Thread: Changing Folder Appearance and Other Icons

Windows permits you to modify all types of things in operating system to create it look and feel the way you want. I am certain you are utilized to varying your background image or including a theme to Windows but there are other look tricks you can do also.

This PC tip will show you how to modify look of your folders. This won’t work with all folders like Windows folder or with shortcuts to folders. To obtain properties of your folder just right click folder and select Properties. Then click on Customize tab. From here you can modify picture utilized for Thumbnail view from default which shows a preview of what’s in folder to an real picture of your selecting by clicking on Choose Picture.

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You can also have template utilized for main folder applied to all subfolders by checking the box that states also affect template to all subfolders. There are also fixed templates that can be utilized based on type of files in folder like pictures, music and video templates.

If you do not utilize thumbnail view but would like to modify icon to something next to a folder or to a various type of folder icon then click on button that says Change Icon. Then you will be able to browse through other icon types that you can utilize to alter shortcut.

To modify shortcut on other items that are not files just right tick that item and select Properties. Then go to Shortcut tab and tick Change Icon button and you are enabling to modify icon similar way you did for folders. Remember that this is generally only choice for shortcut icons and not original program icons themselves.



It is also achievable to modify default icons on desktop like My Computer or My Documents icons. Right click on desktop and select Properties. Then go to Desktop tab and tick on Customize Desktop. Choose which desktop items are displayed on desktop with modify icon.