Personalization Change Folder Picture in Windows 11


Folder_pictures_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to choose an image file to show as a picture on a folder's icon in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22557, File Explorer will show a thumbnail preview of folder contents on the folder's icon. Usually, the last item added to the folder will show as a thumbnail preview on the folder's icon.

If you like, you can choose any .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .png, .tif, .tiff, .bmp, .ico, .wmf, .dib, .jfif, .jpe, .fpx, or .mix image file you like to show as a picture on the folder's icon instead of the thumbnail preview.


If you disable thumbnail previews in File Explorer or folder thumbnail previews, folder pictures will also not show, and only the folder icon will show.

Folder pictures will not show while using a Small icons, List, or Details folder layout.

If you change a folder picture, the picture will show as the thumbnail preview.

If you change a folder icon, it will show the icon instead of the thumbnail preview.




Contents



EXAMPLE: Thumbnail preview or picture on folder icon

Folder_thumbnail_picture.png





Option One

Change Folder Picture


1 Right click on the folder you want, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

Change_folder_thumbnail_picture-1.png

2 Perform the following steps: (see screenshots below)
  1. Click/tap on the Customize tab.
  2. Click/tap on the Choose File button under Folder pictures.
  3. Navigate to and select a .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .png, .tif, .tiff, .bmp, .ico, .wmf, .dib, .jfif, .jpe, .fpx, or .mix image file you want.
  4. Click/tap on Open.
  5. Click/tap on OK.
Change_folder_thumbnail_picture-2.png
Change_folder_thumbnail_picture-3.png





Option Two

Restore Default Folder Picture


This will have the default thumbnail previews show on the folder's icon.


1 Right click on the folder you want, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

Change_folder_thumbnail_picture-1.png

2 Perform the following steps: (see screenshots below)
  1. Click/tap on the Customize tab.
  2. Click/tap on the Restore Default button under Folder pictures.
  3. Click/tap on OK.
Restore_default_folder_thumbnail_picture-2.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Just realized that 11 gives no indication of what (if anything) might be in a folder, and came here looking for a fix. You say that this is back as of 22557, but do you have any idea when this will trickle down to us "outsiders"? ;-)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    All of them
TBugReporter said:
Just realized that 11 gives no indication of what (if anything) might be in a folder, and came here looking for a fix. You say that this is back as of 22557, but do you have any idea when this will trickle down to us "outsiders"? ;-)
Click to expand...

Hello, :-)

Build 22557 is part of version 22H2, so it should be available to the public sometime in the second half of 2022. Most likely around October or November.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Hi, I need help in resolving why the images I save as the folder Icon either do not display in full or at all. One computer is an HP Laptop. The other is an Acer. Both are using Windows 11. I am attaching screenshots so you can see that I followed the instruction in the tutorial. On the HP, I can see the upper half of the image. I don't understand how to see the whole image? On the Acer, for some reason the images don't display at all! Please help?
Jjpn2023Screenshot 1.jpgScreenshot 2.jpgScreenshot 3.jpgScreenshot 4.jpgScreenshot 5.jpgScreenshot 6.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Jjpn2023 said:
Hi, I need help in resolving why the images I save as the folder Icon either do not display in full or at all. One computer is an HP Laptop. The other is an Acer. Both are using Windows 11. I am attaching screenshots so you can see that I followed the instruction in the tutorial. On the HP, I can see the upper half of the image. I don't understand how to see the whole image? On the Acer, for some reason the images don't display at all! Please help?
Click to expand...

Hello, and welcome. :alien:

Unfortunately, a folder picture will only show as a thumbnail on the folder icon and not replace the folder icon.

You'll need to change the folder icon instead to see all of it. Of course, it'll have to be an .ico file though.

www.elevenforum.com

Change Folder Icon in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the icon of a folder in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 22557, File Explorer will show a thumbnail preview of folder contents on the folder's icon. Usually, the last item added to the folder will show as a thumbnail preview on...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Dear Brink, Thanks again for your help. Now, I followed your instructions and converted the image to an .ico file. However, on the HP laptop, I can still only see the upper portion of the image. Am I still missing something to be able to see the full image? I would appreciate any and all suggestions? Now, for the Acer computer, there must be something in the computer settings that is messed up, because I still cannot see the images at all. Even after I converted the image to the .ico file. Please help?
Thanks again!
Jjpn2023New HP Screenshot 1.jpgNew HP Screenshot 3.jpgNew HP Screenshot 2.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Jjpn2023 said:
Please help?
Click to expand...
You have to apply the .ico icon resource to an empty folder first, then put the stuff in it.
It's also a good idea to put the .ico file in that folder, at the beginning, so the path to the custom icon resource doesn't become corrupted.

0001977.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
One more tip:
It's best to create a multi-layer .ico, (you can do so online),...

0003372.png


... so that the icon will show everywhere in Explorer...

0001980.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Hi,
I used the site icoconverter.com. I took the original image of a Dolly Parton album. I hope I followed your instructions. I'm not sure if the image was supposed to become a "Favicon"? Anyway, I placed the image into an empty folder. The did the custom setting to make it the Icon for the folder. However, the image is still only showing the upper portion of the image! I don't understand what in Windows 11 prevents the whole image displaying on the folder? Can someone please help me understand this? If not, I will just have to accept it!
Thanks,
Jjpn2023Favicon in Folder.jpgFavicon Image created.jpgDolly Parton Convert pic.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Hi guys, I converted the image again, selecting all of the sizes instructed. However, the full image is still not displaying on the folder! I'm attaching screenshots again. I also went into the File Explorer settings in hope of seeing something that is preventing the full image to be shown. I still don't understand the problem? I'm so ready to give up on this idea!Folder Settings 1.jpgFolder Settings 2.jpgFolder Settings 3.jpgFolder Settings 4.jpgFolder Settings 5.jpgFolder View.jpg Please help?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Try This Site with all boxes checked, except Custom size...,

... see if the ico lands in Downloads at least 128x128, 256x256 would be better...

0002010.png


Apply changes...

0002011.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Hi Guys, I used the new site suggested, and checked all the options except custom. I have completed every suggestion that has been offered, to no avail. I'm attaching screenshots again! BTW, I haven't seen screenshots of anyone actually having the whole image on the front of a folder in Windows 11. If you are able to do this, I sure want to know how! This is so irritating! I appreciate all your help! But I feel like I'm spinning my wheels with no results, except to see the upper portion of the image! If anyone else has any other suggestions, I will gladly take your help, but I'm not holding my breath! Thanks again!Dolly convert screenshot.jpgDolly Folder screenshot.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
I don't mean to sound insulting but, you are choosing this option, correct?

0002012.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Edwin,
I am embarrassed that I totally missed it! That solved it! I kept clicking on the "choose File option by accident! Thanks again! Yaaay!!!!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Jjpn2023 said:
Edwin,
I am embarrassed that I totally missed it! That solved it! I kept clicking on the "choose File option by accident! Thanks again! Yaaay!!!!
Click to expand...
Glad you got it solved! (y)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Thank you all again! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Hi Guys,
I'm not sure if someone posted something new on this post. I just have one more question regarding the Icons appearing on the Windows 11 folders. I have my movies organized in folders. Then, after I've watch a movie, I move the folder containing the movie into another folder titled Watched. My question is, if after I move the folder, do I have to manually go through the process each time to display the Icon? It's frustrating that each time I move a folder, it appears that I have to go through this process each time! Please advise?
Jjpn2023
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
Jjpn2023 said:
... do I have to manually go through the process each time to display the Icon?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately yes!
A folder's Properties and Path go hand in hand, (sort of...), break the path, you break the properties.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Edwin,
Thanks for the clarification. I appreciate your help!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz 1.80 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.88 GB usable)
  • Operating System
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U with RADEON Graphics
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    4.00 GB (3.42 GB usable)
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