Finding on the net some beautiful icon packs I decided to replace my default Windows 10 icons. Unfortunately there is no easy way to change all the icons from one place or one program. Here is how to change them step by step:
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NOTE: Some of the default win 10 icons are located on:
%SystemRoot%\System32\SHELL32.dll
%SystemRoot%\system32\wmploc.dll
NOTE: Do not change the default ICO icon. To keep the contents of the ani displayed it should be: Default icon: %1
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- Download your desired icon pack from the net. I have uploaded one here if you like to try this one: Windows ico Icon.zip
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqtI3rSJQnG_kxM_3aKaJCUzklYo
- Unpack it to a folder on your SSD or if you don’t have a SSD, on the fastest partition on HDD.
(Example: c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\)
- Download Drive Icon Changer from https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqtI3rSJQnG_kxFQYk1Pa7NKW1lX
This program allow you to change the drives icons for your HDD’s, optical units, removable drives, etc..
- Install it from “DIC_v1.exe”
(Example: c:\Programs\Drive Icon Changer\)
- Using Drive Icon Changer
Set Drive Icon Changer to start as administrator (right-click > Properties > Compatibility > Run this program as administrator)
hdd’s replace with c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\hard drive.ico
optical drives with c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\cd drive.ico
- Change system icons:
Open windows settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings
Load them all from c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\
- Change Default Folder Icons. This can be done by changing the registry.
Open registry editor: regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
With the Explorer key highlighted, right-click on it and in the pop-up menu select New -> Key option. Name this new key as Shell Icons.
On it right-click in the right pane - New -> String Value - create two strings named 3 and 4
Double-click on each String and set their value to c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\folder close.ico
- Change icons for the items from your user folder:
Open in explorer your user folder (navigate to C:\Users\{your windows user folder}\)
and load custom icons from c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\ for:
Documents
Links
Music
Pictures
Searches
Videos
To do this right-click on each of them and navigate to Properties > Customize > Change Icon button. Then point to the corresponding icon from c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\ folder.
- Change the Unknown File Type Icon
The unknown or generic icon for unregistered file types and extensionless files can be customized:
Open registry editor: regedit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\DefaultIcon
The (default) or the unnamed value points to the following icon resource by default:
%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,0
replace it with
c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\default document.ico
- Download FileTypesMan from https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqtI3rSJQnG_kxKNEceyK-E0H5qS
- Install FileTypesMan by simply unpacking filetypesman-x64.zip to a folder with full write access (not Program Files unless you know how to set read/write permissions there).
(Example: c:\Programs\FileTypesMan\)
- Using FileTypesMan replace icons of all desired filetypes:
Open FileTypesMan
Example: .pdf
With .pdf selected, hit F2 to edit selected filetype. Or just double click it.
On Default Icon paste the path to the desired icon : c:\Programs\Windows ico icon\file pdf.ico
- If you are using Total Commander, set WinCom icons to 24x24 size:
Configuration > Options > Icons > Icon size > Manually write 24x24
Extra space : Hor=0 Vert=0
