How to Change a Folder Icon in Windows 10

To change a folder icon in Windows 10, right-click the folder and select Properties. On the Customize tab, select Change Icon. Pick an icon from the list, or select Browse to use your own .ico file. Select OK, then Apply.

Applies to: Windows 10. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.

Change the icon

1. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
2. Select the Customize tab, then Change Icon.

3. Select an icon from the list, and select OK.

4. Select Apply or OK in the Properties window.

If the new icon doesn’t show right away, press F5 in File Explorer to refresh it.

Use your own icon

1. In the Change Icon window, select Browse.
2. Choose an .ico file and select Open.
3. Select the icon, then OK and Apply.

Keep the .ico file in a folder you won’t move or delete. If it moves, the folder goes back to a blank icon.

Windows keeps more built-in icons in %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll. Type that path in Look for icons in this file and press Enter to see them.

More options on the Customize tab

• Folder pictures: select Choose File to pick an image that shows on the folder in large icon views. This only shows if you haven’t set a custom icon.
• Optimize this folder for: choose General items, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos. This changes the columns and view File Explorer uses, not the icon.

Make your own icon file

Windows needs an .ico file for a custom folder icon. To make one, start with a square image, ideally 256 × 256 pixels, and convert it to .ico with an image editor or converter that supports the format. Paint can’t save .ico files. More detail is in making an icon for Windows 10.

Change it back

Open Properties > Customize > Change Icon again, and select Restore Defaults. Then select OK and Apply.

Things to know

• A custom icon replaces the preview of the folder’s contents.
• The icon only changes on your PC. If you copy the folder to another PC, it may show the normal icon.

If the icon doesn’t change

• The old icon still shows. Press F5 in File Explorer to refresh. If it still shows, sign out and back in, or restart the PC.
• Icons look wrong across the PC. Windows may need to rebuild its icon cache. Press Windows logo key + R, type ie4uinit.exe -show, and press Enter, then restart File Explorer from Task Manager.
• The icon resets by itself. Windows saves the setting in a hidden desktop.ini file inside the folder. If that file is deleted, or a sync app replaces it, the icon goes back to normal.
• There’s no Customize tab. Libraries, drives, and some system folders don’t have one. Normal folders you create always do.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change desktop icons like This PC or Recycle Bin?

Use Desktop icon settings instead, the same place where you show, hide, or restore desktop icons.

How do I make icons bigger?

Icon size is a separate setting. Changing icon size on Windows 10 shows where it is.

Can I change the icon of a shortcut?

Yes. Right-click the shortcut, select Properties, and on the Shortcut tab select Change Icon. No shortcut yet? Create a desktop shortcut first.

Can I change the color of a folder?

Not directly. Windows 10 has no folder color setting. Use a custom .ico file of a colored folder instead, following the steps in Use your own icon.

Can I change the icon for many folders at once?

Not with built-in settings. You have to change each folder separately, but it only takes a few clicks once you have the icon you want. Keep your favorite icons in one folder to find them quickly.

Will a custom icon slow down my PC?

No. Windows loads folder icons the same way either way. If File Explorer feels slow, the cause is elsewhere.

Want to restyle app shortcuts too? Read about changing app icons in Windows 10.