How to make desktop icons smaller or bigger on a Mac

Desktop icons too big, too small or too far apart? Show View Options for the desktop sets icon size, spacing, text size and where the labels go.

Guide · Updated 22 October 2026

How do I change desktop icon size?

  1. Click an empty part of the desktop, so Finder is in front with nothing selected.
  2. Press ⌘ J, or choose View, Show View Options.
  3. Drag Icon size left for smaller, right for bigger.

What else can I change there?

  • Grid spacing: how far apart icons sit.
  • Text size: the size of the names.
  • Label position: names under icons, or to the right.
  • Show item info: extra details under each name, such as a picture's size or how many items a folder holds.
  • Sort By: keep icons sorted by name, kind or date, instead of where you dropped them.

These settings only change the desktop. Finder windows have their own.

How do I tidy icons into a grid?

Right click the desktop and choose Clean Up, or Clean Up By to sort them as well. To keep them grouped by type automatically, choose Use Stacks.

Fewer icons in the first place: organise your Mac desktop or hide desktop icons. Icons gone altogether? Desktop icons disappeared.

Questions

How do I make desktop icons smaller on a Mac?

Click the desktop, press Command J, and drag Icon size to the left.

How do I change the space between desktop icons?

Adjust Grid spacing in the desktop's View Options.

How do I line up desktop icons on a Mac?

Right click the desktop and choose Clean Up.

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