Use unique icon for each media file type while still associated with the UWP Media Player

Hi,

In Windows 11 Pro 24H2, I'd like to keep using the UWP Media Player to be the default program to open media files.

But can I change the icons of different media file types to be unique for each?

In the Registry, I find, every media file type, such as .mp3, actually has its own unique default icon assigned under the keys like WMP11.AssocFile.???, such as WMP11.AssocFile.MP3. But the icons of all the media file types are still the same as that of the UWP Media Player, and I can not change that.

Please help. Thanks.

drkh said:

But can I change the icons of different media file types to be unique for each?

Click to expand...

I don't think you can..., unless you can find the icon pointer files for UWP apps written up in some manifest somewhere...



It's easier to use a program that packs it's own dll's...



or, switch to WMP Legacy to use custom icons...

Edwin said:

or, switch to WMP Legacy to use custom icons...

View attachment 140012

Click to expand...

OK. , Any way that's my second choice. Thank you.

And, very nice icons.

In older Windows versions, up to Windows 7, you could just right-click on a file and change the icon for all files of the same type. Since Windows 8 this functionality is no longer available from File Explorer. You must manually locate the appropriate key in Registry and change the path to point to the desired file and icon number.

For example, I am using MPC-HC to play .avi files. To change the default icon MPC-HC assigns to .avi files, I must navigate to key Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mplayerc.avi\DefaultIcon and then change the value of (Default) key to the desired file and icon number (default is C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\MPC-HC\mpciconlib.dll,0)

spapakons said:

In older Windows versions, up to Windows 7, you could just right-click on a file and change the icon for all files of the same type. Since Windows 8 this functionality is no longer available from File Explorer. You must manually locate the appropriate key in Registry and change the path to point to the desired file and icon number.

For example, I am using MPC-HC to play .avi files. To change the default icon MPC-HC assigns to .avi files, I must navigate to key Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mplayerc.avi\DefaultIcon and then change the value of (Default) key to the desired file and icon number (default is C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\MPC-HC\mpciconlib.dll,0)

Click to expand...

On my Win11 Pro 24H2 PC, the (Default) value in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi points to WMP11.AssocFile.AVI. Then the DefaultIcon sub-key under WMP11.AssocFile.AVI has a (Default) value whose data is the following Multi-String:

%SystemRoot%\System32\wmploc.dll,-731

which is the avi icon that the legacy WMP uses.

But when the UWP Media Player is the default program for media files, Windows 11 just ignores this icon and somehow replaces it with the UWP Media Player's own program icon. Same thing with all the other media file types that the UWP Media Player supports.

If I change the data of the (Default) value in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi to something like my-avi and create a corresoping my-avi key with a DefaultIcon sub-key which assigned an avi icon of my own choice, Windows 11 still ignores it when the UWP Media Player is the default program.

That's the problem for me.

If all else fails, just use extensions that will embed the album art. Problem solved!

drkh said:

But when the UWP Media Player is the default program for media files, Windows 11 just ignores this icon and somehow replaces it with the UWP Media Player's own program icon. Same thing with all the other media file types that the UWP Media Player supports.

If I change the data of the (Default) value in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi to something like my-avi and create a corresoping my-avi key with a DefaultIcon sub-key which assigned an avi icon of my own choice, Windows 11 still ignores it when the UWP Media Player is the default program.

Click to expand...

That's correct, when an UWP app registers its own set of File Associations, they override the other existing CLASSES values. If you were to uninstall Zune Media Player, then those settings would work again.

That's why we suggested to switch from UWP to the desktop version.

spapakons said:

That's why we suggested to switch from UWP to the desktop version.

Click to expand...

And that's a great suggestion I have followed. I think all is well now, by Just defaulting to the legacy WMP.

To play everything in legacy Media Player install the K-Lite codec pack. I also switch to MPC-HC because it has some features missing from legacy Media Player.

spapakons said:

To play everything in legacy Media Player install the K-Lite codec pack.

Click to expand...

Really good to know that! Thanks.