Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Windows 10: By default Windows 10 users can change desktop icons using desktop icon settings but what if you want to deny access to users from using the desktop icon settings? Well, then you are in luck as today we are going to discuss exactly how to prevent a user from changing desktop icons in Windows 10. This setting is very beneficial if you use your laptop at work where you colleagues can mess up your desktop settings, thus messing up your important data. Although you can always lock your desktop but sometimes mistakes happen and thus your PC becomes vulnerable.

But before continuing, make sure you have added the necessary icons to your desktop because once the setting is enabled neither administrator or any other user can change the desktop icons settings. Anyway, without wasting any time let’s see How to Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Windows 10 with the help of the below-listed tutorial.

Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Windows 10

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Contents

  • Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Windows 10
  • Method 1: Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Registry Editor
  • Method 2: Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Group Policy Editor

Method 1: Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Registry Editor

1.Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.

2.Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

3.Right-click on System then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

4.Name this newly created DWORD as NoDispBackgroundPage and then hit Enter.

5.Double-click on NoDispBackgroundPage DWORD and change its value to:

To Enable Changing Desktop Icons: 0 To Disable Changing Desktop Icons: 1

6.Once finished, click OK and close everything.

7.Reboot your PC to save changes and see if you’re able to Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Windows 10.

Method 2: Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Group Policy Editor

Note: This method only works for Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise Edition.

1.Press Windows Key + R then type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.

2.Navigate to the following path:

User Configuration > Administrative Tools > Control Panel > Personalization

3.Select Personalization then in right window pane double-click on “Prevent changing desktop icons” policy.

4.Now change the settings of the above policy according to:

To Enable Changing Desktop Icons: Not Configured or Disabled To Disable Changing Desktop Icons: Enabled

5.Click Apply followed by OK.

6.Once finished, reboot your PC to save changes.

Now once you have disabled changing desktop icons you need to confirm if users are able to change the desktop icons or not. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Personalization and from the left-hand menu select Themes. Now in the extreme right click on Desktop icon settings and you will see a message saying “Your system administrator has disabled launching of the Display Control Panel“. If you see this message then you have successfully applied the changes and you can continue using your PC normally.

Recommended:

  • Disable Desktop Background Image in Windows 10
  • Remove the Internet Explorer icon from Desktop in Windows 10
  • Prevent Users from Changing Desktop Wallpaper in Windows 10
  • How to Change Desktop Wallpaper in Windows 10

That’s it you have successfully learned How to Prevent User From Changing Desktop Icons in Windows 10 but if you still have any questions regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.