How to Change App Icons in Windows 10

To change an app icon in Windows 10, right-click the app’s desktop shortcut and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, select Change Icon, pick a new icon, and select OK > OK. You can pick one of Windows’ built-in icons or an .ico file you already have.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 28, 2026.

Change a desktop shortcut’s icon

1. If the app has no desktop shortcut, make one first. See how to create a desktop shortcut in Windows 10.
2. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
3. On the Shortcut tab, select Change Icon.

4. Pick an icon from the list. To see more of Windows’ icons, type %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll in the box at the top and press Enter. To use your own icon, select Browse and choose an .ico file.
5. Select OK, then OK again.

Change a pinned taskbar icon

1. Right-click the app on the taskbar.
2. Right-click the app’s name in the menu, then select Properties.
3. Select Change Icon and follow steps 4 and 5 above.

If the new icon doesn’t show right away, restart the PC.

Change This PC, Recycle Bin and other desktop icons

1. Select Start > Settings > Personalization > Themes.
2. Select Desktop icon settings.
3. Select the icon, then Change Icon. Pick one and select OK.

To bring an icon back to how it was, select Restore Default in the same window. See how to show, hide or restore desktop icons in Windows 10.

Change an icon in the Start menu

Start menu entries for desktop programs are shortcuts too, so you can change their icons the same way.

1. Open Start, right-click the app, and select More > Open file location.
2. Right-click the shortcut that opens in File Explorer and select Properties.
3. Select Change Icon, pick an icon, and select OK twice.

If Open file location isn’t in the menu, the app is from Microsoft Store and its Start icon can’t be changed.

Where to find more icons

• Built-in icon files. In the Change Icon box, try %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll and %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll. Each holds hundreds of Windows icons.
• The program itself. Many programs include several icons in their .exe file. Select Browse and pick the program’s .exe to see them.
• Your own picture. Windows needs an .ico file. Convert a square PNG image to .ico with an image editor, ideally at 256 x 256 pixels so it stays sharp at large sizes.

Keep your .ico files in a folder that won’t move, such as Documents\Icons. If you move or delete the file, the shortcut goes back to a blank icon.

Change a website shortcut’s icon

Website shortcuts on the desktop (.url files) work a little differently. Right-click the shortcut, select Properties, and open the Web Document tab instead of the Shortcut tab. Select Change Icon, pick an icon or browse to an .ico file, and select OK twice. This is handy for giving sites you use every day, such as your email or bank, their own easy-to-spot icons.

Make your own icon from a picture

The Change Icon window only accepts .ico files, or icons stored inside .exe and .dll files. It won’t take a PNG or JPG directly. To use your own picture:

• Start with a square image, ideally 256 by 256 pixels, so it stays sharp at every size.
• Save it in ICO format. Paint can’t do this, but free editors such as GIMP can export to .ico.
• Store the .ico file somewhere permanent, such as a folder in Documents. If you move or delete it later, the shortcut goes back to a blank icon.

Then use Change Icon > Browse as shown above and pick your file.

If the new icon doesn’t show

• The old icon still appears. Windows keeps an icon cache. Press Windows key + R, run ie4uinit.exe -show, or restart the PC.
• The taskbar icon didn’t change. Unpin the app, change its desktop or Start menu shortcut, then pin that shortcut again.
• The icon went back after an update. Some apps replace their shortcuts when they update. Change the icon again.
• Icons turned blank or white. The icon file was moved or the cache is damaged. Point the shortcut at the icon file again, or restart the PC.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no Change Icon button?

Shortcuts to Microsoft Store apps don’t have one. You can change icons for regular desktop programs.

Can I change a folder’s icon?

Yes. See how to change a folder icon in Windows 10.

How do I make the icons bigger or smaller?

See how to change icon size in Windows 10.

Can I undo a custom icon?

Yes. Open the shortcut’s Properties, select Change Icon, then Browse to the program’s .exe file and pick its original icon.

Why does my custom icon look blurry?

The .ico file is too small for the size it’s shown at. Make a new one from a larger image, at least 256 x 256 pixels.

Microsoft’s reference is Customize the Desktop Icons in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.