Customizing desktop icons in Windows 11 is a great way to personalize your workspace and improve organization. Whether you want to change system icons, modify folder or shortcut icons, or adjust the size and appearance of desktop items, Windows 11 offers several customization options. This guide walks you through each method step-by-step to help you tailor your desktop to your style.
How to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 11
Windows 11 allows you to modify system icons such as Recycle Bin, This PC, Network, Control Panel, and User’s Files.
Steps:
- Right-click an empty area on your desktop and select Personalize.
- In the Settings window, click Themes.
- Under Related settings, click Desktop icon settings.
- Select the icon you want to change and click Change Icon.
- Choose a new icon from the list or click Browse to select a custom .ico file.
- Click OK, then Apply, and OK again to save changes.
How to Change the Icon of a Folder
You can personalize any folder icon to make it more recognizable or visually appealing.
Steps:
- Right-click the folder you want to customize and choose Properties.
- Go to the Customize tab.
- Click the Change Icon button.
- Browse and select the icon you want to use.
- Click OK, then Apply, and OK to finalize changes.
How to Change the Icon of a Shortcut
Shortcut icons can be changed just like folders.
Steps:
- Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
- Go to the Shortcut tab.
- Click the Change Icon button.
- Select or browse for a new icon.
- Click OK, then Apply, and OK to confirm.
How to Change Icon by File Type(PDF, DOCX, MP3, etc.)
If you want to change the icon of a particular file type, for example, PDF, DOCX, MP3 and so on, you can utilize a third-party utility called FileTypesMan. Windows 11 doesn’t natively allow changing icons by file type, but you can do it using FileTypesMan (free & portable). To use it, follow these steps:
Steps:
- Download FileTypesMan from the NirSoft website and extract the ZIP file.
- Run FileTypesMan.exe as administrator.
- Browse the list and select the file type you want to modify.
- Click Edit Selected File Type.
- Click the … (three dots) next to the Default Icon field.
- Browse and select your new icon, then click OK.
- Click OK again to apply the changes.
