Cannot Change the Default Folder Icons in Windows Explorer

This article describes how to work around changing a folder icon in Windows Explorer.

Although you cannot customize the default folder icon in Windows Explorer, you can make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon. To do this:

1. Right-click the folder that you want to create a shortcut to, and then click Create Shortcut.
2. Right-click the shortcut you created, click Properties, and then click Change Icon.
3. Click the picture of the icon you would like the shortcut to use, click OK, and then click OK.

No Icons Available

If you click Change Icon, and there are no icons available, use the Browse button to find Shell32.dll:

1. Right-click the shortcut you created, click Properties, and then click Change Icon.
2. Click Browse, and type c:\windows\system\shell32.dll in the File name box, click Open, click to select the icon you want to use, click OK, and then click OK.