If you want a completely minimalist desktop with zero clutter (great for showing off your wallpaper), you can hide all icons instantly:

Select to instantly declutter your view. Select Medium for the standard default.

Warning: If you are on a high-resolution laptop (4K), dropping the scale too low will make text very tiny. Stick to Method 1 or 2 for just changing icons.

Right-click any empty space on your desktop, select View , and then choose Small icons . This is the standard method to switch from the default medium size.

On a Mac, the "proper feature" is located in the "View Options" menu.

Alternatively, you can also use the following method: