While Windows 11 packs quite a few customization options, changing the icons on Windows 11 is a great way to personalize your Windows PC. So, if you are interested in changing the appearance of folders and shortcuts on your computer, you have come to the right place.
If you don’t like the default icons on Windows 11 or you just want to give your computer a unique look, we’ll show you how to change the different icons on Windows 11. So, let’s get started.
Change Computer Icons and Taskbar in Windows 11
Let’s start with the computer code first. You can use the Settings app on Windows 11 to change the icons for Computers, User Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open the Start Menu and click on the gear icon to launch the Settings app.
Step 2: Head over to the Personalization tab on your left and select Themes.
Step 3: Scroll down to the relevant settings section and open the PC icon settings.
Step 4: Select the computer icon you wish to modify and click on the Change Icon button.
Step 5: In the Change Icon window, select a new icon from the available options. Alternatively, you can also use the Browse button to locate any custom codes downloaded from a third-party website.
Step 6: Once selected, click OK.
Step 7: Click Apply and then OK to save changes.
Repeat the above steps to modify all computer icons. However, if you want to change the computer shortcut icon, you will have to access its properties. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Right-click on the Computer icon and select Properties.
Step 2: Under the Shortcut tab, click on the Change Icon button.
Step 3: Select a new icon and click OK.
Step 4: Click on Apply to save the changes.
Similarly, you can also change the icon of a program pinned to the taskbar by accessing its properties. Here’s how.
Step 1: While holding down the Shift key, right-click on the program icon on the taskbar and select Properties.
Step 2: Under the Shortcut tab, click on Change Icon.
Step 3: Select a new icon and click OK.
Step 4: Click on Apply to save the changes.
How to change folder icons on Windows 11
Aside from the computer icons and taskbar, Windows also allows you to change folder icons in File Explorer. This process is just like changing computer shortcut icons. Here’s how.
Step 1: Press Windows Key + E to launch File Explorer.
Step 2: Right-click on the folder and open its properties.
Step 3: Switch to the Personalization tab and click on the Change Icon button.
Step 4: Select a new icon for the folder and hit OK.
Step 5: Finally, click on Apply to save the changes.
How to change drive icons on Windows 11
While modifying computer icons and folders is easy, Windows doesn’t provide a direct way to change drive icons in File Explorer. Therefore, you will have to modify the registry files.
To change the drive icon, you will need to download an icon from a third-party website such as icon icons or convert an image to ICO format using an online tool . Once you have the favicon, here’s how to set it as a drive icon in Windows 11.
A word of caution. Since the Registry Editor contains important settings for the Windows operating system and its application, it is recommended that you back up your registry files before proceeding to make any changes.
Step 1: Right-click on the downloaded ICO file and select Copy as path.
Step 2: Press Windows Key + R, run the Run command, type regedit, and press Enter.
Step 3: Use the address bar at the top to navigate to the next key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Explorer DriveIcons
Step 4: Right-click on the DriveIcons key, select New from the list, and choose Key. Name the new key with the drive letter you want to change.
For example, if you want to change the C drive icon, name the C key.
Step 5: Right click on the newly created key, go to New and select Key. Name it DefaultIcon.
Step 6: Select the new DefaultIcon key and double-click the (default) value on your right.
Step 7: In Value data, paste the icon correction copied in Step 1 and press OK.
And voila! Your new drive icon will appear in no time.
Bonus: How to Change Icon Size on Windows 11 (Computer and File Explorer)
Aside from changing your computer and file explorer icons, Windows also allows you to increase or decrease its size.
To change the size of computer icons, right-click anywhere on the empty space on your computer, go to View, and select the size that works for you.
Similarly, if you want to change the size of file and folder icons in File Explorer, you can expand the View menu at the top and choose from the available sizes.
Customize your icons
Perhaps the best part about Windows 11 is that it lets you customize every element, from the lock screen right to the Start menu. As we just saw, changing icons on Windows 11 is not difficult either. Use the above methods to start changing icons on Windows 11.
