How to customize left navigation pane icons and Home icons?

I changed my folder icons under Users and also libraries but these left navigation icons won't change.

If I click on Home, I also see the icons unchanged there but if I go to properties, it does show the cuztomized icon in the properties page just now what I can see in File Explorer.

What is the trick to do this?







Notice, only the desktop icon changed in both the left navigation pane and the Home icons

For reference, I have followed these 2 guides but those icons won't change even if I unpin them, clear icon cache, reboot then pin them again:

Spartan said:

but these left navigation icons won't change

Click to expand...

At top right do a search for "Icons", and read through the list of topics and posts in the results.


And this guy seems to have a handle on doing anything with icon appearance...

Use Winaero, section Customize this PC folders.

I use an Icon Packager..., way easier, less work.

Edwin said:

I use an Icon Packager..., way easier, less work.

View attachment 61571

Click to expand...

Yes indeed, Got it as well, bundled with Stardock DeskScapes.
But Winaero is free and it works too.

OAT said:

Use Winaero, section Customize this PC folders.


View attachment 61570

View attachment 61569

Click to expand...

Right, but the icon on the left pane won't change, only the first icon is changing

I don't use those "libraries"... but maybe if you unpin, then re-pin them, they will "grab" the new icons?
Just a guess obviously.



I bought my File Explorer at... IKEA.

Ghot said:

I don't use those "libraries"... but maybe if you unpin, then re-pin them, they will "grab" the new icons?
Just a guess obviously.



I bought my File Explorer at... IKEA.

View attachment 61574

Click to expand...

That's the first thing I tried, even rebuilt the icon cache and rebooted. Seems like those icons are locked but why the desktop folder isn't as you see from my image is just puzzling.

Edwin said:

I use an Icon Packager..., way easier, less work.

View attachment 61571

Click to expand...

I was trying to do all this manually but I guess I'm going to give that a shot now.

Spartan said:

That's the first thing I tried, even rebuilt the icon cache and rebooted. Seems like those icons are locked but why the desktop folder isn't as you see from my image is just puzzling.

Click to expand...

I think the desktop folder is in a class by itself. It's not really part of the "Libraries" like the other ones are.
I mean... without the Desktop, you wouldn't be able to "see" anything.

Another thing you might try if possible...
I can't right click and change the icons on the Taskbar items.
BUT... I can create a new shortcut on the Desktop (for said item), right click and change it's icon, THEN pin it to the Taskbar.

Maybe the Navigation Pane works like that somehow?

Maybe the only way to do it, is find the desired icon number, then find the related registry entry and plug the icon number in there?


"Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of MS coders?"
"Only the coders know!"

P.S.
David Kimbull has come back to respond to posts from long hiatus' before. I imagine he'll show up sooner or later.

This is on Windows 11...
I don't use W11 Explorer, I only have Quick Access in the Navigation Pane...

(I've never found a way to change the Home icon in the nav pane!)

Ghot said:

I think the desktop folder is in a class by itself. It's not really part of the "Libraries" like the other ones are.
I mean... without the Desktop, you wouldn't be able to "see" anything.

Another thing you might try if possible...
I can't right click and change the icons on the Taskbar items.
BUT... I can create a new shortcut on the Desktop (for said item), right click and change it's icon, THEN pin it to the Taskbar.

Maybe the Navigation Pane works like that somehow?

Maybe the only way to do it, is find the desired icon number, then find the related registry entry and plug the icon number in there?


"Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of MS coders?"
"Only the coders know!"

P.S.
David Kimbull has come back to respond to posts from long hiatus' before. I imagine he'll show up sooner or later.

Click to expand...

Edwin said:

This is on Windows 11...
I don't use W11 Explorer, I only have Quick Access in the Navigation Pane...

View attachment 61576

Click to expand...

Icon Packager solved it! Thank you so much!

Now if @Edwin would only "fully" explain how he does things like that.
But he's a secretive man. He's been places and seen things that no mortal man has seen before.

I think he may be a... warlock.

@Spartan

Now ofc, we want a screenshot of your new improved File Explorer.

Ghot said:

... Now if @Edwin would only "fully" explain how he does things like that.

Click to expand...

Download and install Icon Packager and have at 'er!!!

Btw, AceMatrix, over at WinCustomize, has some of the most gorgeous icon packages!

Edwin said:

Download and install Icon Packager and have at 'er!!!

Click to expand...

Not me, you evil warlock!
I like my IKEA windows just fine.

@Spartan Sorry for this off-topic comment, but I would like to know what software you used to edit the screenshots?

blackhole said:

@Spartan Sorry for this off-topic comment, but I would like to know what software you used to edit the screenshots?

Click to expand...

FastStone Capture, it is the best screen capture and easiest to use that I have used since years. After you take a screenshot, press the D button on your keyboard and it will open the editor where you can add all those annotations and whatnot.

It also allows you to easily rotate by angle, resize, change the format of a picture, etc.

It also has a video screen capture so you can make videos on your desktop for illustration or educational purposes.

One time purchase for a lifetime license

@Spartan Thanks for replying. Uh, so it's shareware, I thought it was free . A couple of weeks ago I finished my trial period using Snagit and I'm looking for something free similar to Snagit.