HomeGroup Icon - Change Default Icon

How to Change the Default "HomeGroup" Icon in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to change the default HomeGroup icon to any custom icon that you want instead in Windows 7.

   Warning

• You can only do this while logged into an administrator account.
• This will affect all user account's HomeGroup icon on the computer.

EXAMPLE: HomeGroup Icon
NOTE: This is the default (left screenshot) and custom (middle and right screenshots) HomeGroup icon.


Here's How: 1. Open the Start Menu and type regedit.exe in the search line, then press enter.

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

3. In Regedit, go to the location below: (See screenshot below step 4)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}\DefaultIcon

4. In the left pane of regedit, right click on the DefaultIcon key and click on Permissions. (See screenshot below)
5. At the top, select the Administrators group. At the bottom, check the Allow box to the right of Full Control and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
6. In the left pane of regedit, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)
7. To Restore the Default HomeGroup Icon A) In the Modify window from regedit, type in the path below and click on OK. %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-1013
B) Go to step 10.
8. To Use a 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) stored at, then click on OK. (See screenshot below)
WARNING: You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon that was made for Windows 7 and Vista for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Windows 7. 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.
9. To Use another Windows 7 Icon A) Download and install the free program IconViewer to add the Icons tab in the screenshot below step 9B.
NOTE: Be sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for your Windows 7.

B) In Windows Explorer navigate to the .exe (ex: for program icons) or .dll (ex: Windows 7 icons) file that contains the icon that you want to use for the default HomeGroup icon, then right click on the file, click on Properties, and the Icons tab. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The most common Windows 7 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 HomeGroup icon number is 1013. I'm going to change it to the 1027 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,-####) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, if I want to use the path (step 9B) and the 1027 icon (step 9C), I would type:

%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-1027

OR

C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,-1027
NOTE: This is the default HomeGroup icon value.
10. If you have 64-bit Windows 7 Installed

   Note

To also change the HomeGroup icon in the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well in 64-bit Windows 7, you will also need to do this step.

If you have a 32-bit Windows 7 installed, then skip this step since doing steps 1 to 7/8/9 will change the HomeGroup 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\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}\DefaultIcon

B) Repeat steps 4 to 7/8/9 above.
11. Close regedit.

12. Restart the computer to fully apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove the HomeGroup Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to View or Print Your Windows 7 Homegroup Password
• How to Change the Windows 7 Homegroup Password
• How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 7
• How to Link your Live ID and Share Files in Windows 7 HomeGroup
• How to Join or Add a Computer to a Windows 7 Homegroup
• How to Leave a Windows 7 Homegroup
• How to Change Windows 7 Homegroup File and Folder Sharing Settings
• How to Create a HomeGroup Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Libraries Icon in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Icon for Favorites in Windows 7
• How to Change or Restore Default Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Rename "Homegroup" in the Windows 7 Explorer Navigation Pane
• How to Create a HomeGroup Settings Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a HomeGroup Folder Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change Default Icon of Favorites in Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change the Default "Help and Support" Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Change the Default "Default Programs" Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Change the Default "Connect To" Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Change the Default "Control Panel" Icon in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default "Devices and Printers" Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Change the Default "Games" Explorer Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Change or Restore Default Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Change the Default "Recent Items" Icon in the Windows 7 Start Menu

 

[Cato]

Works great! Is there anything you don't know???

 

[Brink]

Thank you Cato.

Nar, there's plenty that I don't about, and still learning everyday.

 

[xTL]

Works perfect but i had to change both key locations on my x64bit and restart for it to take effect, but when that was done it works very happy ^^

 

[IMAyNeed]

The regedit address for 64 bit users is the same as change favorites default icon tutorial.

 

[Brink]

Thank you sir. Fixed.

 

[IMAyNeed]

I thank you for all of these great tutorials!