Favorites - Change Default Icon

How to Change Default Icon of Favorites in Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to change the default icon of the Favorites folder in the navigation pane to any icon of your choice in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

   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. Here's How: 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, then press Enter.

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

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below: (see screenshot below step 4)

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/tap on Permissions. (see screenshot below)
5. In Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, or Windows RT 8.1, you will need to take ownership (step 3 of Option Three at link) of the DefaultIcon key before being able to do step 6 below.

6. At the top, select the Administrators group. At the bottom, check the Allow box to the right of Full Control, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. In the right pane of regedit, double click/tap on (Default) to modify it, and do step 8, 9, or 10 below for what you would like to do. (See screenshot below)
8. To Restore the Default Favorites Icon A) In the Modify window from regedit, copy and paste the path below, click/tap on OK, and go to step 11 below. %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-1024

9. To Use a Custom 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) saved at, click/tap on OK, and go to step 11 below. (see screenshot below)

WARNING: You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Windows. 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.
10. To Use another Windows Icon A) If you have not already, download and install the free program IconViewer to add the Icons tab in the screenshot below step 10B.
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for your Windows.

B) In Windows Explorer navigate to the .exe (ex: for program icons) or .dll (ex: Windows 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 icons come from the C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll file.
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,-####), click/tap on OK, and go to step 11 below. (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

11. If you have a 64-bit Windows Installed

   Note

To also change the Favorites icon in the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well in 64-bit Windows, you will also need to do this step.

If you have a 32-bit Windows installed, then skip this step since doing steps 1 to 8/9/10 will change the Favorites icon in the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well.

A) In regedit, go to the location below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\DefaultIcon

B) Repeat steps 5 to 8/9/10 above.
12. Close regedit.

13. Restart the PC to fully apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Add or Remove Favorites from Navigation Pane in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Favorites" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Favorites" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change the Default Libraries Icon in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default HomeGroup Icon in Windows 7
• How to Change or Restore Default Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• Fix Empty Favorites in Navigation Pane in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
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• How to Rename "Favorites" in Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Add or Remove "Favorites" Links in Navigation Pane of Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[Brink]

Hello nholtappels, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You wouldn't be able to just remove the "Favorites" header and still keep the sub items in the group.

However, you might see if having "Show all folders" turned on for the navigation pane may work for you. If so, then you could just remove "Favorites" completely.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[nholtappels]

Shawn, thanks for the welcome and the quick response. I'm impressed
"Show all folders" looks a lot messier IMO, so I guess I'll stick with the "Favorites" menu. It was worth a shot though

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I wish I knew a way for you.