Windows 7 - Desktop Icons - Allow or Prevent Themes to Change

**Brink**

How to Prevent or Allow Themes to Change Windows 7 Desktop Icons

Information

This will show you how to allow or prevent the icons you changed for the Computer, User's Files, Network, and Recycle Bin desktop icons from being changed to the icons included in a new theme instead in Windows 7.

Here's How:

1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on the Change desktop icons link at the upper left corner. (See screenshot below)

3. To Allow Themes to Change Desktop Icons
NOTE: Any custom (changed) desktop icon you have in your current theme will be changed whenever you change the theme.
A) Check the Allow themes to change desktop icons box. (See screenshot below step 5)

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Prevent Themes from Changing Desktop Icons
NOTE: Any custom (changed) desktop icon you have in your current theme will not be changed whenever you change the theme.
A) Uncheck the Allow themes to change desktop icons box. (See screenshot below step 5)

5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. Close the Personalization window. (See screenshot below step 2)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**seven2010** · 01-03-2009

After I have downloaded and extracted my custom Windows Classic theme files in the C:\Windows\Resources\Ease Of Access Themes folder and when I right-click on Desktop and click Personalize, will my custom Windows Classic theme change all or part of Desktop icons?

Thanks,
Michael

**Brink** · 01-03-2009

Hi Michael,

It should changed whatever the theme was set to change. If included in the theme, it normally would only change the default desktop icons though and not any program shortcut ones.

chiyuan · 11-25-2010

hi, let say i change desktop icons to my custom icons. will it affect my windows system?

**Brink** · 11-25-2010

Hello Chiyuan, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It will also change the icon for that item at any other location that it appears at in addition to the desktop, but that's all that it will affect.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

chiyuan · 11-25-2010

just to confirm. it will not cause the system to crash or anything?

**Brink** · 11-25-2010

No, not at all.

Windows 7 - Desktop Icons - Allow or Prevent Themes to Change

Desktop Icons - Allow or Prevent Themes to Change

Desktop Icons - Allow or Prevent Themes to Change problems?