Best icon changing / management tool for W11?

Just performed both and it did not work. It reset my customized icons everywhere, and folders with images in them elsewhere look fine now, but the desktop icons are not being fixed. So narrowed it down a little bit more to just the desktop.

If I change this setting, it fixes the desktop icons and it also fixed the desktop icons in explorer.


Then if I turn it back off, the icons in explorer are fine, but desktop goes back to bad.

However, I want thumbnails to show on actual items with thumbnails, like images or videos, and this disables that. I just wanted to stop mini-thumbnails from showing on folders with media in them.
This must surely narrow the problem down to somewhere someone knows right?
If everyone is out of ideas I'm gonna reinstall in a few hours.

Here's a video that might also help narrow it down:

I found a thread with a guy that maybe had a similar issue, and this comment might shed some light:

"I do know one thing for sure. When you make a new folder on the desktop or anywhere else, the icon you see is the default explorer folder icon. This icon is by default a pale yellow folder symbol. The default explorer folder icon can be changed, but it changes it EVERYWHERE within explorer and I know of no way that you can pick and choose the places you see it. If that is of interest to you see @FreeBooter solution in this thread. Need help changing folder icons in explorer and regedit"

Click to expand...

So if it's the same folder icon everywhere, why is my desktop being difficult? This happened after I ran the commands here:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons" /v "3" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\OneDrive\Pictures\MLP Icons\Folders\Folder - UserFluttershy.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons" /v "4" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\OneDrive\Pictures\MLP Icons\Folders\fluttericon.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons" /v "3" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\OneDrive\Pictures\MLP Icons\Folders\Folder - UserFluttershy.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons" /v "4" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\OneDrive\Pictures\MLP Icons\Folders\fluttericon.ico" /f

Click to expand...

So it must be something to do with this. But since you say they don't exist by default and I have removed them and totally reset icon caches etc, it must have also added entries for the desktop automatically somewhere. I don't know I'm just trying to eliminate possibilities and narrow it down.

I've gone through all the entries here and in the other location;


And there is nothing.

If I change the folder icon manually, that works, but if I create a new folder, move the contents over, the icon goes bad from the new folder;


If anyone can fix this i'll send you a few bucks on paypal.

Thanks in advance.

I think I fixed it.


Turning this on seems to have done the trick.

It wasn't that.
It was this registry entry that finally did the trick:
Registry keys there.

The 'disable' one fixed it. Looking at the actual contents, it seems like it just tries to use a file that doesn't exist, which somehow lets my iconpack use its icons would them looking like;


Just wanted to post the solution incase anyone else came looking.

Hi @TairikuOkami,

Just to relay some quick infos I shared on the Custom Folder Icon Thread, about making customized folders which will always appear on secondary drives, whether using a dual boot, after a reinstall, or using external drives.

Not to double post, here is it, and check the Portable Folder Icons section in the second part.
Hope it can be helpful.

Maybe a small portable app to do this kind of thing already exists, or could be created.
Copying the same desktop.ini file with renaming each icons "folder.ico" shouldn't take longer that using an app.

I've noticed for example that WindowsThumbnailGenerator also creates these type of files.
What I like is that it makes the "Hidden" tick box greyed out (thing I manage to make on the desktop.ini file by doing the "weird method", but not yet on the icon itself). This ensures that these files are really protected and fully recognized by any Windows edition (despite the new JSON files which are starting to replace INI ones).

Of course, if you just use system icons, an ICO file doesn't have to be in the folder, and just specify the icon in the address.
Though, you bet that icon will correspond to the OS edition it is used in.

Line #2 :
IconResource=C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll
Line #3 :
IconIndex=140

Or line #2 :
IconResource=C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,140

Attached the reg keys needed to fix the desktop icons going like that.

Interesting. My custom icons on desktop periodically change to white boxes. Standard icons do not. There is no change to the paths, they just do it randomly. Does paradox's link(s) fix that?

The white boxes sounds like the same issue - windows trying to use another icon or something on top of the actual icon (I still don't know exactly what is going on - but I have a feeling it'll fix it for you. The undo key works fine if it doesn't.)

(You want DISABLE, if that doesn't work use ENABLE one to revert it.)

Just hoping I can help anyone really since this place is great and want to give back.

Edit: After that, you might need to run;
(Just this one usually fixes it for me, no reboot needed.)
if not then also try
then reboot.

Hi @elbmek,

Have you tried out my "weird method" linked I was referring just before ?
Maybe it could make a change, as it concerns customized folders.
This practically always worked for me, when clearing the icon cache didn't.

Otherwise, this is a typical Windows temporary issue which is usually corrected in a next update.


@paradoxum,
I was thinking about those new JSON rich directory files, that used to cause me conflict when another desktop.ini "was" next to it.
Maybe you could look into this. I used to delete the JSON file, and recreate a desktop.ini (automatically or manually) to get things back to normal.

Thanx for posting these icon cache cleaner files. Few others were already posted a while ago, but an update is always welcome.
I sometimes had issues with automatic bat/reg files, so I do it manually pretty quickly, and it always works fine, without restart needed.

Manually Clear Icon Cache :

• Open the "Command Prompt" as administrator (in the [Search box], type "cmd").
• Paste each command line -separately- and validate with [Enter] except the last one.
  
  Code:

  cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
  attrib –h iconcache_*.db
  del iconcache_*.db

• You will have to end the Windows Explorer process before validating this last command.
• Make sure all File Explorer windows are closed, and open the "Task Manager" by pressing [Ctrl+Shift+Esc] simultaneously.
• Scroll down the list until you reach all [Windows Explorer] process.
• Select it/them, right-click and choose [End Task] : "It's going to be all dark!"
• Close the "Task Manager".
• Now validate the last command, then close the "Command Prompt" window.
• Access the "Task Manager" again with [Ctrl+Shift+Esc] keys, click on [File], [Run new task] then type "explorer.exe" and [Enter].
• Light's back on ! Close the "Task Manager".

Click to expand...

*Keeping the notepad txt instructions window open doesn't bother.

I'll wait until it happens again, then follow paradox's instructions

RE: the library icons on the side


I just noticed this window when checking what folders were in each library, and noticed the change icon area, but as you can see it's greyed out. Do we know what controls this?

Edit:
Oh. You can't change windows default ones for some silly reason. I wonder if a registry edit would be able to allow that?
You can delete the default windows ones but if you re-create one with the same name it 'knows' it's a default one and doesn't allow icon changing.



If you know where the library data is stored in the registry, you could create a new one, change the icon and see what keys change for it etc and compare with the default windows entries and see if you can manually add the key to change them there. Just an idea because I have no clue where to look in the reg for that.

I haven't had a chance to go through this yet but this looks helpful for icon things:

I installed the newest preview, and that reg key works for desktop items, but now i'm seeing the folder problem everywhere;

Fabler2 said:

I use Stardocks' Icon Packager. Costs about a tenner one off.

Click to expand...

Hi @Fabler2

Do you or anyone know exactly how the software behaves, i.e. where are placed new icon packs used and the way they are displayed.
After having tried a few packs, and then switched back to my default (11 fluent blue) one, it looks the imageres.dll file used has been merged in my "Documents" main folder (but looks more like a copy, as modifying some icons didn't have any effect). The one in the system is now the original yellow, which is not displayed (icon cache cleared), meaning that my default pack is in a place managed by the app (it's not in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\IconPackager). I'll see what happens when I uninstall it.

I guess new reg files were created to redirect new icon locations.
I found this one so far, but it looks just a few redirections are there.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\IconPackager

Actually, I will soon need to build an icon theme with IconPackager (in addition to 7tsp and iPack Builder).
I have a lot of icons to replace, they all have precise numbers which must be respected of course.
The problem with IconPackager is that it doesn't use the Microsoft method (like with the 2 other softwares) and just use a short sequence of numbers to name the icons (in the folder mentioned above).
So I have no choice and have to replace them in the app set, but the main W10 one is not complete (and the W11 one even less), and the WXP seem to include much more but it gets difficult now to recognize all of the icons (and no guarantee the complete set's there).

I hoped there would have been a clearer/easier method, I'll probably have to find an "imageres.dll" XP version to be able to compare each icon and their number to confirm the replacements.

paradoxum said:

it doesn't persist on reinstalls

Click to expand...

Do you not make regular backup images? It eliminates the need for reinstalls. All my customized icons are retained, as are all apps, files, and customizations..

TizianoMad said:

Hi @Fabler2

Do you or anyone know exactly how the software behaves, i.e. where are placed new icon packs used and the way they are displayed.
After having tried a few packs, and then switched back to my default (11 fluent blue) one, it looks the imageres.dll file used has been merged in my "Documents" main folder (but looks more like a copy, as modifying some icons didn't have any effect). The one in the system is now the original yellow, which is not displayed (icon cache cleared), meaning that my default pack is in a place managed by the app (it's not in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\IconPackager). I'll see what happens when I uninstall it.

I guess new reg files were created to redirect new icon locations.
I found this one so far, but it looks just a few redirections are there.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\IconPackager

Actually, I will soon need to build an icon theme with IconPackager (in addition to 7tsp and iPack Builder).
I have a lot of icons to replace, they all have precise numbers which must be respected of course.
The problem with IconPackager is that it doesn't use the Microsoft method (like with the 2 other softwares) and just use a short sequence of numbers to name the icons (in the folder mentioned above).
So I have no choice and have to replace them in the app set, but the main W10 one is not complete (and the W11 one even less), and the WXP seem to include much more but it gets difficult now to recognize all of the icons (and no guarantee the complete set's there).

I hoped there would have been a clearer/easier method, I'll probably have to find an "imageres.dll" XP version to be able to compare each icon and their number to confirm the replacements.

Click to expand...

I just use the software as is and don't use any other. I only restore defaults via the program itself if needed (all yellow abominations ).
The icon packages come with their own "installer" and run from within the new package and placed in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\IconPackager. Can't offer any further help sorry.



Hopefully @Edwin sees this and offers advice. He's the forum's master tweaker extraordinaire

I change some desktop icons from items in an icon folder I created. Some, like Flightradar 24 which uses its own icon, often changed to a white box. Then later, like now, without interference from me, it changes back to the FR24 icon. Some game icons also do the same

@TizianoMad, I managed to change the default icon for .txt files using the registry method HERE and using an .ico from IconPackager's default location C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\IconPackager.
Changed @{Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_11.2208.25.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.WindowsNotepad/Files/Assets/txtfile.png}
to
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\IconPackager\Simple Thing\Simple Thing Icon 54.ico

 
Hi everyone !


Thanx @Fabler2 for this trick.

Actually, I'm trying IconPackager on Windows 10, but it works exactly the same.
No shell32.dll modification (as there could/should have been since v1903).

Your trick was welcome for the 1809 version, as the Notepad app icon was used on TXT files, so I managed to apply the right Text icon. (imageres#102). 21H2 doesn't need it, but as W11 uses some new PNG repositories which IconPackager doesn't handle, it's a good one to keep aside.

                     


It would be cool to access the full list of reg redirection paths, for Windows Apps and shell32 icons.
As there are quite a lot, I wonder if all or most of them can be tweaked this way.
@paradoxum I think you prefer it this way too. Have you found anything more about it ?

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elbmek said:

.../ Flightradar 24 which uses its own icon, often changed to a white box. /.../ Some game icons also do the same

Click to expand...

I had an issue with ZIP files (only) originally handled by 7zip. I had a try with "Open with /+tick" (and apply by file type in the default App Settings) but this displays the App icon, and not the icon the app's supposed to generate. Thankfully, it was pretty easy to reassign in the app.





In your case, is the issue concerning (third party /games) EXE file ?
I know you can reach directly the original icon of an app in its shortcut, but I not for the original EXE one.
Apart from refreshing icons (clear cache), I don't think of anything else...

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Fabler2 said:

.../ The icon packages come with their own "installer" and run from within the new package and placed in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\IconPackager. /...

Click to expand...

I've mentioned looking in this place, in addition to my custom imageres.dll file copy at the root of my "Documents" folder.
My custom imageres.dll file (originally placed in System32) is still displayed and used because this is what I see when I need to change an icon (with officially using the correct location too) :


            


...but this is what I get when I open the real imageres.dll file in System32 (!) :

    


This is a really strange behavior. I wonder how it get redirected and where is the proper custom DLL file used.

To build my icon pack with IconPackager, I don't seem to have a way of replacing icons with their original numbers, and can only replace the ones from Stardock's packs, which has each their own quantity and distribution.
(ignore the icon numbers generated by IcoFX above)
Well, in the worst case, there's still enough for me to build a nice nearly complete icon theme.

---

Beyond IconPackager, I also need a bit of help to remove a few of Stardock's options from Explorer's context menu.
I guess it's better if I open a new thread about it, as this request is a bit out of subject and would need to be visible in the forum.
@Edwin, you were recommended to me about this field. Hope you can have a peep once posted.
@Feuer maybe you are also comfortable with the registry too.


See you
 

TizianoMad said:

... I also need a bit of help to remove a few of Stardock's options from Explorer's context menu...

Click to expand...

What options are those?