How to customize left navigation pane icons and Home icons?

Spartan · Jun 3, 2023

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:

Change Icons of Folders in This PC in Windows 10

How to Change Icons of Folders in This PC in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Change Icon of Library in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change the icon of a library for your account in Windows 11. Windows 7 introduced libraries, which provide users with a single, coherent view of their files even when those files are stored in different locations. Libraries can be configured and organized by a...

www.elevenforum.com

Ghot · Jun 3, 2023

Spartan said:
but these left navigation icons won't change

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...

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

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 Zune software is installed, a special Shell folder is also installed for podcasts (called "My Podcasts" by default) and is...

www.elevenforum.com

OAT · Jun 3, 2023

Use Winaero, section Customize this PC folders.

Edwin · Jun 3, 2023

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

OAT · Jun 3, 2023

Edwin said:
I use an Icon Packager..., way easier, less work.

View attachment 61571

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

Spartan · Jun 3, 2023

OAT said:
Use Winaero, section Customize this PC folders.

View attachment 61570

View attachment 61569

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

Ghot · Jun 3, 2023

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.

Spartan · Jun 3, 2023

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

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.

Spartan · Jun 3, 2023

Edwin said:
I use an Icon Packager..., way easier, less work.

View attachment 61571

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

Ghot · Jun 3, 2023

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.

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.

Edwin · Jun 3, 2023

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!)

Spartan · Jun 3, 2023

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.

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

Icon Packager solved it! Thank you so much!

Ghot · Jun 3, 2023

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.

Ghot · Jun 3, 2023

@Spartan

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

Edwin · Jun 3, 2023

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

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

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

Ghot · Jun 3, 2023

Edwin said:
Download and install Icon Packager and have at 'er!!!

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

blackhole · Oct 15, 2023

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

Spartan · Oct 16, 2023

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

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

blackhole · Oct 17, 2023

@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.

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