A desktop may refer to any of the following:

  1. A desktop describes a desktop computer or system unit.

  2. When referring to an operating system or GUI (graphical user interface), the desktop is the primary place to display and organize icons on a screen. The Microsoft Windows desktop was first introduced with Microsoft Windows 95 and has been included with every version of Windows since then. The image below is an example of the Microsoft Windows 7 desktop.

In this example, there are no icons on the desktop, and the wallpaper is a blue screen with the Windows 7 logo. Also, the taskbar is at the bottom of the desktop and contains the Start, taskbar icons, Windows Notification Area, and the time and date.

What icons and items are found on the Windows desktop?

Common icons on the desktop include those for My Computer, Recycle Bin, your Internet browser (e.g., Internet Explorer), and My Documents. On the Windows desktop, you can find the Windows Start menu through the Start on the taskbar, and the Windows Notification Area.

If you’re more familiar with a smartphone or tablet, you can think of the desktop as the home screen.

You can get to the Windows desktop at any time by pressing the Windows key and D at the same time or using Aero Peek.

If some or all of these icons are missing on the desktop, you can change which icons are displayed. Click the link below and follow the steps to show or hide these icons.

  • Missing My Computer, My Network Places, or My Documents icon.

The date and time are also shown on the desktop in the notification area on the taskbar. If the date and time are incorrect, you can change the date and time from the desktop.

  • How to set or change a computer’s date and time.

Should I capitalize the word “desktop” in my writing?

Unless at the beginning of a sentence, “desktop” should be all lowercase when referring to part of a GUI operating system.

Other words that contain the word desktop, such as “Active Desktop” and “Remote Desktop,” are capitalized. Settings and options may also capitalize desktop in their description.

  1. With software, a desktop is a Graphical User Interface metaphor in a desktop environment for interacting with the user and the operating system.
  • How to quickly get to the Windows desktop.
  • How to create a Windows shortcut.
  • How to show or hide desktop shortcut icons.
  • How to remove unused icons from the Windows desktop.
  • How to adjust the Windows background.
  • Access Windows desktop icons without minimizing anything.
  • How to add or remove a shortcut on the Windows taskbar.
  • Missing Windows desktop Recycle Bin icon.
  • Missing laptop battery icon in Windows.
  • Issues and questions related to the Windows taskbar.
  1. Desktops is a Windows Sysinternals utility that allows users to manage applications on up to four virtual desktops, all accessible using the tray icon interface.

Active Desktop, Aero Peek, Chassis, CTD, Microcomputer, Nettop, Operating system terms, PC, Presentation manager, Remote desktop, Slimline model, Work area