Windows 7 Forums Search
Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows 7. The Windows 7 forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.


Windows 7 - Favorites - Change Default Icon



 

Favorites - Change Default Icon

How to Change the Default Icon of Favorites in Windows 7 Navigation Pane
Published by Brink
03-12-2010
Default Favorites - Change Default Icon

How to Change the Default Icon of Favorites in Windows 7 Navigation Pane


information   Information
This will show you how to change the default icon of the Favorites folder in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 7 to any icon of your choice.
warning   Warning
  • You can only do this while logged into an administrator account.
  • This will affect all user account's Favorites icon on the computer.
EXAMPLE: Favorites in Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is Favorites with the default icon (left screenshot below) and with a changed icon (right screenshot below) in the Navigation Pane.
Favorites - Change Default Icon-default.jpgFavorites - Change Default Icon-changed.jpg
Here's How:
1. Open the Start Menu and type regedit.exe in the search line, then press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, go to the location below: (see screenshot below step 4)
Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\DefaultIcon
4. In the left pane of regedit, right click on the DefaultIcon key and click on Permissions. (see screenshot below)
Favorites - Change Default Icon-hkcr.jpg
5. At the top, select the Administrators group. At the bottom, check the Allow box to the right of Full Control and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
Favorites - Change Default Icon-permissions.jpg
6. In the right pane of regedit, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)
Favorites - Change Default Icon-hkcr2.jpg
7. To Restore the Default Favorites Icon
A) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the path below and click on OK.
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-1024
Favorites - Change Default Icon-modify-restore.jpg
B) Go to step 10.
8. To Use a Icon of Your Own
A) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the full path in quotes of where you have your custom icon (.ico file) stored at, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon that was made for Windows 7 and Vista for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Windows 7. You will also need to leave the icon (.ico file) saved at the exact location you typed below for it to continue to work. If you delete or move this icon, then it will no longer be displayed.
Favorites - Change Default Icon-modify-custom.jpg
B) Go to step 10.
9. To Use another Windows 7 Icon
A) Download and install the free program IconViewer to add the Icons tab in the screenshot below step 9B.
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for your Windows 7.

B) In Windows Explorer navigate to the .exe (ex: for program icons) or .dll (ex: Windows 7 icons) file that contains the icon that you want to use for the default Favorites icon, then right click on the file, click on Properties, and the Icons tab. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The most common Windows 7 icons come from the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll file.
Favorites - Change Default Icon-tip1.jpg
C) Make note of the icon number for the icon that you want to use instead. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example, the default Favorites icon number is 1024. I'm going to change it to the 1029 icon number just as an example.

D) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the full path of the .exe or .dll file followed by ,-icon# (fullpath,-####) and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, if I want to use the path (step 9B) and the 1029 icon (step 9C), I would type:
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-1029

OR

C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-1029
Favorites - Change Default Icon-modify-w7icon.jpg
10. If you have 64-bit Windows 7 Installed
Note   Note
To also change the Favorites icon in the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well in 64-bit Windows 7, you will also need to do this step.

If you have a 32-bit Windows 7 installed, then skip this step since doing steps 1 to 7/8/9 will change the Favorites icon in the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well.
A) In regedit, go to the location below:
Code:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\DefaultIcon
B) Repeat steps 4 to 7/8/9 above.
11. Close regedit.

12. Restart the computer to fully apply.
That's it,
Shawn



Published by
Administrator

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 34,826
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute

Tutorial Tools
03-14-2010   #1
Shrantellatessa


Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
 
 


Good tutorial, thank you!

But I have a question, why is this the only tutorial where the custom icon path has to be between quotes?

My System SpecsSystem Spec
03-14-2010   #2
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


You're most welcome Shrantellatessa.

The full icon path doesn't really have to be in quotes unless the icon file name has a space in it. Since the path is unpredictable, I just went ahead and included having quotes to cover all bases so someone with a space wouldn't have a problem using the steps. I'm currently updating other tutorials that I run across that may have the same situation. That's all.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03-14-2010   #3
Shrantellatessa


Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
 
 


Ok, thanks for the explanation, Shawn ^_^

Last edited by Shrantellatessa; 03-15-2010 at 09:50 AM..
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


03-15-2010   #4
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


You're welcome. Anytime.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03-15-2010   #5
dobknobby


Windows 7 Ultimate x64
 
 


Nice Tutorial dude!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03-15-2010   #6
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Thank you Dobknobby, and welcome to Seven Forums.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-04-2010   #7
JeW


Windows 7 Ultimate x64
 
 


Doesn't seem to work for me =[
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-04-2010   #8
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Jew,

Could you give more details please? (ex: icon you used, error message, what you got instead, screenshots, logged in as administrator, etc.....)


Double check to see if you may have made a mistake somewhere in the steps.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-05-2010   #9
JeW


Windows 7 Ultimate x64
 
 


I followed all your steps fine received no error messages just when i restarted it was still the default icon.


this is the icon i used. It is 256x256.



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Comment

Favorites - Change Default Icon problems?



Tutorial Tools



Similar Threads for: Favorites - Change Default Icon
Windows 7 Tutorial Category
Default Programs - Change Default Icon in Start Menu Tutorials
File Extension Icon - Change Default Icon Tutorials
HomeGroup Icon - Change Default Icon Tutorials
Libraries Icon - Change Default Icon Tutorials
New Library Icon - Change Default Icon Tutorials


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:57 PM.



Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized,
sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.
"Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd
  

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30