How to Change Desktop Icons on Windows?

Customizing your desktop icons in Windows allows you to personalize your workspace, making it both aesthetically pleasing and functionally efficient. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, the process is straightforward. This comprehensive guide will walk you through changing desktop icons, including system icons like “This PC” and “Recycle Bin,” as well as folder and shortcut icons.

Desktop icons serve as quick access points to applications, files, and system locations. Customizing these icons can enhance your user experience by aligning with your personal preferences or organizational needs.

Table of Contents

1. Changing System Desktop Icons

System desktop icons include “This PC,” “Recycle Bin,” “Network,” and others. The steps to change these icons differ slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Windows 10

Open Settings: Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize.” Alternatively, click the Start menu and choose the gear icon to open Settings.

Navigate to Themes: In the left-hand menu, click on “Themes.”

Access Desktop Icon Settings: Scroll down to the “Related Settings” section and click on “Desktop icon settings.”

Select and Change Icon:

In the Desktop Icon Settings window, select the icon you wish to change (e.g., “Recycle Bin”).
Click the “Change Icon” button.
Choose an icon from the list or click “Browse” to locate a custom icon file.
After selecting, click “OK,” then “Apply,” and “OK” again to confirm.

Windows 11

Open Settings: Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings.

Navigate to Personalization: In the Settings window, click on “Personalization” from the left-hand menu.

Access Themes: Click on “Themes” within the Personalization menu.

Open Desktop Icon Settings: Scroll down to the “Related settings” section and click on “Desktop icon settings.”

Select and Change Icon:

In the Desktop Icon Settings window, select the icon you want to change.
Click on “Change Icon.”
Choose a new icon from the list or click “Browse” to select a custom icon file.
After selecting, click “OK,” then “Apply,” and “OK” to save changes.

Note: These steps are corroborated by sources such as How-To Geek and Solve Your Tech.

3. Changing Folder Icons

Customizing folder icons can help in organizing and quickly identifying folders.

Right-Click the Folder: Navigate to the folder you want to customize, right-click on it, and select “Properties.”

Go to the Customize Tab: In the Properties window, click on the “Customize” tab.

Change Icon:

Click the “Change Icon” button.
Select an icon from the available list or click “Browse” to locate a custom icon file.
After choosing, click “OK,” then “Apply,” and “OK” to confirm.

This method is detailed in wikiHow’s guide.

4. Changing Shortcut Icons

Shortcuts can be customized to have unique icons, differentiating them from other files or applications.

Right-Click the Shortcut: Locate the shortcut, right-click on it, and select “Properties.”

Navigate to the Shortcut Tab: In the Properties window, ensure you’re on the “Shortcut” tab.

Change Icon:

Click the “Change Icon” button.
Choose an icon from the list or click “Browse” to find a custom icon file.
After selecting, click “OK,” then “Apply,” and “OK” to save changes.

For more information, refer to All Things How.

5. Restoring Default Icons

If you wish to revert to the original icons:

Access Desktop Icon Settings: Follow the steps mentioned earlier to open the Desktop Icon Settings window.

Restore Defaults:

Click the “Restore Default” button.
Click “Apply,” then “OK” to confirm.

This process is outlined in Support Your Tech’s guide.

6. Tips for Custom Icons

Use High-Quality Icons:

Use .ico files for the best compatibility. Websites like iconarchive.com and flaticon.com offer free icons.

Create Your Own Icons:

Convert PNG or JPG images to .ico files using online tools like ConvertICO.

Back Up Your Icons:

If you use custom icons, store them in a dedicated folder to avoid losing them during system updates or drive changes.

Avoid Overloading the Desktop:

Keep the desktop clean by grouping shortcuts into folders or taskbars for easier navigation.

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