How to Change Folder Icons in Windows

Changing a folder icon in Windows lets you personalize your desktop and File Explorer so important folders stand out at a glance. You can use a built-in icon, a downloaded .ico file, or even turn a PNG image into an icon. This guide covers the built-in method, using custom icons, and applying icons to the Quick Access area.

What You’ll Need

A Windows PC (Windows 10 or Windows 11).
An icon file (.ico) if you want a custom icon. You can download free icon packs from reputable sites, or convert a PNG/JPG to .ico using an online converter.
Administrator rights on your user account (usually you already have them).

Step-by-Step

Locate the folder you want to change. It can be on your Desktop, in File Explorer, or anywhere on your drive.
Right-click the folder and select Properties from the context menu.
In the Properties window, click the Customize tab. (If you don’t see it, make sure you clicked a folder, not a file or shortcut.)
At the bottom of the Customize tab, click the Change Icon… button.
A new window opens showing a list of default Windows icons. If you want to use one of these, simply select it and click OK.
To use your own icon, click Browse… in that same window, navigate to your .ico file, select it, and click Open.
Click OK on the icon selection window, then click Apply and OK on the Properties window.
Your folder icon should now be updated. If it doesn’t change immediately, press F5 to refresh the view.

For a shortcut (like on your Desktop), the process is slightly different: right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, click the Shortcut tab, then click Change Icon….

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong file type: Windows only accepts .ico files for folder icons. Using a .png or .jpg will not work in the standard method.
Changing a shortcut instead of the folder: If you right-click a desktop shortcut, you’ll see a Shortcut tab, not a Customize tab. You need to change the icon on the actual folder, or on the shortcut itself.
Putting the .ico file in a temporary location: If you move or delete the .ico file after applying it, the icon will revert to the default. Keep the icon file in a permanent folder like Pictures\Icons.
Expecting the change to affect Quick Access: Pinned folders in Quick Access do not change their icon through the standard method (see Tips below).

Tips

Use a dedicated folder for icons: Create a folder like C:\Users\YourName\Icons and store all your custom .ico files there. This keeps them safe and easy to find.
Convert images to .ico easily: Use a free online converter to turn a PNG or JPG into an .ico file. Choose a size of 256×256 pixels for best quality.
Restore default icon: If you want to revert, go back to Properties > Customize > Change Icon, and click Restore Defaults.
Change icons for all folders of the same type: In the Customize tab, you can choose a template (General items, Documents, Pictures, etc.) and apply it to all folders with that template. This is useful for consistency.
Quick Access icons: To change the icon of a folder pinned to Quick Access, you must first change the icon on the actual folder, then unpin and re-pin it. The new icon will then appear in Quick Access.

Troubleshooting

The icon didn’t change. First, press F5 to refresh. If that doesn’t work, make sure you clicked the Customize tab on the folder itself, not a shortcut. Also verify that your .ico file is valid—try opening it with Paint or Photos.

I don’t see the Customize tab. This usually means you right-clicked a shortcut or a file. For shortcuts, use the Shortcut tab. For files, you cannot change their icon this way (only folders and shortcuts).

The icon reverts after restart. This often happens if the .ico file is on a removable drive or in a location that Windows can’t access at startup. Move the .ico file to a local drive (like C:) and apply it again.

Icon appears as a blank white box. The .ico file might be corrupted or not a proper icon format. Re-download or re-convert the image, ensuring it’s saved as a .ico with multiple sizes included.

Changes don’t apply to Quick Access. As mentioned, unpin the folder from Quick Access, change the icon on the actual folder, then pin it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a PNG as a folder icon? No, Windows requires the .ico format for folder icons. You must convert your PNG to .ico first.

How do I create an .ico file from a picture? Use a free online converter or a program like GIMP (free) or Paint.NET (free). Upload your image, select .ico as the output format, and download the result.

Will changing a folder icon affect the files inside? No, it only changes the visual representation of the folder. The contents remain untouched.

Can I change the icon of the Recycle Bin or This PC? Yes, but not through the folder properties. You need to go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings (Windows 10/11). From there, you can change icons for Recycle Bin, This PC, and other desktop icons.

Why does my custom icon look blurry? This usually happens when the .ico file is too small (e.g., 32×32 pixels). Use a 256×256 pixel image when creating the .ico file.

Is it possible to change the icon of a library (like Documents)? Yes, but it’s more advanced. You can right-click the library, choose Properties, and there should be a

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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