File Extension Icon - Change Default Icon

How to Change the Default Icon of a File Extension in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to change the default icon of any file extension to have a custom icon of your choice instead for it in Windows 7.

   Tip

By default, known file extension types are set to be hidden in Windows 7. You will need to unhide file extensions to see and know what the file extension is to make it easier to change the icon for the file extension.

   Note

• You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Windows 7.
• Some programs may automatically reset the default file extension icon back to the default one it uses even after you have changed it. This tutorial will not work for these programs.
• If you change the default program for what opens the file extension, it will also change the icon of the file extension to be whatever it is for the program you selected uses.

   Warning

• You will need to be logged on to a administrator account to do this.
• Making changes in the registry can cause problems if you make a mistake. You should create a system restore point before proceeding in case you need to do a system restore with the restore point to undo a mistake made in the registry.

EXAMPLE: Default and New Icon for "MP3" File Extensions

OPTION ONE

To Change the Icon of a File Extension Using "FileTypesMan"

1. Click on the Download button below to go the bottom of that site to download, extract, and run the same 32-bit or 64-bit (x64) FileTypesMan as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 version.
Download


2. Double click on the file extension (ex: .mp3) that you want to change the icon of. (see screenshot below)
3. Click on the browse... button. (see screenshot below)
4. Browse to and select the icon you want to use, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
5. Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 3)

6. When finished, close FileTypesMan.

OPTION TWO

To Manually Change the Icon of a File Extension

NOTE: For an example in this option, I will be changing the default icon used for the MP3 file extension. You would just substitute the file extension that you want to change the default icon for instead. 1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press enter.

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

3. If Using the Default Program in Windows 7 to Open the File Extension With
NOTE: You would use this option if you are using the default program that Windows 7 uses to open the file extension with, and not opens with a 3rd party program that you installed. A) In regedit, go to: (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute .mp3 below with the file extension you want to change the icon for instead. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mp3


B) In the right pane of the file extension, make note of the Data value to the right of (Default). (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example it is WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 for the .mp3 file extension.

C) Go to step 5.
4. If Using a 3rd Party Program as the Default Program to Open the File Extension With
NOTE: You would do this option if you have changed the default program used by Windows 7 to open the file extension with to be opened by a installed 3rd party (not included in Windows 7) program instead. A) In regedit, go to: (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute .mp3 below with the file extension you want to change the icon for instead.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\[B][COLOR=red].mp3[/COLOR][/B]\Userchoice

B) In the right pane, look at the Data value to the right of Progid. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example it is WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 for the .mp3 file extension type by default. Your value will vary depending on the default program you have set or installed to open this file extension with.
5. In regedit, scroll past the file extensions and go to: (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 with the Data value from step 3B or 4B for the file extension Data value that you want to change the icon for instead. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3


6. Click on the arrow next to for example WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 to expand the key (folder). (see screenshot above)
NOTE: Substitute WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 with the Data value from step 3B or 4B for the file extension Data value that you want to change the icon for instead.

   Tip

To Backup the Default File Extension Icon
NOTE: To restore the default file extension icon from this created backup below, right click on the .reg backup file and click on Merge. Next, approve the merge and log off and log on to apply the change to restore the default icon. A) In the left pane of regedit, right click on DefaultIcon and click on Export. (See screenshot below step 5)

B) Select a location to where you want to save the backup reg file to.

C) Type in a name and click on the Save button.
NOTE: Be sure to type in a name that is easily recognized by you for that file extension. For example, MP3 default icon.

7. In the right pane of DefaultIcon, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 5)
NOTE: If you do not have DefaultIcon in the left pane of for example WMP11.AssocFile.MP3, then right click on WMP11.AssocFile.MP3, click on New and Key, type in DefaultIcon, and press Enter.

8. Select either Method One or Method Two below for what type of icon you want to replace the default file extension icon with.

Method One

To Use Another Icon Included in Windows 7

A. Download and install the same free 32-bit or 64-bit version of IconViewer as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 version.
NOTE: This program will add a Icons tab to files (ex: imageres.dll) that contain a icon library in them so you can see the icons available in it.

B. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll and right click on imageres.dll, click on Properties, and click on the Icons tab.
NOTE: You can use any of the Windows 7 files that include icons in them that you want though. This is just the most common one.

C. Scroll through the icons and make note of the icon number of the one you want to use to replace the default file extension icon with, then close the properties window. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, icon number 1023.
D) In the Modify window, type in (full path of the Windows 7 file with file extension),-#### and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, I would type in the location exactly as below for what I used in B and C above. C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-1023


E) Go to step 9.

Method Two

To Use a Saved Custom Icon of Your Own

A) Create or download and save a icon (.ico file) of your choice to a location you wish to keep the icon stored at.
NOTE: See the Note box at the top of this tutorial for about what kind of icon to use. Be sure to save the icon at a location (ex: C:\Users\Public) that can be accessed by all users. The icon must stay at this location for as long as it is being used for the file extension.

B) In the Modify window, type in "full path of the icon file with file extension" and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, If I I had a icon store on my Desktop name New Icon Location.ico, I would type in the location exactly as below. Just substitute with your icons full path and name with file extension in quotes instead. "C:\Users\UserName\Desktop\New Icon Location.ico"


9. Close regedit.

10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer, to fully apply the icon change.

11. If this option did not work for you, then use OPTION ONE instead.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Associate a File Type or Protocol Default Program in Window 7
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations
• How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7
• How to Add "Show/Hide Known File Extensions" to Context Menu in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With in Windows 7
• How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows 7 Default Folder Icon
• How to Change Windows 7 Default Folder Icons using Resource Hacker
• How to Change the Icon of a Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change Windows 7 System Icons Using Resource Hacker
• How to Change a Drive Icon in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change a Folder Icon in Vista and Windows 7

 

[Brink]

Hello MS,

You might see if setting Adobe as the default program again, or reinstalling it may set the icon back to using it's default.

 

[MourningStar]

Hello MS,

You might see if setting Adobe as the default program again, or reinstalling it may set the icon back to using it's default.

I did a 'repair' to the program and, yes, it is now the Adobe standard white/red-A default icon. Went thru these steps again and the default icon remains. So this works only for people who live right?

 

[Brink]

Some programs will not let you change the default icon since they override it with their icon instead.

 

[DoesXX]

Great write up... This program has eluded me for years and finally discovered it again!

Some programs will not let you change the default icon since they override it with their icon instead.

Yeah, it's a pain, but you can always use a Resource Editor (IE: ResEdit, Resource Tuner, Restorator, ResHack, etc.) to modify the executable, this doesn't always work either.



P.S.
Shawn, I would like to contact you, privately, regarding an issue.

 

[Chaoz]

I followed the guide, but the changes don't last. The icon keeps reverting back to the original icon (Foobar version). I've tried using the downloaded program and manually editing it. I'm trying to change to the Windows 7 default icon.

 

[Brink]

Hello Chaoz,

From your duplicate post (now removed), you could download and merge the .reg file for the listed .mp3 option in the tutorial below to restore it's default associations to hopefully fix it's default icon as well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ben050]

Thanks Brian

 

[Artyom2013]

I registered in this forum only to thank you. The regedit method works perfectly

 

[Artyom2013]

After I tried the regedit method and saw it works, I downloaded the program, and it is fantastic.
It is really free, no advertising, no toolbar. Free.

Thanks again.

 

[blued]

Some programs will not let you change the default icon since they override it with their icon instead.

This was my impression too and I hated Notepad++ default icon which applied to all txt, ini, xml, etc, files associated with it. But found a way here to over-ride the programs icon (which should work for other programs too):

File association default icon

You can override the icon for example by adding this registry key:

HKCU\Software\Classes\Applications\notepad++\DefaultIcon

Then add an expandable string value (REG_EXPAND_SZ) with the desired icons address. In my case, I used %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-102 which is the default notepad icon. Worked fine.

 

[dawnrenee88]

Having some issues reapplying my icons do to having to update my vlc media player. I switched them all before and now I'm switching them to something else the same way. I managed to switch the icons for my mp3 and flv files but for some reason the icons I picked for mp4 wont work.

I tried 2 different icons and they still wont work. The icon went from a orange cone for vlc media player to a white piece of paper with a folded corner.

I really want to use the icon I have which is a fan a Japanese fan.

please try and help me figure this out. thanks.

 

[Brink]

The white page icon is usually the default icon when there's not a program associated to open the file.

Do the files still work?

Usually, it's just about impossible to change the icon for media player type programs. They usually keep changing them back, or they break when changed.

 

[dawnrenee88]

I have changed all of the file icon types. Before I just use mp4 more then flv so I want to switch the icons from the boring orange cones to the icons I picked. All I needed to do was follow the instructions. And open the regedit and then find the .mp3 and the first thing listed was default and the default listed was VLC.mp3 and then I found that and then before opening the VLC.mp3 I click the VLC.mp4 on the left side but did not open it and it says VLC media file (.mp3) And then I clicked the arrow to open the VLC.mp3 and I right clicked the default and switched the defaulticon and the left side says (default) DATA is C:\Users\Dawn\Pictures\shuriken.ico which is where my icon is located. I switched the .mp3 file like this and the .flv file icon also like this but I did the same thing with a different icon for the .mp4 and that is when I got the white paper icon. I don't know what the problem is I have switched the same file icons before but now there not working I even shut down and restarted my desktop and still the icons wont change.

The files still work I tried one and no problem With them. I would still like to figure out the problem if possible.

 

[Brink]

You might see if rebuilding the icon cache may help if it's corrupted.

If not, then you might see if using Option One may be able to change them for you.

 

[dawnrenee88]

will this change all of my file icons back to normal or just the white paper looking one. Just wondering and which option is best to select.

And once the icons are back to normal is it possible to change the again. Like the .mp3,.mp4,.flv, and so on. Rather then having the boring orange cone.

 

[Brink]

The program will show you what you currently have set for them, and will hopefully make it easier to change them to what you like.

 

[fatbat]

but it on usb

but how to make this work for all computers ... like i take an application to my friend on a usb and I want it to be text document .... any ideas


http://i.stack.imgur.com/tNT5l.png

http://i.stack.imgur.com/We1XJ.png

 

[Brink]

but how to make this work for all computers ... like i take an application to my friend on a usb and I want it to be text document .... any ideas


http://i.stack.imgur.com/tNT5l.png

http://i.stack.imgur.com/We1XJ.png

Hello fatbat, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm afraid that what icon is used for a file type is a PC specific setting.

I'm not sure what you mean by you wanting an application file to be text document??

 

[fatbat]

sorry my mistake forget about text document can this work in a removable media With different computers

 

[Brink]

I'm afraid not.