How to change Windows 10 shortcuts. IconTo: an application with built-in instructions for use. What are icon files?

Changing drive icons is just one of many ways Windows icon settings. You can even create icons high resolution from yours own images , if you can't find other icons you like.

We have prepared a description of two methods changing drive icons in Windows. The first method uses free third party application, which allows you to change the icon for separate disk. The second method includes several rapid changes in the Windows registry.

Changing an Individual Drive Icon

The easiest way to change your drive icon is to use the free Drive Icon Changer tool. It was originally written for Windows Vista, but also works effectively on Windows 7, 8 and 10.

After downloading and extracting the program, you must run it with administrator rights. Right click EXE file and select Run as administrator. The first time you run the tool, it may ask you to install some files - let it do that.

Once launched, you will see that Drive Icon Changer has only one screen where you select the drive you want to change the icon for and then find the ICO file you want to use. Additional settings not available. Select the drive, find the ICO file and click the Save button. In our example, we use icons from the IconArchive website.

You will receive a notification that the icon has been successfully changed.

You will then need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect if you selected internal disk. If you have chosen removable drive You can simply unplug it and plug it back in.

After restarting, you should see the new drive icon in File Explorer.

Drive Icon Changer works by creating two hidden files V root directory any drive you choose. One of them is a copy of the ICO file, which is renamed to Drive.ico, and the other is a simple Autorun.inf - a file containing only following lines:

ICON=Drive.ico

So if you want, you can simply create Autorun.inf yourself using notepad, copy the ICO file to the drive and rename it according to the Autorun.inf entry, restart your computer (or unplug and reconnect the drive if it's removable), and The disk icon will change. However, work Drive tool Icon Changer is a little simpler and faster.

If you want to undo the changes you've made to the disk, all you need to do is delete these two files.

Changing the drive icon through the registry

Why extra steps if there is a Drive Icon Changer? The point is that you may have some autorun restrictions that do not allow you to use the first method, or you may want to change the icon used for optical disk. Maybe you don't like the idea of ​​letting an app do something you can do yourself. Or maybe you're just interested in seeing where it is in the registry. Anyway, these changes are very easy to make and they work on Windows 7, 8 and 10.

Standard warning: Registry Editor – powerful tool, improper use can make your system unstable or even render it inoperable.

Open Registry Editor by clicking the Search button and typing regedit. Press Enter to open Registry Editor and give it permission to make changes to your computer.

In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to go to the next section:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DriveIcons

Then create new key inside the DriveIcons key. Right click the DriveIcons key and select Create → Chapter. Name the new key using the drive letter of the drive whose icon you want to change. In our example, we change the G drive icon.

Note: As you probably noticed, this method is different from Drive usage Icon Changer in that instead of using the autorun feature, you actually assign an icon to a drive letter. For this reason, you will not be able to get results for the removable drive. This is especially true if you use multiple drives and the letters change frequently. To get around this you can assign a static letter to a removable drive.

Now we need to create another new key, this time inside the drive letter we just created. Right-click section G and select Create → Chapter. Name the new key DefaultIcon.

Select the new DefaultIcon key in the left pane, and then in the right pane, double-click the (default) value to open the properties window.

In the Edit String Parameter window, enter the full path (surrounded by quotation marks) for the ICO file you want to use as the icon in the Value field, and then click OK.

The changes should take effect immediately, so you won't need to restart your computer. Open File Explorer, or refresh the window if it was already open, and you will see the new drive icon.

If you want to undo the changes, simply go back to the DriveIcons section in the Registry Editor and delete the created key.

Many users after installation operating system remain dissatisfied with the appearance of the interface. Especially for such purposes, Windows provides the ability to change themes. But what if you need to not only change the window style, but also install new elements, in particular, icons. In this article we will tell you how to do this.

In the context of today's article, icons are icons that visually indicate various elements Windows interface. These include folders, files different formats, hard disks and so on. Icons suitable for solving our problem are distributed in several forms.

• Packages for 7tsp GUI;
• Files for use in the IconPackager program;
• Standalone iPacks;
• Separate files in ICO and/or PNG format.

For each type above there is separate instructions on installation. Next, we will examine the four options in detail. Please note that all operations must be performed in account with administrator rights. Programs also need to be run as administrator, since we plan to edit system files.

Option 1: 7tsp GUI

To install these icon packs, you need to download and install the 7tsp GUI program on your PC.

The first thing you need to do is play it safe and create a system restore point.

1. Launch the program and press the button "Add a Custom Pack".

   

2. We look for the 7tsp icon pack downloaded from the Internet on the disk and click "Open". Keep in mind that the files necessary for work may be packaged in ZIP archive or 7z. IN in this case There is no need to unpack anything - just specify the archive as a package.

   

3. Let's move on to the options.

   

   Here we check the checkbox indicated in the screenshot. This will force the software to create an additional restore point. Do not neglect this setting: during the process, problems may arise. various errors, including system ones.

   

4. Click "Start Patching" and wait for the installation operation to complete.

   

5. At the final stage, the program will require you to reboot. Click "Yes".

   

6. After the reboot we will see new icons.

In order to return the system to the initial state, it is enough to restore from a previously created point. The program has its own tool for rolling back changes, but it does not always work correctly.

Option 2: IconPackager

This option also involves using special program– IconPackager, which is capable of installing icons from packages with an IP extension. The program is paid with a 30-day trial period.

Before you start, don't forget to create a restore point.

To revert to old icons you need to select "Windows Default Icons" and press the button again "Apply icons to my desktop".

Option 3: iPack

Such packages are a packaged installer with all necessary files. To use them additional programs are not required, in addition, the installer automatically creates a restore point and backs up system files that need to be changed.

The rollback is performed using a restore point.

Option 4: ICO and PNG files

If we only have separate files in ICO or PNG format, you will have to tinker a little with installing them on the system. To work, we need the IconPhile program, and if our pictures have PNG format, then they will still need to be converted.

Before you start installing icons, create a restore point.

1. Launch IconPhile, select a group in the drop-down list and click on one of the items on the right side of the interface. Let it be a group "Desktop Icons", and select the item "Drives"- disks and drives.

   

2. Next, right-click on one of the elements and activate the item "Change Icons".

   

3. In the window "Change icon" press "Review".

   

4. Find our folder with icons, select the one you need and click "Open".

   

   Click OK.

   

5. Apply changes with the button "Apply".

   

   Returning the original icons is carried out using a system restore from a point.

Although this option implies manual replacement icons, but has one undeniable advantage: using this program, you can install any independently created icons.

Conclusion

Change appearance Windows is a fascinating process, but don’t forget that this involves replacing or editing system files. After such actions, problems may begin with normal functioning OS. If you decide to do this procedure, do not forget to create restore points so that you can roll back the system in case of trouble.

In the new operating room Microsoft system redesigned each interface element and allowed the user to personalize the appearance of each of them. Desktop icons have also undergone changes. There are few people who want to get used to the new look of desktop icons when switching from Windows 7, so the developers took care of the function of replacing their icons. In this regard, let's look at how to change desktop icons in Windows 10 to your own or those present in the system.

Changing the appearance of the main desktop icons

The main icons are those that are displayed on the desktop immediately after installing the operating system. In order to replace one of them, we perform the chain of actions below.

1. Call the “Options” menu using the keyboard shortcut Win→I.

2. Go to the personalization section.

3. Activate the “Themes” tab.

The above steps can be replaced by clicking on the “Personalization” item in the desktop context menu.

5. In the window of the same name, select the element whose icon should be changed and click “Change icon”.

6. Select the icon you like from those available in the system or specify your icon file in ico format or dll.

To do the latter, unpack the archive with icons, click on the “Browse” button and specify the location of the icon library.

7. Having replaced all the icons, click “Accept” and confirm the action.

Packages free icons can be downloaded from sourceforge.net/projects/openiconlibrary.

Can all shortcut icons be changed?

An icon for any desktop element, be it system directory or a link to an application/catalogue, you can replace it with your own. The exception is files located in the “Desktop” directory, which belongs to the current account.

Let's look at the process of changing the appearance of an application shortcut (using the example of the popular Internet browser from Google).

1. Open context menu shortcut and click on the last item “Properties”.

The window can also be opened using the Alt+Enter key combination.

2. Activate the “Shortcut” tab.

3. Click on the one located in last row button "Change icon...".

4. Indicate the icon you like from those proposed.

5. Click “OK” and save the new settings.

If you click “Browse”, you will be able to select any file with icons located on your PC and specify one of the pixel images packed in it in ico format as the application icon.

Replacing the directory icon

There are virtually no differences from specifying a new look for a shortcut and a folder.

1. Open the “Properties” window of the directory (applicable to any folder except system folders).

2. Activate the “Settings” tab.

3. In the “Folder icons” form, click “Change icon...”.

4. Specify your or your favorite icon and save the changes.

How to create an icon yourself?

If you want to be original and not use other people's ideas, spend a few tens of minutes working on your own icons for the icons located on the desktop. Best suited for this powerful utility IcoFX. You can download it from official resource pixabay.com. The same site contains thousands of images in free access, which can be converted to ico format files.

1. Launch the installed utility and open raster image, which will be the basis of the future icon.

Select the second item “Create an icon from the image”.

As a result, a pixelated version of the image with several sizes will open.

Unnecessary icon sizes can be removed; for example, 16×16 and 256×256 are unlikely to be needed by the average user.

2. Save the finished icon in ico format through the “File” menu.

Using the editor, you can easily create your own icon from virtually any digital image. It also allows you to apply additional effects and change the appearance of the original icon.

Resizing icons

You can reduce or increase the size of desktop icons in Windows 10 in the same way as in previous versions of the operating system.

Enlarge or reduce icons on the desktop Windows desktop 10 allows the mouse wheel to be pressed Ctrl key. Each rotation of the wheel in one direction or another changes the size of the icons by several pixels in the corresponding direction.

The second option for changing the icon size is as follows:

• call the desktop context menu;
• in the drop-down menu select “View”;
• Click on the appropriate item to specify the size of the icons.

This way you can change the scale of icons in three positions: small, large and medium images. The function is necessary for selection optimal size icons for various conditions operation and monitor sizes.

On your monitor screen there is a large number of different folders and icons having standard view. Perhaps you are tired of their usual look and would like to change it. It's possible! But in order to do this, you need to download some collection of different icons for files and folders. For example this one.

Download icon set. IN this set icons in two formats.

How to change a folder icon.

To replace the folder icon, move the cursor over the desired folder and press the right mouse button. A list will appear. Select “Properties” in it.

A window with icons will appear. You can choose your favorite folder icon from this list or select an icon from downloaded icons.

If you want to select an icon among the icons you have downloaded, then to do this, click the “Browse” button, go to the folder with icons, select the one you like among them and click “Open”, then click “OK” in the windows that appear. The icon you like will be applied to the folder.

For example, here is the folder that I got.

How to change a file icon?

Let's do it the same way! Right-click on the file, go to the “Properties” section, but here go to the “Shortcut” tab, click “Change Icon”.

By following these simple rules, you can gradually change all the folder and file icons to the ones you like best. The folder icons are all the same, so they most often need to be replaced. Then you will be able to distinguish them not only by name, but also by color and shape.

Now that you have tidied up your folder icons, you need to figure out how easy they are to use. Some programs are better used in portable version, so that in case of emergency you always have them at hand, namely on a flash drive. However, in this case, folders with programs become like a dump, and searching for an .exe file in them to launch becomes inconvenient. This problem can be solved by creating individual shortcuts, located in the root of the flash drive. These “smart guys” run everything on their own necessary programs on absolutely any computer, regardless of where you place the storage device.

2. Return to its root and click on empty space right key mice. Now select the “Create” and “Shortcut” functions.

3. After that, we need to specify the path to it like this:

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /C start /B /D \*path to the program folder* \*path to the program folder*\*file name.exe*

When you write it, don’t forget to include the backslash “\“. In our case it looks like this:

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /C start /B /D \Soft\OpenOffice \Soft\OpenOffice\X-ApacheOpenOffice.exe

A quick footnote: if you decide to place all the shortcuts in separate folder, having created an additional flash drive in the root of the flash drive for this purpose, indicate on the command line that it will need to go back to this folder. Just put a dot as the first slash. In our specific case it looks like this:

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /C start /B /D .\Soft\OpenOffice .\Soft\OpenOffice\X-ApacheOpenOffice.exe

6. To window command line was not displayed at startup, select the “Collapsed to icon” function in the “Window” field:

7. Right on the tab at the bottom of the window, click the “Change icon” button, and then in the window that appears, open the program’s executable file, since this is what we are creating the shortcut for. Mark it and click “OK” - the same as in the properties window.

8. Now the shortcut will automatically change its icon, and we can launch the program from the root of the flash drive. You can easily move this folder, along with the program and the shortcut, to any convenient location. In this case, they will work normally with preservation relative path from a shortcut to a working executable file.

We hope that each of our articles helps you become more confident and not be afraid of any actions when working with a computer. Have a positive working mood!

Most of the system icons in the new Windows 10 OS were originally introduced with Windows Vista. If you've been actively using Windows 7 or Windows 8 before upgrading to Windows 10, you're probably familiar with most of these icons. Unlike Windows 7, there is a limited amount of free software, available software for setting up the operating room Windows systems 10. What can I say, some customization tools have been released practically within the last six months to customize latest version Windows operating system.

CustomizerGod for Windows 10

About a year ago we first talked about free tool called CustomizerGod for changing the icons of the Windows operating system. The developer recently released updated program For Windows support 10 and it is already available for download.

CustomizerGod is basically a program to change hundreds Windows icons 10 by default. With CustomizerGod, you can change the original icon system with ease, without having to change the file system.

The current version of CustomizerGod for Windows 10 supports changes to the start button on the taskbar and can also change other icons on the taskbar such as task view, Cortana, touch keyboard, volume icon, battery icon, and action center.

This tool can also be used to change the default folder icons in Windows 10. In addition to this, you can change hundreds of other icons with ease.

As you can see in the image below, CustomizerGod will also allow you to change the branding windows and the branding system itself.

To help users change safely system icons, the program will perform automatic backup the original before changing anything in the system. This way, you can restore the original icons later, when necessary, by simply selecting the icon and clicking the restore button.

The program package also includes a tool to clear and reset the icon cache. For the initiated, if you are seeing vintage icons even after replacing them with custom icons, you need to clear your icon cache. You can clear the icon cache by clicking the button next to the restore button, and then clicking either quick clear or completely clear the icon cache partition.

If you are not happy with some of the default icons that come with Windows 10, then you should try this tool. The tool is completely free and does not contain any unwanted programs. CustomizerGod is standalone program and works without installation. Download and extract the zip file and run it. The program must be run with administrator rights. CustomizerGod is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit types of Windows 10 operating system.