How to Change Default App Icons in Windows 10 to Customize Your Desktop

Key takeaways:

  • You can change default app icons in Windows 10 to personalize your desktop
  • Customize icons for desktop shortcuts, taskbar pinned apps, and file associations
  • Find alternative icons built into Windows, download icon packs, or create your own

Windows 10 allows you to customize various aspects of your desktop to make it uniquely yours. One way to personalize your PC is by changing the default icons for apps, folders, and shortcuts. Swapping out the standard icons with custom designs can give your desktop a fresh, eye-catching look that reflects your style. Here’s how you can change default app icons in Windows 10.

Finding New Icons

Before you start replacing icons, you’ll need to find some alternatives to use. Here are a few options:

  • Built-in Windows icons: Windows 10 includes a selection of alternative icons you can choose from, though the variety is limited.
  • Icon packs: Many websites offer free or paid icon packs with cohesive themes and high-quality designs. Some popular sources include FlatIcon, IconArchive, and DeviantArt.
  • Create your own: If you have graphic design skills, you can craft your own custom icons to use.

Icons typically come in ICO or PNG format. When downloading icon packs, look for high-resolution images (at least 256×256 pixels) for the best visual quality.

Changing Desktop Shortcut Icons

To customize an icon for a desktop shortcut:

  1. Right-click the shortcut and select “Properties”
  2. In the Shortcut tab, click the “Change Icon” button
  3. Choose a new icon from the list or browse for a custom ICO file
  4. Click “OK” to save the changes

Repeat these steps for each shortcut you want to customize.

Customizing Taskbar Icons

Pinned apps on the taskbar use their default icons, but you can change them with a few extra steps:

  1. Find the EXE file for the app, usually located in Program Files
  2. Right-click the EXE and select “Properties”
  3. In the Shortcut tab, click “Change Icon” and select a new icon
  4. Click “OK” to save
  5. Unpin the original app icon from the taskbar
  6. Pin the customized EXE file to the taskbar

Keep in mind some apps, like Store apps, can’t be customized this way.

Changing File Association Icons

You can also change the default icon for specific file types, like text documents or images:

  1. Open Settings and go to Apps > Default Apps
  2. Scroll down and click “Choose default apps by file type”
  3. Find the file extension you want to customize and click the app currently associated with it
  4. Scroll down and click “Look for another app on this PC”
  5. Find the EXE for the app you want to use and select it
  6. Right-click the EXE, select “Properties” and go to the Shortcut tab
  7. Click “Change Icon,” choose a custom icon, and click “OK”

Now all files of that type will use the new icon.

Restoring Default Icons

If you change your mind and want to revert an icon to its original, just go back into the icon settings and click “Restore Defaults.” This will change the icon back to the standard design.

Customizing your icons is an easy way to make your Windows 10 desktop look unique and personalized. With a little creativity, you can completely transform the visual style of your workspace.

FAQ

Can I use any image as a custom icon?

For best results, use ICO files for your custom icons. You can convert other image formats like PNG or JPG to ICO using image editing tools or online converters. Make sure the image is high-resolution and square.

Will changing an app icon affect how the program works?

No, changing an app’s icon is purely cosmetic and won’t impact its functionality. The process just associates a different image file with the program, without altering its code or settings.

Can I customize the icons for default Windows 10 apps?

Most default apps like File Explorer, Settings, and Photos use protected assets that can’t be easily changed. However, you can customize the icons for their shortcuts or taskbar pins using the methods outlined above.

Is there a way to save my custom icon setup?

Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in way to save your icon customizations as a theme. However, you can use third-party tools to backup and restore your icon settings, or manually recreate your custom layout on a new machine.