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.