Windows 7 - Taskbar Pinned Icons - Change

JaidynM

How to Change the Icons of Programs Pinned to the Taskbar

Information

This tutorial will show you how to change the icons of the programs and shortcuts pinned to the taskbar.

Note

Icons must be have a .ico extension. Image files such as .png or .jpeg will not work. Such icon files can be found at websites such as deviantART.

Here's How:
1. Hit the Start Orb

.

2. Search the following in the Start Menu search bar...
%appdata%/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/Quick Launch/User Pinned/Taskbar
...and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Note

If no items show up in this folder, it may be hidden. To make it visible, just show all folders using the following tutorial.
Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide

3. A new folder should pop up filled with shortcuts of the programs you have pinned to your taskbar. Right click on the program of the icon you want to change.

4. Click on Properties.

5. In the window that pops up, in the Shortcut tab, click on Change Icon....

6. On the next window that pops up, click Browse....

7. Navigate to the folder of the required icon (file must have .ico extension) and double click the icon file.

8. Click OK.

9. Click Apply then OK in the Properties window.
NOTE: At this point, the shortcut in the pinned programs folder will have a new icon but the actual icon in the taskbar will not have changed.

10. Go back to the pinned programs folder and click on the shortcut with the newly changed icon.

11. Hit Ctrl+X (cut).

12. Navigate to your desktop and hit Ctrl+V (paste).

13. Right click the program on the taskbar (with the old icon), and from the options that pop up, click Unpin this program from taskbar.

14. Drag the shortcut (with the new icon) from your desktop, to the taskbar.

15. The taskbar icon should now be changed.

Note

You can now delete the shortcut from the desktop.

Congratulations! You have changed one of your taskbar icons!

That's it,
Jaidyn

Related Tutorials

Airbot · 08-13-2011

You can also usually just right click the pinned icon on the taskbar, then right click the main name of the pinned item (if Firefox is pinned for example, right click on the icon, then on "Firefox"), choose properties, and change from the "Change Icon" button under the "Shortcut" tab. May only require a reboot or log off/on to change into new icon.

Also should mention "Appdata" folder is hidden, and how to make it visible.

kado897 · 08-13-2011

One thing I have found with icons on pinned shortcuts, particularly shortcuts to Google Apps, is that unless you make the shortcut read only it can get changed back when you run the program.

JaidynM · 08-13-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Airbot

You can also usually just right click the pinned icon on the taskbar, then right click the main name of the pinned item (if Firefox is pinned for example, right click on the icon, then on "Firefox"), choose properties, and change from the "Change Icon" button under the "Shortcut" tab. May only require a reboot or log off/on to change into new icon.

Also should mention "Appdata" folder is hidden, and how to make it visible.

Ah... I didn't realise. Anyway, I've added a tutorial that explains how to show all folders. Thanks for the tip.

Quote: Originally Posted by kado897

One thing I have found with icons on pinned shortcuts, particularly shortcuts to Google Apps, is that unless you make the shortcut read only it can get changed back when you run the program.

Hm... I haven't encountered this problem before. Any other programs it affects?

kado897 · 08-13-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by JaidynM

Hm... I haven't encountered this problem before. Any other programs it affects?

No, but then I don't pin anything to the task bar anymore. I have so many programs I use frequently that I have built a toolbar to hold them.

Taskbar Pinned Icons - Change-capture.jpg

JaidynM · 08-13-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by kado897

No, but then I don't pin anything to the task bar anymore. I have so many programs I use frequently that I have built a toolbar to hold them.

If you find any, let me know.

kado897 · 08-13-2011

Will do.

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