How to Change an App Icon in Windows 10 Easily

Customizing your app icons in Windows 10 allows you to personalize your desktop, improve organization, and make frequently used apps easier to identify at a glance. Whether you’re aiming for a more aesthetic look or need to differentiate between similar icons, changing app icons is a straightforward process once you know the steps. Before you begin, ensure you have the new icon files ready—preferably in .ico format—and that you have administrator rights if necessary. This guide will walk you through each step to help you successfully change your app icons in Windows 10.

What You’ll Need

New icon files in .ico format (or image files you can convert to .ico)
Basic familiarity with Windows 10 File Explorer
Optional: Icon editing software if you need to create or convert images to .ico format

Step-by-Step

Locate the existing app shortcut or create a new shortcut for the application you want to customize. To do this, right-click the app in the Start menu or on the desktop and select “Create shortcut” if one does not already exist.
Right-click the shortcut icon and select “Properties” from the context menu. This opens the shortcut’s properties window.
In the Properties window, click the “Shortcut” tab if it is not already selected.
Click the “Change Icon…” button. A new window will appear displaying available icons.
Click the “Browse…” button to locate your custom icon file. Navigate to the folder where your .ico file is stored, select it, and click “Open.”
Select the icon you want to use from the list presented, then click “OK.” If your icon isn’t visible, ensure it’s in the correct format and properly saved as a .ico file.
Back in the Properties window, click “Apply” and then “OK” to confirm your changes. Your shortcut icon will now update to the new icon.
If the icon does not change immediately, refresh the desktop or restart your computer to ensure the change takes effect.
Optional: For apps pinned to the taskbar, right-click the icon, then right-click the app name and select “Properties.” Repeat steps 3-7 to change the icon for the taskbar shortcut.

Common Mistakes

Using non-ICO image files directly—Windows may not recognize them as icons. Always convert images to .ico format before applying.
Modifying the wrong shortcut—ensure you’re editing the shortcut you want to change, not the original application file.
Not applying changes or not restarting Explorer—sometimes, you need to restart Windows Explorer or your PC for changes to appear.
Using low-quality icons—poorly designed or low-resolution icons may not look good when resized. Use high-quality .ico files for best results.

Tips

Use online converters or icon editing software to create custom icons from images or screenshots.
Keep your icons organized in a dedicated folder for easy access and management.
If you want to revert to the default icon, simply repeat the process and select the original icon or click “Restore Defaults” if available.
For a more uniform look, consider creating a set of icons with a consistent style or theme.

Troubleshooting

If your icon change does not appear as expected, try the following solutions:

Refresh your desktop by pressing F5 or right-clicking and selecting “Refresh.”
Restart Windows Explorer: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer,” right-click, and select “Restart.”
Ensure your icon file is in the correct format (.ico) and not corrupted. Try opening it with an image viewer to verify.
If the icon still doesn’t update, restart your computer to clear the cache and refresh the icon cache.
Clear the icon cache manually: Open File Explorer, navigate to %LocalAppData%\

Related
How to Change an App Icon in Windows 10 Easily