Changing Desktop Icons'/Folders' backgrounds and or text in Windows 11

allisondbl · Aug 9, 2025

As we all know by now, you can't give your Desktop icons an actual colored background, nor can you Bold or change their font. I used Iconoid to solve this problem in Windows 10 for years but it does NOT work in Windows 11. YES I have researched this to death and NO the accessibility changes that supposedly let you make Icon text more visible by using a plain solid boring background for example don't help. I like using art of all kinds as my Desktop and change it on the regular BUT I have issues with my vision and REALLY need to make the Text of my icons more visible via bolder font or adding a background of a different solid color behind the text. I've attached an image of my current desktop and you can see how it's impossible to read the text/labels on my Icons/Folders HELP!!!

Edwin · Aug 9, 2025

'Desktop Icon Toy' will let you change all the font colors of Desktop Icons/Folders all at once, but not the backgrounds...

'QTTabBar' will let you change the font color and the background, but only one item at a time...

'

Edwin · Aug 9, 2025

You could also experiment with Desktop Icon sizes,
and font sizes/boldness with 'Advanced System Font Changer'

allisondbl · Aug 9, 2025

Ooh thank you! I assume all of these are third party apps I can find?! <scurries to look>

Edwin · Aug 9, 2025

allisondbl said:
I assume all of these are third party apps I can find?!

Yeah, just Google them as I've posted them...

except, you may not get a proper hit for QTTabBar, here it is: QTTabBar

Please note:
Take your time with these software's as they can be finicky, especially QTTabBar which is very complex!

allisondbl · Aug 10, 2025

Okay. I installed Qttabbar ... but it didn't really show up ... and I can't find ANY manual, any explanation of how to find it or use it or anything. Forget finicky it isn't useable? I uninstalled it but if I can find anything telling me how to use it that mentions changing icons I'll try it again. Tabbar is for tabs AFAICT and has nothing to do with icons? Gonna go check out Advanced System Font Changer now ...

Edwin · Aug 10, 2025

allisondbl said:
Okay. I installed Qttabbar ... but it didn't really show up ...

Press Alt/View/Toolbars...

QTTabBar

Post in this thread for anything related to QTTabBar on Windows 11.

www.elevenforum.com

allisondbl said:
Tabbar is for tabs AFAICT and has nothing to do with icons?

Oh, it does a ton things!
If you get it working I can guide you through a few things.

allisondbl · Aug 10, 2025

I can try this - Edwin you have been awesome! but a question: I DID add System Font changer and along with Iconoid - disabling drop shadows - And I HAVE been able to make the Icon font black AND make it a bit bolder which is great! The ONLY thing I need to do now is find a way to put a BACKGROUND behind the Icon text of any/at least a bunch of color(s) to provide contrast as I change the art. Will QTTabbar do SPECIFICALLY this? Don't want to bother you further unless it - or SOME program can do the ONE thing I really need: to put a variable colored background behind the text of desktop icons?! Thank you for your help!!!

Edwin · Aug 10, 2025

allisondbl said:
Will QTTabbar do SPECIFICALLY this?

Yes, as per my second clip in Post #2

I should tell you, QTTabBar is a huge and complete Explorer Enhancement Suite, it is capable of a ton of things...,

However, the tweak you desire is quick and simple...

Edwin · Aug 10, 2025

Btw, the 'Apply the colors to files with same extension' thing works for all those types of files across the OS...

I usually associate the font color with the tones of the program icon...

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Thank you yet again. I completely missed your very clear pictorial showing it could do what I want the first time. Bad me! I will download it now and check in again. Again: THANK YOU!

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Okay. I officially win the stupid card. Reinstalled. You said to find the qtt I press Alt/View/Toolbars... Alt is easy, but View is??? If it's the Windows Key pressing the two does nothing. And there are NO toolbars findable or installed with Windows 11 AFAICT???

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Okay. Edwin or whomever anyone around to talk me through this? Among other things I think installing qttab has now made all folders open in tabs instead of in a new window which makes it unusable for me! HELP!

Edwin · Aug 11, 2025

allisondbl said:
qttab has now made all folders open in tabs instead of in a new window which makes it unusable for me!

Why is that???

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Edwin said:
Why is that???

Because on a daily basis I need to move files/downloads from one folder to another and it doesn't really work if they're just all tabs in ONE window!

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Hello Edwin and thank you. So I have sort of found Qtab by going into windows file explorer and right clicking on the Home bar and qttab bar options show up at the bottom of the list. I went into there and looked around but I can't find anything that will let me alter icons. I also tried what you "seem?" to show which is just right clicking??? on e.g. recycle bin but no qttab options show up to let me do anything?

Edwin · Aug 11, 2025

allisondbl said:
... it doesn't really work if they're just all tabs in ONE window!

Nonsense! Just drag n drop...

Edwin · Aug 11, 2025

allisondbl said:
I went into there and looked around but I can't find anything that will let me alter icons. I also tried what you "seem?" to show which is just right clicking???

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Edwin: you're amazing! Got this and did it - I would NEVER have figured out this is how you mess with the Icons so thank you! One remaining problem: I get it to work, but no matter how I play with the selected column checkmarks or luminosity the background color is virtually translucent which doesn't help. See example. How do I get it to be a virtually opaque color?

allisondbl · Aug 11, 2025

Edwin said:
Nonsense! Just drag n drop...

View attachment 142016

Thank you for this but mine looks NOTHING like this and doesn't work this way. HOWEVER I found I can drag the second tab onto the desktop which lets me have the best of both worlds so again: THANK YOU.

Changing Desktop Icons'/Folders' backgrounds and or text in Windows 11

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