Icons were invented as a quick way to visually identify information on a computer, simply sometimes a Windows 10 shortcut icon is so generic that it doesn't feel useful. In that example, Windows makes it piece of cake to customize the icon. Here'southward how to do it.

Commencement, locate the shortcut with the icon you lot'd like to change in File Explorer or on your Desktop. Correct-click the shortcut, and select "Backdrop."

Right click the shortcut and click "Properties" in Windows 10.

In Properties, make sure you lot're on the Shortcut tab for an application shortcut, and so click the "Change Icon" button.

(If the shortcut points to a spider web page instead of an awarding, expect in the "Web Document" tab, then click the "Alter Icon" button.)

A "Change Icon" window will pop up containing a field of icons that you can apply with the shortcut. By default, these come from a Windows system file called "imageres.dll."

If you'd similar to utilise a different icon than the ones listed past default, you lot tin click "Browse" and select either an EXE file, a DLL file, or an ICO file. (Y'all can utilize any image you like—you only have to catechumen it to ICO format starting time.) In one case the file is loaded, y'all will run across the possible icons you tin can employ in the box below.

Whether y'all're using the default selection or a custom file, select i of the icons, and click "OK."

In the Properties window, you volition discover that the icon has changed to the one you selected. Click "OK" to close Properties and to relieve the settings.

Congratulations—your shortcut has a make new icon! Feel free to customize whatever shortcut icon you'd like. It'southward a bang-up way to add personality to your Windows installation.

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