How to change icon for certain file types?

raphaelmsx · Dec 26, 2025

Hi!

In Windows 10 I just used nirsoft filetypesman and worked like a charm, now on Windows 11 (25H2), it throws an error: "The system cannot find the file specified", so I tried another program, Types, but it doesn't change the icons...

What can I do?

Ghot · Dec 26, 2025

raphaelmsx said:
Hi!

In Windows 10 I just used nirsoft filetypesman and worked like a charm, now on Windows 11 (25H2), it throws an error: "The system cannot find the file specified", so I tried another program, Types, but it doesn't change the icons...

What can I do?

This is a job for @davidvkimball [insert super hero music]

Custom Icons for Windows 11 Thread (Folders, Dropbox, Google Drive, Podcasts, NVME Drive, Steam, Adobe)

Edit: This project has evolved into a collaborate effort known as Folder11. You can find these icons here. Original post: In my ongoing quest to keep Zune alive, I sought to create a custom matching Podcasts folder for Windows 11. For those wondering where this folder comes from: when the...

www.elevenforum.com

raphaelmsx · Dec 26, 2025

Ghot said:
This is a job for @davidvkimball [insert super hero music]

Custom Icons for Windows 11 Thread (Folders, Dropbox, Google Drive, Podcasts, NVME Drive, Steam, Adobe)

Edit: This project has evolved into a collaborate effort known as Folder11. You can find these icons here. Original post: In my ongoing quest to keep Zune alive, I sought to create a custom matching Podcasts folder for Windows 11. For those wondering where this folder comes from: when the...

www.elevenforum.com

Thanks, but I want to change the icon to some file types (mp3, flac, etc...), not folders.

Ghot · Dec 26, 2025

raphaelmsx said:
Thanks, but I want to change the icon to some file types (mp3, flac, etc...), not folders.

That guy knows icons, for anything.
It will take him a few days to respond. He will have gotten an email alert when I "mentioned" him above.

All my .mp3's have a blank white sheet for an icon.
He will probably also know what icon programs work on Win 11.

Maybe @Edwin can help. He changes pretty much everything in the Win 11 GUI.

Edwin · Dec 26, 2025

Ghot said:
Maybe @Edwin can help. He changes pretty much everything in the Win 11 GUI.

I use an Icon Packager, it does the dirty work for me!

Beyond that, I haven't a clue!

raphaelmsx · Dec 27, 2025

I tried IconPackager, but it's not changing the icon too.

Edwin · Dec 27, 2025

raphaelmsx said:
I tried IconPackager, but it's not changing the icon too.

What are all the exact steps you are performing with that task?

raphaelmsx · Dec 27, 2025

Edwin said:
What are all the exact steps you are performing with that task?

Customize -> Icons & Cursor -> Files -> right click on the file type I want to change -> Change the Icon -> c:\users\myself\icons\icon.ico -> click ok -> click Apply My Changes

Edwin · Dec 27, 2025

raphaelmsx said:
Customize -> Icons & Cursor -> Files -> right click on the file type I want to change -> Change the Icon -> c:\users\myself\icons\icon.ico -> click ok -> click Apply My Changes

... and then Re-load the Package.

Works for me, anyway...

raphaelmsx · Dec 27, 2025

Edwin said:
... and then Re-load the Package.

Works for me, anyway...

View attachment 158129

Where is this setting (reload the package)? I can't seem to find it...

Edwin · Dec 27, 2025

raphaelmsx said:
Where is this setting (reload the package)? I can't seem to find it...

Under Look & Feel...

raphaelmsx · Dec 27, 2025

I thought you didn't need to create a package, but then I created, it's showing my custom icons on "Customize" but not on "Look & Feel", so I clicked anyway on "Apply icons...", but it does nothing.

raphaelmsx · Mar 3, 2026

Hi, I'm back again with this unresolved problem, but with updates.

I use Strawberry Music Player, but hate the strawberry icon that it replaces for audio file types.

In my Win10 PC, I simply use Nirsoft FileTypesMan to change the icon type and it works fine.

I have installed Win11 25H2 26200.7840 in a fresh VM, and also FileTypesMan and Types, but not Strawberry yet.

With Types, I can change the icon for any file type, with FileTypesMan I can't, it always returns: "Error 2: The system cannot the file specified"

After installing Strawberry, using Types, I can still change the icon for a given file type, except now I can't for Strawberry audio files (mp3, flac...). It does not give any errors, in Types itself the icon appears changed, but it really does not change.

What can I do?

Thanks.

billmcct · Mar 3, 2026

You ca try Types:

Download Types 2.6.5 - MajorGeeks

Types was designed to edit your file and program associations, icons, context menus and more.

www.majorgeeks.com

raphaelmsx · Mar 3, 2026

billmcct said:
You ca try Types:

Download Types 2.6.5 - MajorGeeks

Types was designed to edit your file and program associations, icons, context menus and more.

www.majorgeeks.com

Thanks, but that's exactly what I described in the previous post. I'm trying this app, to no avail.

fishingfool · Mar 3, 2026

I would use resource hacker.
That's what i used to change the default "smashed cat" ico in irfanview and that stupid traffic cone icon in VLC.
It's not self explanatory so if you need some help I can give you a step by step with some pics if you like.
A total shutdown \ Power up is sometimes required for the changes to be made. other times a simple reboot will do
Just remember to click File > Save after you've made the changes.

Resource Hacker

Edit: A Brad Paisley Playlist?

dacrone · Mar 3, 2026

raphaelmsx said:
Hi!

In Windows 10 I just used nirsoft filetypesman and worked like a charm, now on Windows 11 (25H2), it throws an error: "The system cannot find the file specified", so I tried another program, Types, but it doesn't change the icons...

What can I do?

when does it produce that error? i use it to change the icon for multiple file types and have never had an issue...

raphaelmsx · Mar 3, 2026

dacrone said:
when does it produce that error? i use it to change the icon for multiple file types and have never had an issue...

Yes, like I said before, it works perfectly in Win10, but not in Win11.

I even contacted Nir Sofer (from Nirsoft), and even him couldn't figure out what was wrong here.

I tested both on a physical and virtual machine with Windows 11 25H2 26200.7840, really after just installing the operating system itself, not installing/modifying anything else, to no avail.

raphaelmsx · Mar 3, 2026

fishingfool said:
I would use resource hacker.
That's what i used to change the default "smashed cat" ico in irfanview and that stupid traffic cone icon in VLC.
It's not self explanatory so if you need some help I can give you a step by step with some pics if you like.
A total shutdown \ Power up is sometimes required for the changes to be made. other times a simple reboot will do
Just remember to click File > Save after you've made the changes.

Resource Hacker

Edit: A Brad Paisley Playlist?

Wow, nice program!

I could change the program icon (strawberry.exe) really easily!

For the filetypes (.mp3, .flac...), I couldn't figure out how to do it in Resource Hacker...

But later, I discovered there's a strawberry.ico in the Strawberry folder, I just replaced with my custom icon, and it worked!

Thanks!

raphaelmsx · Mar 3, 2026

Oh, and I also enjoy Brad Paisley very much!

How to change icon for certain file types?

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