Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10  

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    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10

    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10

    How to Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    14 Mar 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10


    Windows 10 replaced Favorites from previous Windows with Quick access. The Quick access page is the shortest route to files you've been working on and folders you often use. These are your frequent folders and recent files.

    This tutorial will show you how to change the icon for Quick Access in File Explorer to any icon for your account or all users in Windows 10.


    Contents




    EXAMPLE: Default Quick Access icon in File Explorer
    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon-1.jpg Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon-2.png





    OPTION ONE

    Change Quick Access Icon for Current User


    This option will override Option Two.

    This option will only be applied to the current user, and no other user account on the PC.


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

    2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}\DefaultIcon

    If you do not have a {679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6} key, right click on the CLSID key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type {679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6} for the name, and press Enter.

    If you do not have a DefaultIcon key, right click on the {679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6} key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type DefaultIcon for the name, and press Enter.

    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon_current_user-1.png

    3 In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key, double click/tap on the (Default) string value (REG_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Type the full path of the .ico file wrapped in quotes you want to use for the icon, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    The default icon is: %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-51380

    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon_all_users-2.png

    5 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.

    6 If File Explorer (Win+E) is currently open, close and reopen it to apply.

    If the icon doesn't change, then restart the explorer process or sign out and sign in to apply instead.







    OPTION TWO

    Change Quick Access Icon for All Users


    You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

    If any user uses Option One, it will override this option for their account.


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

    2 If you used Option One, delete the DefaultIcon key located below. (see screenshots below)

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}\DefaultIcon

    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon_all_users-3.jpg Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon_all_users-4.png

    3 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}\DefaultIcon

    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon_all_users-1.jpg

    4 Change the owner of the DefaultIcon key to the Administrators group.

    5 Change the permissions of the DefaultIcon key to "Allow" Administrators "Full control" of it.

    6 In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key, double click/tap on the (Default) string value (REG_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    7 Type the full path of the .ico file wrapped in quotes you want to use for the icon, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    The .ico file will need to be saved at a location (ex: "C:\Windows" or "C:\Users\Public") that all users have access to. If it's not, the icon may show as a default folder for some users instead.

    The default icon is: %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-51380

    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-quick_access_icon_all_users-2.png

    8 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.

    9 If File Explorer (Win+E) is currently open, close and reopen it to apply.

    If the icon doesn't change, then restart the explorer process or sign out and sign in to apply instead.



    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. xTL
    Posts : 396
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit
       #1

    Thank you Brink for the tutorial :)

    This is how it looks for me atm, would love to change Desktop also but not exactly sure how to do it.
    Change Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-2.jpgChange Quick Access Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10-5olvq4ye.jpg
    Last edited by xTL; 14 Aug 2018 at 07:06.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    @xTL,

    You can change the value of the registry key below to change the icon of "Desktop" in Quick Access. You can follow the same steps in Option Two of the tutorial above for the location below to change it.

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}\DefaultIcon
      My Computers


  3. xTL
    Posts : 396
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit
       #3

    Brink said:
    @xTL,

    You can change the value of the registry key below to change the icon of "Desktop" in Quick Access. You can follow the same steps in Option Two of the tutorial above for the location below to change it.

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}\DefaultIcon
    Haha, awesome, works perfect
    Thank you Brink!!!



    Btw is it possible to change these also ?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're most welcome.

    The other question would be good to post in the Customization forum area.
      My Computers


  5. xTL
    Posts : 396
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit
       #5

    Brink said:
    You're most welcome.

    The other question would be good to post in the Customization forum area.
    Done :)

    Thanks again Brink
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

      My Computers


  7. Posts : 121
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    @Brink:

    How does one change : pictures out of Quick Access icons

    Now in quick access
    Documents
    Downloads

    Icons?

    How about all the icons in the Quick Access Bar/Ribbon?

    Thank you Brink !
      My Computer

  8.   My Computers


  9. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #9

    "Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}\DefaultIcon"

    Hi there.

    I might be wrong but there seems to be something odd about this tutorial.

    I am on 2004 (19041.572) and I do not have a CLSID address at all in HKCU. That address ({679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}) is found in HKCR (CLASSES_ROOT). Is there a typo somewhere or did they change the registry location of some things in a recent update?

    I'm just trying to apply this now and am not finding that address where it says it is.
    Thanks for the many great tutorials and all the work you do. I've been using them for years.
      My Computer


 

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