Find the folder or shortcut you want, right-click it, and then click “Properties” in the right-click context menu.

How to Change the Icon of a Folder

If you’re changing the icon of a folder, select the “Customize” tab along the top, then click “Change Icon”.

How to Change the Icon of a Shortcut

If you’re changing the icon of a shortcut, you need to click on the “Shortcut” tab instead and then click “Change Icon.” All of the other steps will be the same.

How to Select and Apply an Icon to a Folder or Shortcut

The popup will open to whatever folder, DLL, or EXE contains the current icon. If you’re changing a default Windows icon, it’ll probably be shell32.dll or imageres.dll. If you’re changing the icon for a specific program, it’ll almost always be the program’s executable.

Click “Browse,” navigate to the icon you want, select the desired icon, then click “OK”.

Once you click “OK,” the Properties folder will display the new icon you’ve selected. Click “Apply” to commit the change, then close out the Properties window.

You cannot move an ICO file to a different location if it has been used to change the icon of a folder without breaking the new icon. It’ll revert to the old one automatically if you do. Make sure you put your icon somewhere it can stay indefinitely. A hidden folder in your main C:\ directory might be a good place.

The change should take immediately. If it doesn’t, right-click empty space on your desktop and click “Refresh.” You could also just restart your PC.