What do you know about the default icons or folder icon on Windows 10? You tried to cut the boredom after customizing your device by modifying the fonts or themes. However, you can also take this customization to a whole new level after modifying the default Windows icons and make your PC look good and better arranged. In this article, we take you through the different methods to modify any icons on Windows 10.
Before moving further, you must know that if you modify the icon of a folder, it can’t display a thumbnail preview of its contents in the large icons view. You want to take a backup default folder to get this feature working again.
Contents
Customize Windows 10 icons ->
- Provide your PC a personal spin
- Make your environment look trendy or catchy
- Make your PC user-friendly
- Indicate the importance of a specific icon after making it looks unique
- If you want to locate an important icon using a huge crowd of icons
However, with the array of advantages listed above, there are various types of icons that can be changed on Windows 10. It includes taskbar icons, desktop icons, folder icons, and shortcut icons. If you want to know how to customize these, let’s move on to the technique.
Find new or custom icons for Windows 10
Before we can begin modifying icons on Windows 10, we want some icons to exchange the existing ones. The Operating System has a collection of built-in icons, but they probably not be that great. However, there are many online resources offering lots of high-quality amazing icons. You can catch them in a pack at once, or download single icons based on your likings. Some popular icon repositories are Findicons, FlatIcon, IconArchive, DeviantArt, or GraphicBurger.
Modify File & Folder Icon in Windows 10
- Desktop icons
- Shortcut icons
- Taskbar icons
- Folder icons
- File icons
- Drive icons.
How To Change Folder Icon In Windows 10:
Step 1:
Head over to This PC in File Explorer.
Step 2:
Add the folder whose icon you want to customize.
Step 3:
Right-tap it and choose Properties in the context menu.
Step 4:
In the Properties window, head over to the Customize tab.
Step 5:
Tap on the button Change Icon.
Step 6:
In the other dialog, choose a new icon and you are done.
Tip: There are many good icons in the following files:
C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll
C:\Windows\system32\imageres.dll
C:\Windows\system32\moricons.dll
C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Modify the icon of a folder added in a Library
If you right-tap a folder in any Library, you will be amazed to view that there is no Customize tab. The Customize tab will be hidden. If you want to ignore this restriction, do the following.
To modify the icon of a folder added in a Library, do the following.
Step 1:
Head over to the desired library.
Step 2:
Right-tap the folder and choose Open folder location in the context menu.
Step 3:
The target folder will be opened again in the Explorer window. Its physical location will be opened, so you can modify its icon as mentioned above!
Customize Taskbar Icons
We all know that the icons are pinned to your taskbar are also shortcuts. So you can customize these in the same way that you customize any other shortcut icon. But there are a few things you want to keep in mind here:
- Just customize those icons that are pinned to the taskbar but not the ones which are currently executing and appearing there.
- For an app that is pinned, but is running currently, you will need to close the app to begin customizing the shortcut icon.
Initiate by holding the ‘Shift’ key and right-tap the app icon and select ‘Properties’.
Now, follow the same instruction as listed in the ‘Desktop Icon’ option above to set a new icon.
Customize Desktop Icons
‘Desktop Icons’ are like Recycle Bin, Network, This PC, and your User folder all fall in this category. Also, though modern models of Windows can’t display them all on the desktop. However, users can always backup these missing icons that appear on your system’s desktop or also modify these icons when they appear elsewhere on your PC.
If you want to customize desktop icons follow the below-mentioned instruction:
Step 1:
Head over to the ‘Settings’
Step 2:
Press ‘Personalization’
Step 3:
Now tap on ‘Themes’, and head over to ‘Desktop Icon Settings’.
Step 4:
Once you tap on ‘Desktop Icon Settings’ a separate ‘Desktop Icon Settings’ window will appear.
Step 5:
In the ‘Desktop Icons’ section, just check the checkbox corresponding to the particular item whose icon you want to customize.
Step 6:
Now press the ‘Change Icon’ button.
Step 7:
Once you click the ‘Change Icon’ button, a list of in-built icons appears on the display screen. To select from these in-built Windows icons choose one and press the ‘OK’ button.
This will modify the icon.
To choose a custom icon press the ‘Browse’ button to move to the folder having the icon of your choice and press ‘Open’ to upload the icon on the Windows icon list. However, you can choose the uploaded icon. Also, once you browse for your own icons, you can choose any EXE, DLL, or ICO file.
Step 8:
At last, tap the ‘Apply’ button and then press on the ‘OK’ button to save your settings.
To reverse the change, move back to the ‘Desktop Icon Settings’ window, then press the ‘Restore Default’ button and press ‘Apply’ and then tap ‘Ok’ to save settings.
How To Customize Shortcut Icons
After adding a shortcut for folders and apps makes things very simple or easy on any OS. Users can modify the icon for a shortcut in Windows and it works for all types of shortcuts including a shortcut to an app, folder, or also Command Prompt command. Here is the instruction to customize any shortcut icon:
Step 1:
Head over to your ‘Desktop’ and choose the shortcut you want to modify the icon for
Step 2:
Right-tap the shortcut and choose ‘Properties’.
Step 3:
On the ‘Shortcut’ tab, choose the ‘Change Icon’ button.
Step 4:
As it opens the standard ‘Change Icon’ window.
Step 5:
Now follow the same instructions as mentioned above ‘Desktop Icon’ option to choose the icon and apply settings.
Customize Particular File Types Icons
Personalizing the icon of a particular type of file demands third-party tools such as File Types Manager. Follow these instructions:
Step 1:
Initially, get the freeware FileTypesMan on your PC
Step 2:
In the ‘Find Box’ locate the file type that you like to modify its icon for.
Step 3:
Now exit the Find box.
Step 4:
Right-tap the file and select ‘Edit Selected File Type’.
Step 5:
In the Default Icon choice, tap the 3-dots button in the pop-out window.
Step 6:
Choose one of the existing icons or enter your own icon by tapping Browse > click OK.
Step 7:
At last, press ‘Ok’ to run the modification.
Modify Drive icons
You can also modify the Icons of your Windows Drives easily after using freeware Drive Icon Changer or My Drive Icon.
In this way, you can customize various types of icons in Windows 10. So, try to customize and add new icons to your apps or folders. And yes, if you want to revert the modifications, you will only want to press the ‘Restore Defaults’ button in the required Properties window and tap on it.
Conclusion:
Here’s all about “Modify File & Folder Icon in Windows 10”. If you are facing any issue then let us know. If you think that it is helpful then do let us know your suggestions in the comment section below. Do you know any other alternative method that you think we can’t cover in this guide?
Till then! Keep Smiling ?
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