How to Change or Restore Desktop Folder Icon in Windows
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your PC and sign in to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open apps or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put items on the desktop, such as files, folders, and shortcuts, and arrange them however you want.
By default, your personal Desktop folder is located in your account's %UserProfile% (ex: "C:\Users\Brink") folder.
This tutorial will show you how to change or restore the default Desktop folder icon for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: Change Desktop Folder Icon in Properties
- Option Two: Change Desktop Folder Icon in desktop.ini file
- Option Three: Restore Default Desktop Folder Icon in Properties
- Option Four: Restore Default Desktop Folder Icon in desktop.ini file
EXAMPLE: Desktop folder
1 If you haven't already, you will need to add the Customize tab to Desktop folder properties.
2 Open your Desktop folder's current location (ex: "C:\Users\Brink") in File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
3 Right click or press and hold on the Desktop folder, and click/tap on Properties.
4 Click/tap on the Customize tab, and click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
5 Follow the steps below to select an icon: (see screenshots below)
The %SystemRoot\System32\shell32.dll and %SystemRoot\System32\imageres.dll files contain most of Windows default icons.
- Click/tap on the Browse button.
- Navigate to and select the icon library (ex: .dll) or .ico file you want to use, and click/tap on Open.
- Select the icon you want to use, and click/tap on OK.
6 Click/tap on OK to apply (see screenshot below step 4)
1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, copy and paste %UserProfile%\Desktop\desktop.ini into Run, and click/tap on OK to open that file. (see screenshot below)
If you changed the default location of your Desktop folder, then you will need to substitute %UserProfile%\Desktop in the path above with the actual full path of your Desktop folder's current location instead.
2 In the IconResource= line in the desktop.ini window, change the full path to the full path of the icon you want to use. (see screenshot below)
If you do not have a IconResource=<icon path> line, then you will need to add it.
3 Click/tap on File (menu bar), click/tap on Save (Ctrl+S), and close the desktop.ini window. (see screenshot below)
4 Restart the explorer process or sign out and sign in to apply.
1 If you haven't already, you will need to add the Customize tab to Desktop folder properties.
2 Open your Desktop folder's current location (ex: "C:\Users\Brink") in File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
3 Right click or press and hold on the Desktop folder, and click/tap on Properties.
4 Click/tap on the Customize tab, and click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on the Restore Defaults button. (see screenshot below)
6 Click/tap on OK to apply (see screenshot below step 4)
1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, copy and paste %UserProfile%\Desktop\desktop.ini into Run, and click/tap on OK to open that file. (see screenshot below)
If you changed the default location of your Desktop folder, then you will need to substitute %UserProfile%\Desktop in the path above with the actual full path of your Desktop folder's current location instead.
2 In the IconResource= line in the desktop.ini window, change the full path to %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183. (see screenshot below)
If you do not have a IconResource=<icon path> line, then you will need to add it.
3 Click/tap on File (menu bar), click/tap on Save (Ctrl+S), and close the desktop.ini window. (see screenshot below)
4 Restart the explorer process or sign out and sign in to apply.
That's it,
Shawn
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Change or Restore Desktop Folder Icon in Windows
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Awesome tutorial Shawn -
hell, with these instructions, some icons from here & there and some goofing around with W10 settings - don't really need to take a chance with custom themes. Obvious I lean toward the 'darkside', heh heh ...
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I threw in this last one to show a registry hack that lets me have folder icons AND thumbnails simultaneously whoo-hah.
one more to show messin' with W10 built-in themeing ...
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Last edited by MourningStar; 26 Nov 2020 at 12:53.
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Change or Restore Desktop Folder Icon in Windows
How to Change or Restore Desktop Folder Icon in WindowsPublished by Shawn BrinkCategory: Customization
06 Sep 2020
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