How to Fix the Windows Explorer "Open" Application Toolbar and Context Menu Icon in Windows 7
Information
This will show you how to fix the Windows Explorer Open application toolbar and context menu icon when you select an application (ex: EXE) file in Windows Explorer to the correct icon in Windows 7.
EXAMPLE: Open application Toolbar and Context Menu icon
NOTE: This is before and after you fix the icon when you have an application (ex: .exe) file selected in Windows Explorer.
Here's How: 1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Application_Icon.zip
2. Click on
Save, and save the
.zip file to the
desktop.
3. Open the Zip file, and extract the
Application_Icon.ico file to your desktop.
4. Right click on the extracted
Application_Icon.ico file, and click on
Properties,
General tab, and on the
Unblock button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the file is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.
5. Move the downloaded
Application_Icon.ico file into the
C:\Windows\System32 folder. (see screenshot below)
6. If prompted, click on
Continue and
Yes to approve moving the .ico file. Afterwards, do either
step 7 or 8 below.
7. To Automatically Fix the Icon with a REG File Download A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Fix_Open_Toolbar_Context_Menu_Icon.reg
Download
B) Click on
Save, and save the
.reg file to the desktop
.
C)
Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
D)
Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.
E) When done, you can delete the downloaded
.reg file if you like.
F)
Go to step 9.
8. To Manually Fix the Icon in Registry Editor
NOTE: This option will also allow you to use a custom icon of your own instead if you like.
A) Open the Start Menu, then type regedit and press Enter.
B) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
C)
In regedit, go to: (see screenshot below step 8D) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open
D) In the right pane, right click on a empty space and click on
New and
String Value. (see screenshot below)
E) Type
Icon and press enter. (see screenshot below)
F) In the right pane, right click on
Icon and click on
Modify. (See screenshot below)
G) Copy and Past the location below into the Edit String box and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you like, you could also enter the full path of a different icon (.ico file) that you would like to use instead with ",-1" (no quotes) at the end like below.
%Windir%\System32\Application_Icon.ico,-1
H) Regedit will now look this. (see screenshot below)
9. If you have not already, close and reopen all Windows Explorer windows to apply.
That's it,
Shawn