How to Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows


You can use Control Panel to change settings for Windows. These settings control nearly everything about how Windows looks and works, and you can use them to set up Windows so that it's just right for you.

This tutorial will show you how to change the default icon for Control Panel in File Explorer to any icon for your account or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.


Contents




EXAMPLE: Default Control Panel icon in File Explorer
Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel-1.jpg Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel-2.jpg






OPTION ONE

Change Control Panel 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\DefaultIcon

If you do not have a {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} key, right click on the CLSID key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} for the name, and press Enter.

If you do not have a DefaultIcon key, right click on the {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type DefaultIcon for the name, and press Enter.

Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel_icon_hkcu.jpg

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\imageres.dll,-27

Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel_icon_edit.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 Control Panel 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\DefaultIcon

Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel_icon_confirm-1.jpg Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel_icon_confirm-2.png

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

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\DefaultIcon

Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel_icon_hkcr.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\imageres.dll,-27

Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows-control_panel_icon_edit.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


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