all your current applications) is gone.

I know it cant be anything I have done…:rolleyes:

I am sure there is a Doper out there with a quick and ready answer for me. Thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428/2 "2003-05-15T13:38:48Z")

</div>

Download [TweakUI](http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp) from Microsoft. You can then use it to turn on and off various desktop icons as well as dozens of other system tweaks. I highly recommend this utility.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428/3 "2003-05-15T13:43:19Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> System Requirements
> 
> Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98 or Windows 95.

Doesn’t list XP. Should I do it anyway?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428/4 "2003-05-15T13:45:46Z")

</div>

The icon to which you’re referring is called the Show Desktop icon. Here’s a [link to an article](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;190355) with a method of restoring that icon.

Good luck. 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428/5 "2003-05-15T13:48:26Z")

</div>

Yes, it will work on XP. But it won’t fix your problem (I was thinking of your My Computer icon, sorry). It’s still a useful tool to have.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-my-desktop-icon/175428/6 "2003-05-15T13:53:55Z")

</div>

You can also just use a keystroke - it’s the Windows key+D.