The fastest way to change a taskbar icon
Right-click the app icon on your taskbar, then click Unpin from taskbar. Open the app from your Start menu or File Explorer, right-click it, and select Pin to taskbar. Windows will add it back with its default icon. If you want a custom image instead of the default, you will need to create a shortcut with a different icon file, which takes a few extra steps but gives you full control over what appears.
The reason this matters: Windows 11 pulls taskbar icons directly from the app itself. You cannot edit them in place. The workaround is to build a shortcut that points to the app but displays whatever icon you choose.
Key Takeaways
- Unpinning and repinning an app resets it to the default icon, which works if you just want the original appearance back.
- To use a custom icon, you must create a shortcut to the app and change the shortcut's icon properties, then pin that shortcut instead.
- Icon files must be in .ico, .png, or .bmp format; .ico files work most reliably with Windows 11.
- The shortcut method works for any program, including web browsers, games, and Microsoft Store apps.
Creating a shortcut with a custom icon
First, locate the app's executable file or create a shortcut to it. For Microsoft Store apps, right-click the app in your Start menu and select Open file location. For desktop programs, find the .exe file in Program Files or Program Files (x86). If you cannot find it, search your computer for the app name plus ".exe".
Right-click the .exe file or an existing shortcut to the app. Select Create a shortcut (or Send to > Desktop if you want to start there). Windows will ask if you want the shortcut on the desktop—click Yes. You now have a shortcut file you can modify.
Right-click the new shortcut and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, then click Change Icon at the bottom. A dialog will open showing available icons from the app itself. If none of these work for you, click Browse to find a custom icon file on your computer.
Finding and using custom icon files
Icon files come in several formats. Windows 11 works best with .ico files, but .png and .bmp files also work. You can read icon packs from websites like Flaticon, IconArchive, or Deviantart. Search for the app name plus "icon" to find options. read the file and save it somewhere you will remember, like a folder called "Icons" in your Documents.
Once you have a custom icon file, go back to the Change Icon dialog in your shortcut's Properties. Click Browse, navigate to where you saved the icon file, select it, and click Open. You will see a preview of the icon. Click OK to explore it to the shortcut.
If the icon does not appear or looks wrong, the file may be corrupted or in an unsupported format. Try a different icon file. .ico files are most reliable; if you downloaded a .png, consider converting it to .ico using a free online converter.
Pinning the custom shortcut to your taskbar
Now that your shortcut has the icon you want, right-click it and select Pin to taskbar. The custom icon will appear on your taskbar when ready. If you created the shortcut on your desktop, you can delete the desktop version once it is pinned—the taskbar version will remain.
If the icon does not show up correctly on the taskbar, right-click the taskbar icon and select Unpin from taskbar, then pin it again. Sometimes Windows needs a moment to refresh the display. If it still does not work, restart your computer.
Changing icons for Microsoft Store apps
Microsoft Store apps are trickier because their files are buried in a protected system folder. The shortcut method still works: right-click the app in your Start menu, select Open file location, then right-click the app shortcut that opens and select Create a shortcut. Windows will ask if you want it on the desktop—click Yes. From there, follow the same steps as above: right-click the new shortcut, go to Properties > Shortcut tab, and click Change Icon.
Some Microsoft Store apps will not let you change the icon this way because they use special system icons. If the Change Icon button is grayed out, the app does not support custom icons through shortcuts. In that case, your only option is to unpin and repin the original app to reset it to its default appearance.
Troubleshooting icon changes that do not stick
If you change an icon and it reverts to the original after a restart, Windows may be overwriting your shortcut. This happens most often with built-in apps. Try pinning the shortcut from a different location—for example, if you created it on the desktop, move it to a folder in Documents first, then pin it from there.
Another common issue: the icon appears on the taskbar but looks blurry or stretched. This usually means the icon file is too small or in the wrong format. Use a .ico file at least 256 × 256 pixels, or convert your image to .ico format using an online tool. If you created the icon yourself, make sure it has a transparent background so it blends with the taskbar.
If the taskbar icon still shows the old image after you have changed it, clear your icon cache. Press Windows key + R, type taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe, and press Enter. Wait a few seconds, then press Windows key + R again, type explorer.exe, and press Enter. This restarts File Explorer and refreshes the icon display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icon of an app that is already pinned without unpinning it?
No. You must unpin the original app, create a shortcut with the custom icon, and pin the shortcut instead. Windows does not allow direct editing of pinned app icons.
What if I cannot find the app's .exe file?
Right-click the app in your Start menu and select Open file location. If that does not work, use the search bar at the bottom left of your screen to search for the app name plus ".exe". You can also check Program Files and Program Files (x86) manually by opening File Explorer and navigating there.
Will changing the icon affect how the app runs?
No. Changing the icon only changes what appears on your taskbar. The app itself runs exactly the same way. The shortcut still points to the original executable file.
Can I use any image as a taskbar icon?
You can use .ico, .png, or .bmp files. If you have a .jpg or other format, convert it to .ico first using a free online converter. The image should be square and at least 256 × 256 pixels for the best appearance on the taskbar.
What happens if I delete the shortcut after pinning it to the taskbar?
The pinned taskbar icon will remain and continue to work. The shortcut file and the taskbar icon are separate once pinned. You can safely delete the shortcut from your desktop or Documents folder.