Changing Icons

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated December 28, 2015)

1

When you add programs, create shortcuts, or do any number of other tasks in Windows, the system assigns an icon to whatever it is that is being added or created. Most people use the default icons selected by Windows, but you might want to be different and specify your own icons. Here's an easy way to do it:

  1. Right-click the item whose icon you want to change. (For this example, I'll assume you are right-clicking on a shortcut icon.) Windows displays a Context menu.
  2. Click the Properties option. Windows displays a Properties dialog box for the item.
  3. Make sure the Shortcut tab is displayed. (Depending on the nature of the item you are working with, you may need to search around to find the correct tab in the dialog box.) (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Properties dialog box for a shortcut.

  4. Click Change Icon. Windows displays the Change Icon dialog box.
  5. Click Browse. Windows displays a familiar Open-style dialog box.
  6. Use the controls in the dialog box to locate and select the file that contains the icon images you want. (For the purposes of this example, locate and select the file c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll.)
  7. Click Open. Windows displays the icons in the file in the Change Icon dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

    8. Figure 2. The Change Icon dialog box.

  8. Select the icon you want to use.
  9. Click OK. Windows updates the icon in the Properties dialog box.
  10. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

You can, if desired, attempt to use different files in step 6. Sometimes Microsoft or a software vendor will create a file that contains many images (as imageres.dll does) or the icon images may be part of some other file that contains only a few. Only some exploring on your part will get you to the images you want to use.

 This tip (3604) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Using Find and Replace to Change Text Case

Can you really use Find and Replace to change the case of text in your document? Not really, but that shouldn't stop you ...

Discover More

Calculated Dates

Word makes it easy to insert today's date in a document, but not as easy to insert a date X number of days in the future. ...

Discover More

Selecting to the Next Punctuation Mark

Writing macros often involves selecting different parts of your document so that some sort of processing can be ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Improving Text Sharpness with ClearType

Ever notice that even with a fancy new monitor, text can still look a bit muddy on the screen. You can use ClearType ...

Discover More

Changing a Computer's Name

If you don't like the name that was assigned to your computer when it was put together, it's pretty easy to change. This ...

Discover More

Making Sure Num Lock is On

The Num Lock key controls how your numeric keypad behaves and, possibly, a few other behaviors. Here's how to adjust ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one more than 6?

2015-12-30 10:30:08

WyoSteve

Another source of icons in System32 is C:WindowsSystem32Shell32.dll

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.