The Three Ways to Change Icons in Windows 10

You can change icons in Windows 10 through three main routes: right-clicking a shortcut to swap its icon, using the built-in icon library, or downloading new icons from outside Windows. The fastest method depends on what you want to change — a single desktop shortcut takes 30 seconds, while changing system folder icons or creating a full custom theme takes longer and involves more steps.

Most people start by changing shortcut icons because it requires no downloads or system changes. If you want to change folder colors or swap out the icons Windows uses for built-in apps, you will need to dig into Properties dialogs or use third-party icon packs. This guide covers all three approaches in order of simplicity.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any desktop shortcut, select Properties, click Change Icon, and pick a new one from the built-in library — this takes under a minute.
  • Windows 10 stores hundreds of icons in system files like shell32.dll and imageres.dll, which you can browse through the Change Icon dialog.
  • Changing folder icons requires opening the folder's Properties, clicking Customize, and selecting an icon from the same system library.
  • Third-party icon packs let you swap many icons at once, but they require downloading files and may need a restart to take effect.
  • Pinned taskbar icons and Start menu tiles cannot be changed through the standard icon dialog — you must use third-party tools or icon pack installers.

Changing a Desktop Shortcut Icon in 30 Seconds

Right-click the shortcut on your desktop. A menu will appear. Click Properties at the bottom. The Properties window opens — look for the Shortcut tab at the top (it is usually already selected). Click the Change Icon button near the bottom of the window.

A dialog box titled "Change Icon" appears. You will see a grid of icons from a system file — usually shell32.dll. Scroll through the grid to find an icon you like, click it once to select it (it will have a border around it), then click OK. Click OK again in the Properties window. The shortcut icon on your desktop changes when ready.

If you do not see an icon you want in the default set, you can browse other system files. In the "Change Icon" dialog, click the folder icon next to the file path at the top. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and look for files like imageres.dll or shell32.dll. Each file contains a different set of icons. Select one and click Open — the icon grid updates to show that file's icons.

Changing Folder Icons

Right-click any folder on your computer. Click Properties. Click the Customize tab at the top. Near the bottom, you will see a button that says Change Icon. Click it.

The same "Change Icon" dialog appears. Scroll through the icons, select one, and click OK twice. The folder icon changes when ready on your desktop and in File Explorer. This works for any folder — your Documents folder, a custom folder you created, or a system folder like Downloads.

If you change your mind, go back to Properties > Customize > Change Icon and select the first icon in the grid (usually a plain folder icon) to restore the default.

Using Windows 10's Built-In Icon Library

Windows 10 includes hundreds of icons spread across several system files. The most useful ones are in shell32.dll (which contains folder, file, and common app icons) and imageres.dll (which has additional graphics and symbols). When you click "Change Icon" on any shortcut or folder, you are browsing these files.

To see what icons are available without changing anything, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32. Look for shell32.dll, right-click it, and select Properties. This does not let you browse the icons directly, but it confirms the file exists on your system. To actually see and choose icons, use the "Change Icon" dialog from a shortcut or folder — that is the only built-in way to browse the library.

The icons in these system files are organized by category (folders, arrows, checkmarks, warning symbols, and so on), but the dialog does not label them. You will need to scroll and look until you find what you want. Most people find a suitable icon within the first 50 or so in the grid.

Installing and Using Third-Party Icon Packs

If the built-in icons do not match your taste, you can read icon packs from websites like DeviantArt, IconArchive, or Itch.io. These packs usually come as .zip files containing dozens or hundreds of .ico or .png files. read the pack, extract it to a folder on your computer, and then use those files when you change icons.

After extracting an icon pack, right-click a shortcut and go to Properties > Shortcut > Change Icon. Click the folder icon next to the file path and navigate to the folder where you extracted the icon pack. Select an .ico file and click Open. The icons from that file appear in the grid. Select one and click OK.

Some icon packs come with an installer that automatically places icons in a system folder and may even change multiple icons at once. If the pack includes an .exe installer, run it and follow the on-screen instructions. After installation, you may need to restart Windows for all the changes to take effect. Always read icon packs from trusted sources — malicious files can hide inside icon packs just like any other read.

What You Cannot Change (And Why)

Taskbar icons and Start menu tiles do not respond to the standard "Change Icon" method. If you pin an app to the taskbar or Start menu, Windows uses the icon built into the app itself, not a shortcut icon. To change these, you need either a third-party tool like TaskbarX or an icon pack installer that modifies system files directly.

System app icons (like Settings, File Explorer, or Cortana) also cannot be changed through the Properties dialog. These icons are embedded in Windows system files and protected from casual editing. Changing them requires either a full icon pack installer or manual editing of system files, which carries a higher risk of breaking something.

If you want to change many icons at once — your entire desktop theme, for example — look for icon packs that include an installer. These tools handle the heavy lifting and are safer than trying to change each icon individually.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is looking for the "Change Icon" button in the wrong place. It is in Properties, not in a right-click menu by itself. Make sure you right-click the shortcut (or folder), select Properties, and then look for the button — it is usually near the bottom of the Shortcut tab.

Another mistake is trying to change an icon by right-clicking the actual app or program file instead of a shortcut. Shortcuts are the small files with an arrow overlay on the icon; programs and apps are usually in Program Files or the Start menu. If you right-click a program file, you will not see a "Change Icon" button. Create a shortcut to the program first (right-click the program and select "Create shortcut"), then change the shortcut's icon.

If you read an icon pack and the icons do not appear in the grid, make sure you extracted the .zip file completely. Trying to open an icon from inside a .zip file usually does not work — you must extract it to a regular folder first. Also check that the files are actually .ico format; some icon packs contain .png files, which the standard "Change Icon" dialog may not recognize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the icon of an app in the Start menu?

Not through the standard method. Start menu app icons come from the app itself, not from a shortcut file. You can create a shortcut to the app on your desktop, change that shortcut's icon, and pin the shortcut to the Start menu instead. Alternatively, use a third-party icon pack installer, which can replace system app icons directly.

Where do I find .ico files to use as custom icons?

read icon packs from sites like DeviantArt, IconArchive, or Itch.io. Search for "Windows 10 icon pack" or "free icon set." Extract the .zip file to a folder on your computer, then navigate to that folder when you click "Change Icon" in a shortcut's Properties. Make sure the files are .ico format — some packs use .png, which may not work with the standard dialog.

What happens if I change an icon and then uninstall the program?

If you changed a shortcut icon, nothing happens — the shortcut remains with its new icon, but it will no longer work because the program is gone. If you used a third-party icon pack and then uninstalled it, icons that pointed to files in that pack may break or revert to defaults. Always keep downloaded icon packs in a permanent folder rather than a temporary one.

Can I change the icon of a file (like a document or image)?

No. Only shortcuts and folders have a "Change Icon" option in Properties. Files like .docx, .jpg, or .txt use icons determined by their file type — all Word documents show the same icon, for example. To give a file a custom icon, create a shortcut to it and change the shortcut's icon instead.

Do I need to restart Windows after changing an icon?

No, not for shortcut or folder icons — changes appear when ready. If you install a third-party icon pack using an installer, that installer may ask you to restart. Always follow the installer's instructions; some packs modify system files that only reload after a restart.