Change or Remove Double Blue Arrows Icon on Compressed Files and Folders in Windows 10


Windows 10 supports compression for individual files and folders on NTFS volumes using NTFS compression.

When you compress a file or folder in Windows 10, its icon will have a double blue arrows overlay at the top right corner to indicate that it's a compressed file or folder.

If you encrypt a compressed file or folder, the file or folder will no longer be compressed afterwards.

If you compress an EFS encrypted file or folder, the file or folder will no longer be encrypted afterwards.

This tutorial will show you how to customize or remove the double blue arrows icon overlay on compressed files and folders for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change or remove the double blue arrows icon overlay.

If you have a custom 24x24 pixel .ico file you would like to share, then please feel free to upload and post it here.

EXAMPLE: Double Blue Arrows on Icon of Compressed File or Folder




Here's How:

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

2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

3 In Registry Editor, browse to the key at the location below. (see screenshot below)

If you do not have the Shell Icons key, then right click or press and hold on the Explorer key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type Shell Icons for the name, and press Enter.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons

4 Do step 5 (change/remove) or step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.

5 To Change or Remove Double Blue Arrows Icon

Other than uncompressing the file or folder to remove the double blue arrow icon, you can customize the icon to what you like below.

A) In the right pane of the Shell Icons key, double click/tap on the 179 string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 3)

If you do not have the 179 string value, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the Shell Icons key, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type 179 for the name, and press Enter.

B) Type in the full path of the custom .ico file you want to use, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

If you like, you can download and use a 24x24 pixel transparent.ico file here that will remove the double blue arrows icon.

Be sure to unblock this transparent.ico file before moving it into your C:\Windows\System32 folder.

6 To Restore Default Double Blue Arrows Icon

A) In the right pane of the Shell Icons key, delete the 179 string value. (see screenshot below step 3)

B) Click/tap Yes to confirm, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

7 Restart the explorer process to apply.

8 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.


That's it,
Shawn

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• How to Find and List Compressed Files and Folders in Windows 10

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