Downloads Library - Create

How to Create a "Downloads" Library with Correct Icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This will show you how to create a Downloads library in Windows 7 and Windows 8 that has the original default Downloads library icon with the blue arrow pointing downwards on a glass plate.

EXAMPLE: Original Downloads Library Icon

Here's How:
1. To Download the Downloads Library Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the Downloads_Library.zip file that contains the original Downloads library icon.

Download


B) Save the ZIP file to your desktop.

C) Double click/tap on the ZIP file to open it, then extract (drag and frop) the Downloads_Library.ico file to the location that you want to keep it at.
WARNING: The icon file will need to remain at this location while it is being used (step 3) for the Downloads library. If you move it, then the icon will no longer be displayed for the Downloads library.

D) Right click or press and hold on the Downloads_Library.ico file, and click/tap on Properties, General tab, on the Unblock button, and on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 2.
2. To Create the Downloads Library
A) In Windows Explorer, navigate to your C:\Users\(user-name) folder, then create a new library with the Downloads folder. (see screenshot below)

B) Open the new Downloads library, and include the C:\Users\Public\Public Downloads folder. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you like, you could include any other folder location(s) that you would like to also be included inside the Downloads library as well.


3. Do step 4 or 5 below depending on if you are in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

4. To Change the Downloads Library Icon in Windows 7
A) Change the Downloads library icon to use the Downloads_Library.ico icon file at the location you have saved it to in step 1. (see screenshots below)

   Note

For example, I saved my icon from step 1 to C:\Users\(user-name)\My Documents, so I would add the line below (right screenshot below) while changing the icon at step 5 at that link.

<iconReference>"C:\Users\User-Name\Documents\Downloads_Library.ico"</iconReference>

You would substitute the path in red to the full path of where you saved the Downloads_Library.ico file instead in step 1.

B) Go to step 6 below.
5. To Change the Downloads Library Icon in Windows 8
A) Using OPTION ONE in the tutorial below, change the new library's icon using the Downloads_Library.ico icon file at the location you have saved it to in step 1. (see screenshot below)
How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 8


6. You will now notice that the Downloads library icon has changed.
NOTE: See example screenshot at the top of the tutorial.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a "Games" Library with Correct Icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Favorites" Library with Correct Icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Searches" Library with Correct Icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Links" Library with Correct Icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7
• How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 7
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 8
• How to Include a Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Included Folder from a Library in Windows 7
• How to Set the Default Save Folder for a Library in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove the Libraries Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• User Folders in Windows 7 Libraries
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7

 

[Brink]

Hello svnpenn,

Links is the folder that the "Favorites" in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer are stored at. Since "Favorites" is the same as "Links", "Links" is basically already in the navigation pane as "Favorites" for quick access.

Did you still want a "Links" library even though Favorites is already there in it's own group above the libraries?

 

[svnpenn]

The default icons, that is the icons for the folders in c:/users/brink, I dont like the default icons. I really like the icons for Windows 7 Libraries, so I want to use all those.

So far I have:
Downloads Library Icon
Favorites Library Icon
Documents Library Icon
Music Library Icon
Pictures Library Icon
Videos Library Icon
Games Library Icon
Searches Library Icon

If I could add the
Links Library Icon
that would be excellent!

 

[Brink]

Ok. All finished.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/196982-links-library-create.html

 

[Yogi76]

Brink, could you possibly create a "Backups" Library icon similar to the others you have created?

Thanks,
Yogi

 

[Brink]

Hello Yogi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since there's not a "Backups" user folder by default to included in a library, you would need to create a new library, then include any folders you wanted in this new library. Afterwards, you could change the icon of the library to whatever icon you like.

I'll post back later with an icon.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[Yogi76]

Since there's not a "Backups" user folder by default to included in a library, you would need to create a new library, then include any folders you wanted in this new library. Afterwards, you could change the icon of the library to whatever icon you like.

I'll post back later with an icon.

Yeah, I already have the Library created and it has all my content in it, I just want a better looking icon that matches the other default Library icons. The other ones you made earlier in this thread look good, so I figure it was worth a shot to ask you to make another.

Also, as I'm sure you probably already noticed, changing the icon to a Library in Windows 8 is much easier. There is now a "Change library icon..." button on the Properties page of any Library which lets you do it without needing a third party tool or mucking about in the xml of the file.

Thanks,
Yogi

 

[Brink]

Yogi,

Yeah, Windows 8 make it much easier to change "new" library icons, but it's still the same for the existing default libraries.
Library Icons - Change in Windows 8

Here's the .ico file in the attached ZIP download below. The image below is just a .PNG to see what it looks like. I hope you like.

 

[Yogi76]

Brink,

Microsoft has changed the look of the library icons in Windows 10. I was wondering if you could update your Downloads Library icon to the new look.

 

[Brink]

Hello Yogi,

Yeah, I'll have an updated version of this tutorial for Windows 10 over at www.tenforums.com hopefully soon.