How to change icons of network share folders?

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  1. Posts : 56
    Windows 10 Pro 1903
       #1

    How to change icons of network share folders?


    How to change icons of network share folders?-dir.png

    These folders are of WSL distros (located inside "\\wsl$")
    I've tried adding a desktop.ini file inside these folders but that has no effect. Also there is no way to add a folder icon from the right-click properties menu.
    Is there any other way to customize network share folders?
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  2. Posts : 843
    11 Pro 21H2 (22000.832)
       #2

    Since that icon is drawn from the system icon file .dll shell32 or imageres, I figured the way to do the sort of thing you're trying is to edit the .dll, substituting the icon I want for the native icon, and saving the .dll file, so that Windows would think it was using the native icon when it drew the icon.

    My thread is here: I'd like to try editing imageres.dll. Experience with that file?

    No working solution emerged.
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  3. Posts : 3,352
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #3

    Depending on where you want the icons to appear, you can always create shortcuts and use whatever icon(s) you want. That's what I did with my network connections. I have them grouped in a folder named Network that I created in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. I often can't find icons I like in Windows, so get them from other sources and keep them in C:\Icons.
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  4. Posts : 56
    Windows 10 Pro 1903
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Wisewiz said:
    Since that icon is drawn from the system icon file .dll shell32 or imageres, I figured the way to do the sort of thing you're trying is to edit the .dll, substituting the icon I want for the native icon, and saving the .dll file, so that Windows would think it was using the native icon when it drew the icon.

    My thread is here: I'd like to try editing imageres.dll. Experience with that file?

    No working solution emerged.
    That would be for the case if i wanted to have a custom icon for every network share folder.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 843
    11 Pro 21H2 (22000.832)
       #5

    Okay, I may be under-complicating this, but I use shortcuts to my network shares very effectively, to give each shared folder its own distinctive icon. That's what larc919 suggested in #3 above.

    I have a folder of Network shortcuts in my Start menu apps list, and each shortcut bears its own badge.

    Am I missing something about your request?
    How to change icons of network share folders?-netsharefolder.jpg

    Original, left; mine, right.
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  6. Posts : 56
    Windows 10 Pro 1903
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Wisewiz said:
    Okay, I may be under-complicating this, but I use shortcuts to my network shares very effectively, to give each shared folder its own distinctive icon. That's what larc919 suggested in #3 above.

    I have a folder of Network shortcuts in my Start menu apps list, and each shortcut bears its own badge.

    Am I missing something about your request?
    How to change icons of network share folders?-netsharefolder.jpg

    Original, left; mine, right.
    Choosing a custom icon for shortcuts works well when they're on the desktop but when pinning them to the quick access they show their original icon from imageres.dll

    So i think there isn't any other possibility
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  7. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #7

    I have a folder of network shortcuts- I chose to add this to my file explorer navigation pane.. but as I use Open shell as my start menu I could have put it there.

    I tried pinning one shortcut to Quick Access - its icon was retained.
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  8. Posts : 843
    11 Pro 21H2 (22000.832)
       #8

    dalchina said:
    I tried pinning one shortcut to Quick Access - its icon was retained.
    I tried with a custom icon and it didn't retain the icon when I pinned it to QA.

    Just wondering: did your icon-that-stayed-when-you-pinned-it come from imageres or shell32, or was it a custom icon?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #9

    It's an ico file from a folder, not a resource in a system file.
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  10. Posts : 843
    11 Pro 21H2 (22000.832)
       #10

    dalchina said:
    It's an ico file from a folder, not a resource in a system file.
    Wellsir, like OP, I can't get that to work. I create the netshare shortcut on the desktop, change its icon, and then pin it to QA, and only the original icon shows. I think that the fact that this is working for you and not for OP or me is directly related to the fact that you're using Open Shell, which allows all kinds of customizations not available in native Windows displays (which, of course, is why you choose to use Open Shell!).
    How to change icons of network share folders?-desktop-netshare.jpg How to change icons of network share folders?-qa-netshare-2.jpg
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