7 Easy Ways to Change or Create Desktop Icons on Windows

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An in-depth guide to editing the size and image of your Windows desktop icons
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Do you want to customize the appearance of the icons on your Windows desktop? You can adjust icons by using the "Properties" options or you make new desktop icons entirely. You'll only be able to change the icon for system desktop icons, folders, and shortcuts. This wikiHow will show you how to change a desktop icon's appearance and how to download or create a custom icon on your Windows computer.

Things You Should Know

  • Right-click the desktop. Hover over "View", then uncheck "Show desktop icons" to hide them.
  • Right-click the desktop, hover over "View", then select a new icon size.
  • To change icons, right-click the folder or shortcut. Click "Properties" → "Customize/Shortcut" → "Change Icon".
Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Changing System Desktop Icons

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  1. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press the Windows key. [1]
  2. It's in the lower-left side of the Start window.
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  3. This is the monitor-shaped icon on the Windows Settings page.
    • You can also access this page by right-clicking a blank space on the desktop and then clicking Personalization in the drop-down menu.
  4. It's a tab on the left side of the Personalization window.
  5. This link is in the upper-right side of the Themes page. Clicking it opens the Desktop Icon Settings window.
    • If you haven't edited your theme at all, this link will be in the middle of the page beneath the "Related Settings" heading.
    • You can also click Get more themes in the Store below the "Apply a theme" heading to browse desktop themes. Some themes will change your desktop icons' appearances.
  6. This will select the icon.
    • For example, you might click This PC or Recycle Bin .
    • You can also check the box next to a desktop icon's name at the top of the window to make it appear on your desktop, or uncheck the box to remove it from the desktop.
    • Check the "Allow themes to change desktop icons" box on this window to enable theme-related icon changes.
  7. It's near the bottom of the window.
  8. You can select two different types of icons:
    • System icon : Click an icon in the window.
    • Custom icon : Click Browse , then click the folder that your custom icons are in on the left side of the window. Select the icon you want to use, then click Open .
  9. This will assign your selected icon to the desktop program.
  10. Doing so confirms your decision and changes the desktop program's icon to your selected icon.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Changing Shortcut and Folder Icons

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  1. You can find this icon at the lower-left side of your taskbar, or you can press the Start menu and search for File Explorer .
    • You cannot change the icons of specific files (e.g., Notepad files or .exe files) using this method. You'll only be able to customize desktop shortcuts and folders with this method.
  2. It's a folder in the left-hand column of options in the File Explorer window.
    • This may already be pinned under Quick access .
  3. Shortcut icons have a white box with an arrow in their lower-left corners.
  4. It's in the upper-left corner of the File Explorer window. Doing so will open a toolbar at the top of the window.
  5. This is a white box with a red checkmark in the "Open" section of the toolbar.
    • You can also right-click on the icon on your desktop and then click Properties to get to this menu.
    • If the icon is pinned to your task bar, you can right-click it and click Properties to get this menu.
  6. This will be located at the top of the Properties window.
    • Shortcut : Click the Shortcut tab at the top of the Properties window.
    • Folder : Click the Customize tab at the top of the Properties window.
  7. This will be near the bottom of the window.
  8. You can select two different types of icons:
    • System icon - Click an icon in the window.
    • Custom icon - Click Browse , then click the folder that your custom icons are in on the left side of the window. Select the icon you want to use, then click Open .
  9. This will assign your selected icon.
  10. Doing so confirms your decision and changes the original icon to your selected icon.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Showing or Hiding Desktop Icons

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  1. For easier navigation, be sure to minimize all open windows . [2]
    • A pop-up menu will open.
    • Use this method if you want to toggle icon visibility on your desktop.
  2. This will be at the very top of the menu.
  3. When this option in unchecked, all desktop icons will be hidden.
    • To show desktop icons again, click Show desktop icons .
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Resizing Desktop Icons

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  1. For easier navigation, be sure to minimize all open windows.
    • A pop-up menu will open.
  2. This will be at the very top of the menu.
  3. You can click Large icons , Medium icons , or Small icons . After clicking, your desktop icons will be changed immediately.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Adding Shortcuts to the Desktop

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  1. You can find this icon at the lower-left side of your taskbar, or you can press the Start menu and search for File Explorer .
  2. It's on the left side of the File Explorer window.
    • This may already be pinned under Quick access .
  3. You'll find this tab in the upper-left side of the File Explorer window.
  4. It's in the "New" section of the tool bar at the top of the window.
  5. This option is in the New item drop-down menu. A window with options for your new shortcut will appear.
  6. It's in the middle of the page. Doing so opens a pop-up window.
  7. For example, if the program or file is in the Documents folder, you'd click My Documents .
    • You may have to click through several different folders to find the program or file for which you want to create a shortcut.
  8. Doing so sets the desktop shortcut's target as your selected item.
    • If you rename the desktop icon or move it to a new folder, your shortcut will no longer work.
  9. The default name for the shortcut is the same name as the program itself.
  10. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will create your shortcut in the folder you selected.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Creating Icon Images

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  1. If you don't have the Paint application, you can download it from the Microsoft Store.
  2. It's a blue button in the upper-left corner of the Paint window.
  3. This option is in the File menu. Doing so opens a window where you can open a file location.
    • If you'd rather create your own icon by drawing in Paint, skip this step and instead create your drawing .
  4. You may have to click a location on the left side of the Open window (e.g., Pictures ) to find the picture you want to open.
    • Skip this step if you're drawing your own icon.
  5. This will open your image in the Paint window.
    • Skip this step if you're drawing your own icon.
  6. It's in the top-left corner of Paint.
  7. This option is near the top of the File menu.
  8. It's an option to the right of the Save as button. Doing so opens a Save As window where you can name your file.
  9. This will ensure that your file is saved as an icon file.
    • For example, you might name your file "shortcut.ico".
  10. Do so in the left-hand pane of the Save As window.
    • The Pictures folder is a safe place to save your shortcut file.
  11. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your icon in your selected folder.
  12. Change a program's icon using your created icon. You'll use the Browse method and select your custom icon from the folder where you saved it.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Downloading Icons

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  1. Microsoft Edge is the official Windows 10 browser, though you can use Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or another browser.
  2. Type "download windows desktop icons" into your browser's address bar or a search engine and press Enter .
  3. You can do this by opening a site that has your icons and clicking the Download button. Doing so will save the icons to your computer.
    • If you download multiple icons at once, you may have to extract the icons to a regular folder before continuing.
  4. You can find this icon at the lower-left side of your taskbar, or you can press the Start menu and search for File Explorer .
  5. This folder is on the left side of File Explorer.
  6. Doing so selects it.
    • If you just downloaded one icon, select the icon instead.
  7. This tab is in the upper-left corner of the File Explorer window.
  8. It's in the "Organize" section of the toolbar at the top of the File Explorer window.
  9. This folder is near the middle of the pop-up window.
    • You can select any folder on your computer if you don't want to place your icons in Pictures .
  10. This will send your icons to a folder where you won't move or delete them.
  11. Change a program's icon using your downloaded icon. You'll use the Browse method and then select an icon from within the Pictures folder to do this.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I lost the icon for my email. How do I get it back on my desktop?
    Community Answer
    Click on your Windows key and type your email program. Then, just drag it onto your desktop.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 10
  • Question
    How do I change the background of icon names on my desktop in XP?
    Community Answer
    Highlight then right-click, and a list of things should pop up. Click on "change."
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I put icons on my desktop from a program?
    Community Answer
    If on windows, search using the windows key for the program and then drag and drop it onto your desktop.
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      Tips

      • Some themes will change your desktop icons. To enable this feature, open the Desktop Icon Settings window from within Personalization , then check the "Allow themes to change desktop icons" box and click OK .
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      • You can find themes for Windows 10 in the Store, which is an app that comes preinstalled on Windows 10.
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      Warnings

      • If you move or delete an icon file, the program you were using the file with will stop displaying the icon.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-desktop-icons-in-windows-c13270f0-3812-c71d-f27e-29aa32588b20
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hide-or-resize-desktop-icons-2b9334e6-f8dc-7098-094f-7e681a87dd97

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Click the Start menu and select Settings .
      2. Click Personalization .
      3. Click Themes .
      4. Click Desktop icon settings .
      5. Select an icon to change.
      6. Click Change Icon .
      7. Select a new icon and click OK .
      8. Click OK .

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