In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can make the icons on the bottom taskbar smaller to reclaim a sliver of vertical screen space.
Many users confuse desktop icons with taskbar icons. To make taskbar icons smaller, you must adjust the taskbar itself: make icons smaller windows
If you want smaller icons inside folders without affecting the desktop, use File Explorer’s ribbon or toolbar: In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can
Reducing taskbar icon size is handled differently depending on your version of Windows. Windows 10 Windows 10 Editing the registry can be hazardous
Editing the registry can be hazardous. Proceed with caution.
If you want all your folders to use small icons, click Options in the View tab (usually on the far right), go to the View tab in the pop-up window, and click Apply to Folders . This saves you from having to resize every folder individually.