Do you want to change the icon a file or a file on Windows ? For a file, it's built-in and doesn't require any software. For a custom icon, first you need a .ico file valid, and it's very easy to get.
Here is a video that shows you how to create a custom icon for your files and folders at Windows :
Explanatory video in French by Alucare, ideal complement to the page. View video (you can use YouTube's automatic translation)
Create a custom icon with Paint
- Go to Paint.
- Open the file you want to convert into an icon.
- Once you've done that, click on Save as.
- Next, in the window that appears, select the 256-color Bitmap format, and add a «.ico» at the end of the file name, and then click Save.
- To change the icon of your folder or file, right-click the folder, then select "Properties.".
- Go to the section Customize, then click "Change Icon.".
- The dialog box appears. Select a system icon or click on Browse to choose your .ico, then confirm with OK.
To change the built-in icon for a .exe, you need to use third-party software such as Resource Hacker. This is a bit more technical—save this method for cases where you really want to associate an icon with a detailed program.
Create a custom icon in .ico format
You can also use a converter.
- An online tool such as icoconvert.com : Import your image (JPEG or PNG), convert it, then download the .ico.
- Lightweight software such as IcoFX, which lets you easily create and edit icons.
For sharp results on all display modes, choose a square image and generates multiple sizes. Windows recommends including the resolutions 16×16, 32×32, 48×48 and especially 256×256 pixels for high-density displays.
Most converters automatically select these sizes.
Apply the icon to a folder
Once your file .ico That's it—you can apply it to a folder directly, without any third-party software.
- Open the’file explorer and locates the file to customize. You can switch to great icons (View tab) to see the result more clearly.
- Make a right click on the file and select Properties in the context menu.
- The folder properties dialog box is displayed. Switch to the tab Customize.
- Click on Change the iconthen on Browse.
- Select your file .ico, then confirm with OK.
For example, if you want to easily identify your project folders, you can assign a different icon for everyone. It comes in handy when you have a lot of folders in File Explorer.
The procedure is the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
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