How to Customize Desktop Icons in Windows 11

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Windows 11 gives you more control over the desktop than the first right-click menu suggests. You can change icon size, hide every desktop icon without deleting anything, decide which standard Windows icons appear, create shortcuts to applications and files, make website shortcuts, replace the icon used by an individual shortcut, and keep themes from changing selected system icons.

This guide brings those controls together into one practical desktop-customization reference. It focuses on built-in Windows 11 features first, then covers command-line helpers and troubleshooting for situations where icons are missing, blank, incorrectly sized or displaying an unexpected overlay.

Desktop customization is also easier when you understand the difference between a desktop icon, a shortcut, a standard system icon and an Explorer overlay. Those are related visually but are not the same thing. Once that distinction is clear, it becomes much easier to change one part without accidentally changing another.

Desktop Icons, Shortcuts and Overlays Are Different Things

A desktop icon can represent a real file, folder or system item, but many icons users see on the desktop are shortcuts. A shortcut is a small file containing information about another target. Windows displays an overlay on shortcuts so users can distinguish them from original items.

A standard system icon such as Recycle Bin is handled differently from an application shortcut. Its visibility is controlled through Desktop icon settings. An individual shortcut can often have its own icon selected through Properties > Shortcut > Change Icon.

This matters when troubleshooting. If only shortcuts have an unexpected arrow or square, investigate the shortcut overlay. If every icon is missing, investigate Show desktop icons. If only Recycle Bin is missing, investigate Desktop icon settings. If one shortcut has a blank icon, investigate that shortcut’s icon path and the icon cache.

What Windows 11 Lets You Customize

• Icon size and visual density on the desktop.
• Whether all desktop icons are visible.
• Which standard system icons appear.
• Whether themes can change common desktop icons.
• Shortcuts for applications, files, folders and websites.
• The icon used by an individual shortcut.
• Shortcut overlay appearance through Explorer configuration.

Method 1: Change Desktop Icon Size

The simplest desktop customization is changing icon size. Right-click an empty part of the desktop, choose View and select Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons.

Steps

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
2. Select View.
3. Choose Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons.
4. For finer control, hold Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel over the desktop.

Microsoft also documents a more flexible mouse-wheel method. Hold Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel over the desktop. Scroll up to enlarge the icons and down to reduce them. This is useful when the three preset sizes do not give you the visual density you want.

Large icons can be useful on high-resolution displays or when you need larger click targets. Small icons are useful when the desktop contains many shortcuts. Medium is the normal compromise for general use.

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
2. Select View.
3. Choose Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons.
4. Alternatively, hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel while the desktop is active.

Method 2: Hide Every Desktop Icon Without Deleting Anything

Windows can hide the entire desktop icon layer without deleting the underlying shortcuts. This is useful for a clean wallpaper, presentations, screen recordings or a less distracting workspace.

Steps

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
2. Select View.
3. Clear Show desktop icons to hide the icons.
4. Repeat the same steps and enable Show desktop icons to restore them.
5. Use File Explorer’s Desktop folder if you need to access the hidden shortcuts while they are not displayed.

Right-click an empty area of the desktop, select View and clear Show desktop icons. The icons disappear, but the files and shortcuts remain. To restore them, repeat the process and enable Show desktop icons.

If the desktop appears empty after an update or accidental click, this is one of the first settings to check. Microsoft specifically recommends checking View > Show desktop icons when no desktop icons are visible.

# No PowerShell command is required.
# Use the desktop context menu:
# Right-click desktop -> View -> Show desktop icons

Method 3: Manage This PC, Recycle Bin, Network and User Files

Windows 11 has a separate Desktop Icon Settings window for common system icons. These are not ordinary application shortcuts, so their visibility is managed through Personalization rather than a normal shortcut Properties dialog.

Steps

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Personalization > Themes.
3. Open Desktop icon settings.
4. Select the standard icons you want to display, such as This PC or Recycle Bin.
5. Select OK to apply the selection.
6. Review Allow themes to change desktop icons if you want your custom standard icons to remain stable when themes change.

Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings. You can then select the system icons you want to display. Microsoft lists This PC, Recycle Bin, Network and User’s Files among the standard icons that can be controlled from this interface.

The same dialog contains Allow themes to change desktop icons. If you have customized these icons and do not want a theme change to replace them, clear that option.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Personalization.
3. Select Themes.
4. Open Desktop icon settings.
5. Select the standard icons you want to display.
6. Apply the change and select OK.

Fast Command to Open Desktop Icon Settings

If you prefer Run or a command prompt, Windows Control Panel’s desktop icon settings dialog can be opened with:

control desk.cpl,,0

On current Windows 11 installations, the Settings route is the clearer supported interface. The command is mainly useful when you are building a troubleshooting checklist or want a fast way to open the legacy dialog.

Method 4: Add an Application Shortcut

Windows 11 supports creating application shortcuts by dragging an application from the Start app list to the desktop. Open Start, choose All or the complete application list, locate the program and drag it to the desktop.

Steps

1. Open Start and display the installed application list.
2. Locate the application you want to place on the desktop.
3. Drag the application entry onto the desktop.
4. Confirm that the new desktop item is a shortcut and opens the intended application.
5. Delete the shortcut later if you no longer need it. Deleting the shortcut does not uninstall the application.

This creates a shortcut rather than copying the application’s program files. The desktop item is therefore small and can be deleted without uninstalling the application.

If the application has a special launcher or packaged-app behavior, the exact shortcut behavior can differ. Use the Start menu method first because it is the normal Windows interface.

Method 5: Create a Shortcut With New > Shortcut

The desktop context menu includes a shortcut wizard. Right-click an empty desktop area, select New > Shortcut, enter the target location and continue through the wizard.

Steps

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
2. Select New > Shortcut.
3. Enter the target location for the application, file, folder or supported web address.
4. Select Next.
5. Enter the shortcut name and select Finish.
6. Open the shortcut once to verify that it targets the intended item.

This method is useful for files, folders, executable programs and web addresses. It is also useful when you know the target path but do not want to navigate through File Explorer first.

1. Right-click an empty desktop area.
2. Select New > Shortcut.
3. Enter the target location.
4. Select Next.
5. Enter the shortcut name.
6. Select Finish.

Method 6: Send a File or Folder to the Desktop

For an existing file or folder, File Explorer has a direct shortcut option. Find the item, right-click it, choose Show more options if required, then select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).

Steps

1. Open File Explorer and locate the file or folder.
2. Right-click the item.
3. Select Show more options if the classic context menu is not already visible.
4. Choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
5. Confirm that the original file or folder remains in its original location.

Some Windows 11 installations show the classic context menu differently, so the Show more options step may not appear. The important operation is Send to > Desktop (create shortcut), which creates a shortcut rather than moving the original item.

Method 7: Create a Website Shortcut

Website shortcuts are useful when you regularly open a web application or a specific page. Open the webpage in your browser and drag the site’s information icon from the address bar onto the desktop.

Steps

1. Open the webpage in your browser.
2. Locate the site’s information icon next to the address.
3. Drag that icon from the browser address bar onto the desktop.
4. Open the new shortcut to confirm that it reaches the intended webpage.
5. Remember that a web shortcut is still a shortcut and can receive the Windows shortcut overlay.

The exact symbol can vary by browser. Microsoft describes the browser address-bar drag method as a supported way to create a webpage shortcut.

Keep in mind that a webpage shortcut is still a shortcut. It can therefore receive the same shortcut overlay behavior as other desktop shortcuts.

Method 8: Change an Individual Shortcut Icon

If you want to change the artwork for one desktop shortcut, you do not need to modify the Windows shortcut overlay. Right-click the shortcut, select Properties and open the Shortcut tab. Select Change Icon and choose an available icon or browse to an ICO file.

Steps

1. Right-click the desktop shortcut.
2. Select Properties.
3. Open the Shortcut tab.
4. Select Change Icon.
5. Choose an existing icon or browse to a stable ICO file.
6. Select OK, then Apply and OK.

This is the correct approach when you want one shortcut to have a custom visual identity. It does not replace the application’s icon throughout Windows.

If you use an ICO file stored outside the Windows system directories, keep the file in a stable location. A shortcut that points to a custom icon file can lose that custom artwork if the icon file is moved or deleted.

Method 9: Change a Standard Windows Icon

Standard icons such as Recycle Bin are customized from Desktop icon settings. Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings, select the relevant icon and use Change Icon.

Steps

1. Open Settings > Personalization > Themes.
2. Select Desktop icon settings.
3. Select the standard desktop icon you want to change.
4. Choose Change Icon.
5. Pick an available icon or browse to a suitable ICO resource.
6. Apply the change and verify the result on the desktop.

This workflow is separate from the shortcut Properties dialog because Recycle Bin and other standard desktop items are managed by Windows as special shell objects.

Method 10: Remove Shortcut Arrows

The small arrow shown over shortcut icons is an Explorer overlay. If you want the shortcuts to remain visible while removing the arrow, use the Registry-based method described in our companion article, How to Remove Shortcut Arrows From Desktop Icons in Windows 11.

Steps

1. Open the companion guide, How to Remove Shortcut Arrows From Desktop Icons in Windows 11.
2. Choose the Registry Editor, PowerShell, Command Prompt, or transparent ICO method described there.
3. Back up the existing Shell Icons configuration before making a global change.
4. Restart Explorer after the Registry change and verify several shortcuts.
5. Use the rollback procedure if the overlay becomes a black square, disappears incorrectly, or otherwise renders badly.

The companion guide includes Registry Editor, PowerShell, reg.exe, transparent ICO files, Explorer refresh, icon-cache rebuilding, verification and rollback. Keeping the shortcut-arrow procedure in a dedicated article avoids mixing a shell-level Registry modification into the basic Windows personalization instructions here.

PowerShell: Open and Inspect Desktop Locations

PowerShell is useful for automating desktop workflows. To open the current user’s Desktop folder in File Explorer, use:

explorer.exe shell:Desktop

This does not customize the icons by itself. It simply opens the location where desktop files and shortcuts are stored. It is useful when troubleshooting whether a shortcut actually exists even though it is not visible on the desktop.

PowerShell: Create a Shortcut With WScript.Shell

For automation, PowerShell can use the Windows Script Host COM object to create a .lnk shortcut. This is useful for scripts that need to deploy a shortcut consistently across several machines.

$shell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
$shortcut = $shell.CreateShortcut("$env:USERPROFILEDesktopExample.lnk")
$shortcut.TargetPath = "C:WindowsSystem32notepad.exe"
$shortcut.WorkingDirectory = "C:WindowsSystem32"
$shortcut.Description = "Open Notepad"
$shortcut.Save()

The example creates a normal Windows shortcut on the user’s desktop. It does not remove the shortcut arrow. The overlay is controlled separately by Explorer.

If you are deploying shortcuts through a script, use a stable target path and avoid hard-coding a user profile name. The environment variable USERPROFILE makes the example work for the current account.

PowerShell: Inspect Desktop Shortcut Files

You can list shortcut files in the current desktop folder with:

Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILEDesktop" -Filter *.lnk |
 Select-Object Name, FullName, Length, LastWriteTime

If the desktop is redirected to OneDrive or another location, the physical path can differ from the default user profile Desktop folder. If you are troubleshooting a missing desktop shortcut, verify the actual Desktop location before assuming that a file was deleted.

Command Prompt: Open the Desktop

explorer.exe shell:Desktop

Command Prompt: Open Desktop Icon Settings

control desk.cpl,,0

Command Prompt: Restart Explorer

taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

Why a Desktop Icon Can Look Wrong Even When the Shortcut Works

A shortcut can still launch its target even when its icon is blank or incorrect. The shortcut target and the icon resource are separate pieces of information. A damaged icon cache, an unavailable custom ICO file, an invalid icon index or a stale shell state can affect appearance without preventing the shortcut from launching.

This is why icon troubleshooting should begin by identifying what is actually broken. If the target launches normally, do not immediately delete and recreate the shortcut. Check its Properties, icon source and Explorer cache first.

Fix Blank, White or Incorrect Shortcut Icons

Start by restarting Explorer. If the problem affects many shortcuts, rebuild the icon cache after checking for an invalid overlay or icon reference.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
del /A /Q "%localappdata%IconCache.db"
del /A /F /Q "%localappdata%MicrosoftWindowsExplorericoncache*"
start explorer.exe

If only one shortcut is wrong, open its Properties and inspect Change Icon. If the icon is loaded from a custom file, confirm that the file still exists. Rebuilding the cache is not a substitute for fixing a missing custom icon file.

Fix a Missing Recycle Bin Icon

If other desktop icons are visible but Recycle Bin is missing, open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and make sure Recycle Bin is selected.

Microsoft’s support documentation specifically recommends checking Desktop icon settings when Recycle Bin is missing. If all icons are missing, check View > Show desktop icons first.

Fix a Completely Empty Desktop

When every icon disappears at once, the first check should be View > Show desktop icons. This setting can hide all desktop icons without deleting anything.

If Show desktop icons is enabled but the desktop is still empty, open File Explorer and inspect the Desktop folder. This helps distinguish a visibility problem from a missing or redirected Desktop folder.

Desktop and OneDrive Folder Redirection

Some Windows systems use OneDrive to back up or redirect the Desktop folder. That means the files you see on the desktop may not live only under C:UsersYourNameDesktop.

If you are troubleshooting a missing shortcut, check the Desktop folder location in File Explorer. Microsoft documents that OneDrive Desktop backup can change where the Desktop folder is located and provides a Location tab for checking the path.

Do not move the Desktop folder simply to fix an icon appearance problem. First establish whether the problem is visibility, folder location, shortcut metadata or icon rendering.

Organize a Desktop With Many Icons

Customization is most useful when the desktop is treated as a launch surface rather than a permanent storage location. Keep shortcuts to frequently used applications and working folders, and move long-term files into structured folders.

Use smaller icons when density matters. Group related shortcuts into folders. Hide all icons when presenting or recording. Use standard system icons only when they provide a genuine shortcut to a common location.

A clean desktop does not require a third-party launcher. Windows already provides enough controls for most basic organization.

• Keep frequently used applications accessible.
• Group project shortcuts into folders.
• Move old downloads and completed files away from the desktop.
• Use small icons when the desktop contains many shortcuts.
• Hide all desktop icons when the wallpaper or presentation needs to remain clean.
• Use Desktop icon settings for standard Windows items.

How to Decide Which Customization Method to Use

Goal	Recommended Windows method
Make icons larger or smaller	Desktop > View
Hide every desktop icon	Desktop > View > Show desktop icons
Show This PC or Recycle Bin	Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings
Create an application shortcut	Start app list > drag to desktop
Create file/folder shortcut	File Explorer > Send to > Desktop
Create webpage shortcut	Drag browser site-information icon to desktop
Change one shortcut’s artwork	Shortcut Properties > Change Icon
Remove shortcut arrows	Explorer Shell Icons registry customization

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Deleting an application shortcut when you only wanted to change its icon.
• Changing a system icon when the problem is actually the shortcut overlay.
• Rebuilding the icon cache repeatedly without fixing a bad icon or overlay reference.
• Using a random shell32.dll resource index copied from an old Windows tutorial.
• Deleting Registry permissions or ownership to work around an Access Denied error.
• Storing a custom ICO in a temporary folder and then moving or deleting it.
• Assuming that an empty desktop means the shortcuts were deleted.
• Mixing Shell Icons instructions with ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers instructions.

Related Guide: Remove Shortcut Arrows

If your specific goal is to remove only the small arrow from shortcut icons, continue with How to Remove Shortcut Arrows From Desktop Icons in Windows 11. It is the dedicated companion to this article and covers the Registry, PowerShell and CMD methods in detail.

If you are coming from the shortcut-arrow guide because you want broader desktop personalization, this article is the better reference for icon sizing, system icons, shortcuts and desktop organization.

Choose the Right Level of Customization

Not every desktop change needs a Registry edit. If you only want more space, resize the icons. If you want a completely clean wallpaper, hide the desktop icons. If you want access to a specific application, create a shortcut. If you want a different image for one shortcut, use Change Icon.

Registry customization becomes appropriate when the desired change affects the shell presentation of shortcuts rather than one individual shortcut. Keeping these layers separate makes Windows easier to maintain and makes future troubleshooting much simpler.

A useful rule is to start with the least invasive built-in control that produces the result you want. Move to PowerShell or Registry only when the normal interface does not expose the setting.

How Windows Stores Desktop Shortcuts

Most normal desktop shortcuts are .lnk files. The file contains information such as the target and other shortcut metadata. The icon displayed by Explorer can come from the target or from an explicit icon location stored with the shortcut.

This is why copying a shortcut file to another PC can produce a different visual result if its icon source is unavailable. The shortcut itself can still work because the target and icon are separate pieces of information.

For automated deployments, prefer stable application paths and stable icon resources. If you generate custom shortcuts with PowerShell, keep any custom icon files in a location that will remain available.

Using Desktop Icon Settings Correctly

Desktop icon settings is the right place for standard Windows shell icons such as Recycle Bin and This PC. It is not a replacement for the shortcut Properties dialog and it is not the normal place to configure the shortcut arrow.

Microsoft’s current Windows 11 documentation places Desktop icon settings under Settings > Personalization > Themes. The interface also includes the option that lets themes change common desktop icons.

If an icon disappears after changing a theme, check this setting before assuming the icon has been deleted. Theme behavior can change the visual state of standard system icons without affecting personal shortcuts.

A Practical Desktop Organization Workflow

Start by identifying the applications and folders you actually open every day. Create shortcuts only for those items. Put project-specific shortcuts inside folders rather than leaving dozens of individual links on the desktop.

Use Small icons when density is important and Medium icons when the desktop is primarily a launcher. If the desktop is used during presentations or screen recordings, use Show desktop icons to hide the entire icon layer temporarily.

Once the desktop is organized, make visual changes such as custom icons or shortcut-arrow removal. Doing the structural work first makes it easier to tell whether a later visual change actually improved the desktop.

What to Do After a Windows Update

Windows updates can change shell behavior, reset some personalization choices or expose stale icon-cache problems. If a desktop icon looks different after an update, first determine whether the item is a standard system icon or a shortcut.

Check Desktop icon settings for standard icons, View > Show desktop icons for global visibility and the shortcut’s Properties for an individual icon. If many shortcuts show the same unexpected overlay, inspect the global shortcut-overlay Registry value.

Do not assume that an update deleted every shortcut simply because the desktop looks different. Check the Desktop folder in File Explorer before recreating shortcuts.

Command-Line Toolkit for Desktop Troubleshooting

These commands cover the most useful desktop-related operations discussed in this article:

explorer.exe shell:Desktop
control desk.cpl,,0
taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

Frequently Asked Questions: More Windows 11 Desktop Cases

Why does my desktop have icons but no Recycle Bin?

Recycle Bin is a standard system icon. Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and make sure Recycle Bin is selected.

Why do some icons have arrows and others do not?

The arrow is associated with shortcuts. A normal file, folder or standard shell item can be displayed without the shortcut overlay.

Can I remove the arrow without hiding desktop icons?

Yes. Shortcut-arrow removal is separate from the Show desktop icons setting. Use the dedicated shortcut-arrow procedure if you want shortcuts to remain visible.

Can I make the desktop icons larger than Large icons?

The normal View menu provides Large, Medium and Small. Holding Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel provides finer control over icon size.

Why did my custom icon disappear after moving a file?

If the shortcut’s icon comes from an ICO file that was moved or deleted, Windows may no longer be able to load it. Store custom icon assets in a permanent location.

Does changing the desktop wallpaper change icon settings?

No. Wallpaper and desktop icon configuration are separate personalization settings. A theme can affect standard desktop icons if Allow themes to change desktop icons is enabled.

Should I use a registry cleaner for icon problems?

Avoid using a registry cleaner as a first-line fix. Icon problems are usually better diagnosed by checking the relevant setting, shortcut metadata, icon file and Explorer cache directly.

Can I automate desktop shortcut deployment with PowerShell?

Yes. WScript.Shell can create .lnk files and set properties such as TargetPath, WorkingDirectory and Description. This is useful for repeatable workstation setup.

A Better Way to Build a Windows 11 Desktop

A well-designed desktop usually needs fewer shortcuts than users initially think. Start with the applications and locations you access every day. Pin frequently used programs where appropriate and reserve the desktop for items that genuinely benefit from immediate access.

Use folders for project groups, temporary workspaces and related utilities. This reduces the need to make every application visible at once. If you use several machines, a consistent folder structure also makes your desktop easier to recreate after a reinstall.

Once the functional structure is correct, customize the visual layer. Choose an icon size that fits your monitor, decide whether standard Windows icons such as Recycle Bin are useful, and use custom shortcut artwork only where it improves recognition.

Finally, decide whether you actually want the shortcut arrow removed. If the arrow helps you distinguish links from original files, keeping the default indicator may be more practical than removing it.

How to Troubleshoot One Icon Versus Every Icon

The number of affected icons is one of the most useful clues. If one shortcut is wrong, inspect that shortcut’s Properties and its custom icon path. If every shortcut has the same unwanted overlay, investigate the global Explorer shortcut-overlay configuration.

If all desktop icons disappear, check Show desktop icons. If only standard icons disappear, check Desktop icon settings. If shortcuts launch correctly but their artwork is stale, investigate the icon cache.

This approach prevents a common troubleshooting mistake: applying a global Registry fix to a problem that exists in only one shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I customize Windows 11 desktop icons without third-party software?

Yes. Windows 11 includes controls for icon size, desktop icon visibility, standard system icons, shortcut creation and individual shortcut icons. Shortcut-arrow removal is a more advanced Explorer Registry customization.

How do I make desktop icons smaller?

Right-click an empty desktop area, select View and choose Small icons. For finer adjustment, hold Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel over the desktop.

How do I hide icons without deleting them?

Right-click the desktop, select View and clear Show desktop icons. The desktop files and shortcuts remain available through File Explorer.

How do I restore the Recycle Bin icon?

Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and enable Recycle Bin.

Can I change the icon of one shortcut?

Yes. Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, open Shortcut, select Change Icon and choose an available icon or an ICO file.

Will changing a shortcut icon change the application’s icon?

No. It changes the artwork used by that shortcut. It does not replace the application’s icon throughout Windows.

Why are my desktop icons missing after an update?

First check View > Show desktop icons. If that is enabled, check Desktop icon settings for standard system icons and inspect the Desktop folder in File Explorer. If the issue is limited to icon artwork, investigate the icon cache or custom icon references.

Can PowerShell create desktop shortcuts?

Yes. PowerShell can use WScript.Shell to create standard .lnk files. This is useful for deployment and automation, while normal users can use the New > Shortcut wizard or File Explorer.

Can I remove shortcut arrows from this article’s methods?

Yes, but shortcut-arrow removal is deliberately covered as a separate procedure because it modifies Explorer’s Registry configuration. See the companion shortcut-arrow article for the full process and rollback commands.

Should I use a desktop customization utility?

For basic Windows 11 desktop customization, a third-party utility is usually unnecessary. Built-in controls cover the common tasks. A third-party utility may add convenience or advanced features, but it also becomes another software dependency that can affect Explorer behavior.

Bottom line: Windows 11 already provides most of the tools needed to build a clean, practical desktop. Use View for icon size and visibility, Desktop icon settings for standard Windows icons, shortcut creation tools for quick access, Properties for individual shortcut artwork, and the dedicated shortcut-arrow procedure when you want to change the Explorer overlay itself.

Sources: Microsoft Support documents Windows desktop icon customization, including Desktop icon settings, shortcut creation, resizing and showing or hiding desktop icons. Microsoft Q&A contains documented examples of the Explorer Shell Icons registry location and value 29 used for shortcut overlays. These registry instructions are a customization technique rather than a dedicated Windows Settings feature.