Changing shortcut icons from default

Hello:

When I put a shortcut to a web page (like the start page of Eleven Forum) the icon resulting is the standard Edge icon.

Is there a way to change these icons to what is displayed in the web page tab?

Thanks

You kow it is interesting as I thougt it would be easier. And the results are so-so.
To get the site icon, go here, save the icon (the smallest is usually the one you want)
Save the .png file to a folder you will remember such as webicons.
You need to convert the png to an ico.
Open it with paint and save it as .bmp.
You will lose transparency. (which may alter the look, rendering it useless)
Rename the .bmp file to an .ico file
Now return to the shortcut of the website you had created,
right click , properties, webdocument, change icon and you are done.
Too much trouble IMO, I am pretty sure there are easier ways.

Elizabeth,

Many .url internet shortcuts automatically change [to the icon that the webpage intended] when they are used.
Whatever it is that I'm remembering, it no longer happens.

Added 26th Jan 2023 - See my post #19 below.

Denis

@Try3,
Are we talking shortcuts or bookmarks?
As you can see, I have a shortcut to this site on my desktop and reaching it didn't change the icon.
I don't see how it could.

I spoke from memory. I should have re-tested before posting.

I used to notice this and found it interesting that .url file icons I had made using the shortcut wizard had default icons until I used them.
I've just retested some new & existing .url files and their icons do not change after use.

Denis

Getting the site icon is not an issue, it's the conversion from .png to .ico/.jpg/.bmp (.png is not an option when you select an icon)
In that conversion, you lose transparency and the icon looks corrupted.
Maybe someone will suggest a decent converter.

I am not very knowlegeable when it comes to graphics.

Greenfish Icon Editor Pro (free) has a talent for converting when you open an image and then choose Save As … and choose a different file type.

Easiest way is create a PWA...

Thank you Wisewiz, I kinda suspected you would know something like that.

Try it; you’ll like it.

It's changed again now as the icons are small

In Edge with the page you need a shortcut to open, open settings and scroll down to more tools and select pin to taskbar. Close the tab then press shift and right click the favicon on the taskbar and create a short cut.

I know but why? It's useless like that.

If you want a bona fide full size icon shortcut, but don't want a PWA installed...,
probably the best way is to create a shortcut as I described in Post #8,
amend the Target in Properties by taking out the app ID and replacing it with the URL...






... then uninstall the PWA, the shortcut will remain.

@Edwin,
Thank you. I did it using Edge, creating a PWA, modifying the shortcut and deleting the PWA.
Used to be easier, no?
I guess if you let sites put their icons thru their browsers, you are opening a whole new can of worms.

OAT said:

Used to be easier, no?

Click to expand...

With Firefox you can still just drag em to your Desktop, but, it gives you a puny icon!

OAT said:

I guess if you let sites put their icons thru their browsers, you are opening a whole new can of worms.

Click to expand...

Mmm..., I dunno..., I don't see the point of PWA's, most browsers run processes in a unique memory space anyway!

Totally silly, I agree.
But it's now called an APP and users can relate.

OAT said:

it's now called an APP and users can relate.

Click to expand...

I prefer to have tabs open in one window!

OAT said:

Getting the site icon is not an issue, it's the conversion from .png to .ico/.jpg/.bmp (.png is not an option when you select an icon)
In that conversion, you lose transparency and the icon looks corrupted.
Maybe someone will suggest a decent converter.

I am not very knowlegeable when it comes to graphics.

Click to expand...

This site has some limitations, but it works for me:

A TenForums member recently discovered that this symptom was caused by an incorrect file association.
Firefox desktop shortcut icons - TenForums

Denis

Recently I've been saving favicon.ico to an "Icons" folder and using that from Properties > Change Icon. Not all sites (like Elevenforum) have it, but you can try something like www.netflix.com/favicon.ico