Feel like getting out of a two-dimensional desktop? Here's how to set up a 3D desktop in Windows 11 and 10.
Windows has always been stuck with a flat, two-dimensional desktop throughout its history. However, you can add a much more visually appealing 3D desktop to Windows with BumpTop. BumpTop is open source software (acquired by Google) that turns your desktop into a 3D room with a top-down perspective.
Do I want to know more? Here's how you can transform Windows 11 and 10 with BumpTop.
How to add a 3D desktop with BumpTop
Installing and starting BumpTop will add its 3D desktop to Windows. The BumpTop installation process is quick and straightforward. Furthermore, the software weighs in at a relatively light 57,3 megabytes. Therefore, you probably won't need to free up hard drive space before installing BumpTop. You can download and install BumpTop as follows.
- Open the.
- Click the Download link to download the BumpTop setup wizard.
- Open File Explorer (press the keyboard shortcut Win + E ) and open the folder that includes the BumpTopWindows-v2.5.exe file.
- Double-click BumpTopWindows-v2.5.exe to open the installation wizard.
- click on NEXT to select I accept the contract .
- Press the button again NEXT to install the software.
- Then double-click the BumpTop desktop shortcut to launch the software.
Now you will see the new 3D desktop in Windows 11. That desktop is a 3D room with three walls and a floor. The floor of the room includes desktop shortcut icons, but you can drag them to the surrounding walls with the mouse.
You can double-click those icons to open their software packages just like you normally would on the regular 2D desktop.
You can return to the normal desktop by right-clicking the icon in the BumpTop system tray and selecting Quit BumpTop . Alternatively, press the hotkey Alt + F4 for that option.
How to add widgets and sticky notes to the 3D desktop
In addition to icons, BumpTop's 3D desktop can also include sticky notes and other widgets. To add helpful note reminders, right-click anywhere on the desktop and select Sticky note in the circular menu. Then enter some text in the yellow note that appears and click outside the notifier to save the changes.
BumpTop has six other widget options. Right - click somewhere on the 3D desktop and select the option Widget shown directly below. Then you can select to add photo frame, Send to printer, new email, Facebook, file sharing and Twitter widget to desktop.
If you select the option Add a photo frame there, the Select Photo Frame Source window will open. To add a photo to your desktop, select the button Local Directory or Image File option on that window. Then click the button with i dots to choose an image to add and press the button OK .
How to set icon stacks and grids
BumpTool has some useful desktop organization options. It allows you to set stacks and grids of icons. The stacking icons allow you to stack them by type or by time. The option Grid neatly organizes a selection of icons in a grid.
To accumulate some icons, select an icon to include. Then hold down the key Ctrl to select multiple icons. Once you've selected them, right-click on one of the icons and select Accumulate for. Choose your options Stack by type o Stack up for time .
Then the selected icons will be stacked as in the snapshot directly below. You can remove a stack by right-clicking and selecting Break pile . Or you can select a stack and press the hotkey instead Ctrl + B.
You can set up a grid in much the same way. Select multiple icons on the desktop with the key Ctrl . Then right - click on a selected icon to choose the option Grill .
How to customize the desktop theme
BumpTop has a few different room theme settings to choose from. To change the theme, press the hotkey Ctrl + Comma to display the BumpTop settings window. Click on the tab Themes within that window. Select an alternate theme from the drop-down menu Theme Pack.
There you can also edit floor and wall images of a selected theme. To change the wallpapers, click the Browse buttons for the Floor, Front Wall, Back Wall, Left Wall, and Right Wall options. Choose a different image and press the Open button. If you want the floor to include your regular desktop background, select the Use Windows background as floor check box. Click Apply to save all theme changes.
How to customize icons in BumpTop
You can customize desktop shortcuts in BumpTops by resizing them, changing their icons, and adjusting their alignment. To resize an icon, right-click to select options Enlarge o Reduce for it. Alternatively, select a desktop shortcut and press hotkeys Ctrl + G o Ctrl + S to enlarge or reduce it. You can restore the default size for a selected icon by simultaneously pressing the keys Ctrl + R.
To change an icon, right-click on a desktop item and select Other . Select the option Change icon. Choose a different icon in the file browser and press the button apri .
You can further customize the icons from BumpTop's settings window. Open that window by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Comma . Select the scheda Icons and Physics in the snapshot directly below.
The bar of alignment of icons allows you to activate the rotation of free-form icons. Drag the bar slider to the far right to select Rotation free form. With this option applied, you can fully rotate the icons with the mouse. Left-click on an icon and hold down the left mouse button to rotate it.
You can also select a checkbox Enable launch on widgets and stacks there. Selecting this option allows you to launch shortcut icons in the 3D desktop room by clicking the left mouse button and quickly releasing the mouse button. If you throw them with another force, they will bounce off the walls. click on Apply after changing any options in the Icons tab e physics .
