Control Panel - Change Default Icons

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    Control Panel - Change Default Icons

    Control Panel - Change Default Icons

    How to Change Default Control Panel Icons in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Change Default Control Panel Icons in Windows 7


       Information
    This will show you how to change the default icons in the All Control Panel Items small and large icons view to any custom icon that you want instead in Windows 7.
       Tip
    You should use a 256x256 pixel .ico (icon) files to have the best support for all icon view sizes.
       Warning
    This can only be done in an administrator account.

    EXAMPLE: All Control Panel Items with Small and Large Icons View
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-control_panel_small_icons.jpg

    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-control_panel_large_icons.jpg




    OPTION ONE

    Change Control Panel Icons

    1. If open, close the Control Panel.

    2. Open the Start Menu, and type regedit in the search line and press enter.

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

    4. In regedit, navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID and continue to the location of the Control Panel icon in the table below for the one that you want to change.

    Control Panel Icon Registry CLSID Location
    Action Center {BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}\DefaultIcon
    Administrative Tools {D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}\DefaultIcon
    Autoplay {9C60DE1E-E5FC-4of4-A487-460851A8D915}\DefaultIcon
    Biometrics {0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}\DefaultIcon
    Backup and Restore {B98A2BEA-7D42-4558-8BD1-832F41BAC6FD}\DefaultIcon
    BitLocker Drive Encryption {D9EF8727-CAC2-4e60-809E-86F80A666C91}\DefaultIcon
    Color Management {B2C761C6-29BC-4f19-9251-E6195265BAF1}\DefaultIcon
    Credential Manager {1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}\DefaultIcon
    Date and Time {E2E7934B-DCE5-43C4-9576-7FE4F75E7480}\DefaultIcon
    Default Programs {17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}\DefaultIcon
    Desktop Gadgets {37efd44d-ef8d-41b1-940d-96973a50e9eo}\DefaultIcon
    Device Manager {74246bfc-4c96-11d0-9bef-0020afgb0b7a}\DefaultIcon
    Devices and Printers {A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}\DefaultIcon
    Display {C555438B-3C23-4769-A71F-B6D3D9B6053A}\DefaultIcon
    Ease of Access Center {D555645E-D4F8-4c29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}\DefaultIcon
    Folder Options {6DFD7C5C-2451-11d3-A299-00C04F8EF6AF}\DefaultIcon
    Fonts {BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}\DefaultIcon
    Getting Started {CB1B7F8C-C50A-4176-B604-9E24DEE8D4D1}\DefaultIcon
    HomeGroup {67CA7650-96E6-4fDD-BB43-A8E774F73A57}\DefaultIcon
    Indexing Options {87D66A43-7B11-4A28-9811-C86EEE395ACF7}\DefaultIcon
    Infared {A0275511-0E86-4ECA-97C2-ECD8F1221D08}
    Internet Options {A3DD4F92-658A-410F-84FD-6FBBBEF2FFFE}\DefaultIcon
    Keyboard {725BE8F7-668E-4C7B-8F90-46BDB0936430}\DefaultIcon
    Location and Other Sensors {E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B]\DefaultIcon
    Mouse {6C8EEC18-8D75-41B2-A177-8831D59D2D50}\DefaultIcon
    Network and Sharing Center {8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CAOE70D03D}\DefaultIcon
    Notification Area Icons {05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}\DefaultIcon
    Parental Controls {96AE8D84-A250-4520-95A5-A46A7E3C548B}\DefaultIcon
    Pen and Touch {F82DF8F7-8B9F-442E-A48C-818EA735FF9B}\DefaultIcon
    Performance Information and Tools
    {78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}\DefaultIcon
    Personalization {ED834ED6-485A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}\DefaultIcon
    Phone and Modem {40419485-C444-4567-851A-2DD7BFA1684D}\DefaultIcon
    Power Options {025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}\DefaulIcon
    Programs and Features {7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}\DefaultIcon
    Recovery {9FE63AFD-59CF-4419-9775-ABCC3849F861}\DefaultIcon
    Region and Language {62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}\DefaultIcon
    RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
    {241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}\DefaultIcon
    Sound {F2DDFC82-8F12-4CDD-B7DC-D4FE1425AA4D]\DefaultIcon
    Speech Recognition {58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A}\DefaultIcon
    Sync Center {9C73F5E5-7AE7-4E32-A8E8-8D23B85255BF}\DefaultIcon
    System {BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6A77EEE}\DefaultIcon
    Tablet PC Settings {80F3F1D5-FECA-45F3-BC32-752C152E456E}\DefaultIcon
    Taskbar and Start Menu {0DF44EAA-FF21-4412-828E-260A8728E7F1}\DefaultIcon
    Troubleshooting {C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}\DefaultIcon
    User Accounts {60632754-c523-4b62-b45c-4172da012619}\DefaultIcon
    Windows Cardspace {78CB147A-98EA-4AA6-B0DF-C8681F69341C}\DefaultIcon
    Windows Defender {D8559EB9-20C0-410E-BEDA-7ED416AECC2A}\DefaultIcon
    Windows Firewall {4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}\DefaultIcon
    Windows Live Language Setting {2BADA6D5-9815-4f01-9957-74AF8077FD18}\DefaultIcon
    Windows Mobility Center {5ea4f148-308c-46d7-98a9-49041b1dd468}\DefaultIcon
    Windows SideShow {E95A4861-D57A-4be1-AD0F-35267E261739}\DefaultIcon
    Windows Update {36eef7db-88ad-4e81-ad49-0e313f0c35f8}\DefaultIcon
    5. In the left pane, right click on DefaultIcon and click on Permissions. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: This (steps 5 to 7) is to take ownership of the DefaultIcon key. It is required.
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-reg1.jpg
    6. Click on the Advanced button. (See screenshot below)
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-take_ownership_1.jpg
    7. Click on the Owner tab, select Administrators (highlighted in blue below), and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: If you are prompted to approve changing the owner, then approve it.
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-take_ownership_2.jpg
    8. At the top, select Administrators (highlighted in blue below), then check the Allow box for Full Control and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: This just allowed you (administrator) full permission to make changes to the DefaultIcon key in step 9 below.
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-full_control.jpg
    9. In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key in regedit, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-reg1.jpg
    10. Type in the full path within quotes to the custom icon that you want to use instead of the default icon with the .ico file extension included, then click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: If you move or change this icon's location that you used in this step, then the icon will no longer work in the Control Panel until you change the path again to the new location.

    For a custom icon path example: "C:\icon folder\icon file.ico"
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-modify.jpg
    11. Repeat steps 4 to 10 to change another default Control Panel icon.

    12. When done, close regedit and open the Control Panel with small or large icons view to see your changes.



    OPTION TWO

    Restore Default Control Panel Icons


       Note
    This option assumes that you have already taken ownership and gave yourself permission of the DefaultIcon key from steps 5 to 8 in OPTION ONE above. If you have not, then you will need to do so before Windows 7 will allow you to do the ones below.
    1. Repeat only steps 1 to 4 in OPTION ONE above for the Control Panel icon that you want to restore to default.

    2. In the right pane of the DefaultIcon key in regedit, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-reg1.jpg
    3. Type in the default path for the Control Panel icon in the table below and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
    Control Panel - Change Default Icons-modify.jpg

    Control Panel Icon Default Icon Path
    Action Center %SystemRoot%\System32\ActionCenterCPL.dll,-1
    Administrative Tools %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-114
    Autoplay %SystemRoot%\System32\autoplay.dll,-1
    Backup and Restore %SystemRoot%\System32\sdcpl.dll,-1
    Biometrics %SystemRoot%\System32\biocpl.dll,-1
    BitLocker Drive Encryption %SystemRoot%\System32\fvecpl.dll,-1
    Color Management %systemroot%\system32\colorcpl.exe,-5
    Credential Manager %SystemRoot%\system32\Vault.dll,-1
    Date and Time %SystemRoot%\System32\timedate.cpl,-50
    Default Programs %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-24
    Desktop Gadgets %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe,-100
    Device Manager %SystemRoot%\system32\devmgr.dll,-201
    Devices and Printers %systemroot%\system32\DeviceCenter.dll,-1
    Display %SystemRoot%\System32\Display.dll,-1
    Ease of Access Center %SystemRoot%\System32\accessibilitycpl.dll,-1
    Folder Options %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-166
    Fonts %SystemRoot%\System32\fontext.dll
    Getting Started %SystemRoot%\branding\shellbrd\shellbrd.dll
    HomeGroup %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-1013
    Indexing Options %SystemRoot%\System32\srchadmin.dll,-201
    Infared %SystemRoot%\System32\irprops.cpl,-129
    Internet Options C:\Windows\System32\inetcpl.cpl,-4487
    Keyboard %SystemRoot%\System32\main.cpl,-200
    Location and Other Sensors %SystemRoot%\System32\SensorsCpl.dll,-1
    Mouse %SystemRoot%\system32\main.cpl,-100
    Network and Sharing Center %SystemRoot%\System32\netcenter.dll,-1
    Notification Area Icons %SystemRoot%\System32\taskbarcpl.dll,-1
    Parental Controls %SystemRoot%\System32\wpccpl.dll,-1
    Pen and Touch %SystemRoot%\System32\tabletpc.cpl,-10201
    Performance Information and Tools
    %SystemRoot%\System32\PerfCenterCPL.dll,-1
    Personalization %SystemRoot%\System32\themecpl.dll,-1
    Phone and Modem %SystemRoot%\System32\telephon.cpl,-100
    Power Options %SystemRoot%\System32\Powercpl.dll,-1
    Programs and Features imageres.dll,-87
    Recovery %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-1022
    Region and Language %SystemRoot%\System32\intl.cpl,-200
    RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
    %SystemRoot%\System32\tsworkspace.dll
    Sound %SystemRoot%\System32\mmsys.cpl,-100
    Speech Recognition %SystemRoot%\System32\Speech\SpeechUX\speechuxcpl.dll,-1
    Sync Center %SystemRoot%\System32\SyncCenter.dll,-1000
    System %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-149
    Tablet PC Settings %SystemRoot%\System32\tabletpc.cpl,-10200
    Taskbar and Start Menu %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-80
    Troubleshooting %SystemRoot%\System32\DiagCpl.dll,-1
    User Accounts %SystemRoot%\System32\usercpl.dll,-1
    Windows Cardspace %SystemRoot%\System32\icardres.dll,-4096
    Windows Defender %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MsMpRes.dll,-103
    Windows Firewall C:\Windows\system32\FirewallControlPanel.dll,-1
    Windows Live Language Setting
    C:\Program Files (x86)\windows live\installer\LangSelectorRes.dll,0
    Windows Mobility Center %SystemRoot%\system32\mblctr.exe,0
    Windows SideShow %SystemRoot%\System32\AuxiliaryDisplayCpl.dll,-1
    Windows Update %SystemRoot%\system32\wucltux.dll,-1
    4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to change another default Control Panel icon.

    5. When done, close regedit and open the Control Panel with small or large icons view to see your changes.
    That's it,
    Shawn Brink





  1. Posts : 3,639
    Windows 7 Ultimate, OS X 10.7, Ubuntu 11.04
       #1

    Very nice tutorial Shawn!

    Maybe [Hint]someone will make an icon pack for control panel[/Hint]
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Steve.

    LOL, now that would be a bit of work to create a pack for all of them.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,639
    Windows 7 Ultimate, OS X 10.7, Ubuntu 11.04
       #3

    Brink said:
    Thank you Steve.

    LOL, now that would be a bit of work to create a pack for all of them.
    Yeah I suppose, maybe a tutorial for making icons? :) I'd like to take a whack at them (who doesn't love whack-a-mole?).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 80
    Win 7
       #4

    Great Tutorial, Brink.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 35
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #5

    DarkNovaGamer said:
    Very nice tutorial Shawn!

    Maybe [Hint]someone will make an icon pack for control panel[/Hint]

    That would be nice. If anyone knows of a good set please feel free to let me know.


    Thanks for tutorial, easy to follow for a newbie like me.

    Tye
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    You're welcome Tye. I'm happy to hear that you found it easy to follow. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6
    windows 7 64bit
       #7

    Thanks BRink, I've searched high and low for such a tutorial, two thumbs up, you rock.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're most welcome Optical, and welcome to Seven Forums. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 35
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #9

    I have a problem restoring the default icons. I restored all but 2, backup and restore - windows firewall. I noticed that windows firewall refers to a folder location and when I navigated there, C:\Windows\system32\FirewallControlPanel.exe is not present, I have a FirewallControlPanel.dll file but not an .exe. I triple checked to make sure I entered the info correctly but when I open control panel both icons are the windows default folder icon.

    Any Ideas?

    Thanks, Tye.
      My Computer


 
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