What you can change and what you cannot
You can change the small picture that represents a file, folder, or program on your screen. On Windows, Mac, and most phones, this is called an icon. The process differs depending on what you are trying to change and what device you use.
Some icons are locked by the operating system and cannot be changed — for example, the system folder on Mac or certain built-in Android apps. Most user files, folders, and programs you installed yourself can be changed. The steps below cover the most common situations: changing a folder icon on Windows or Mac, changing a program icon, and changing an app icon on your phone.
Before you start, know that changing an icon does not change what the file or program does. It only changes how it looks. If you change a folder icon and then move that folder to a different computer, the new icon may not appear on the other computer unless you copy the icon file there too.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, right-click a folder, select Properties, click Customize, then Choose File to pick a new icon from your computer.
- On Mac, select a folder or file, press Command+I to open Get Info, drag a new image onto the icon preview in the top left corner.
- To change a program icon on Windows, find the program file, right-click it, select Properties, click Change Icon, and choose from the available options.
- On iPhone and Android, you cannot change built-in app icons, but you can create shortcuts with custom icons using the Shortcuts app (iPhone) or third-party launchers (Android).
- Icon files come in formats like .ico, .png, or .jpg — you need the image file saved on your computer before you can use it as an icon.
Changing a folder icon on Windows
Right-click the folder you want to change. From the menu that appears, select Properties at the bottom. A window will open showing the folder's details.
Look for the Customize tab at the top of this window and click it. You will see a section labeled "Folder icons" with a preview of the current icon. Below that, click the button that says Change Icon. A new window will open showing icon options built into Windows.
If you want to use one of these built-in icons, click the one you want and then click Apply at the bottom of the Properties window. If you want to use your own image file instead, click Browse in the Change Icon window, navigate to the image file on your computer, select it, and click Open. Then click Apply.
Common mistake: people try to use image files that Windows does not recognize as icons. If you have a .jpg or .png file, Windows will usually accept it, but if you get an error, try converting the image to .ico format using a free online converter first.
Changing a folder or file icon on Mac
Select the folder or file you want to change. Press Command+I on your keyboard. The "Get Info" window will open.
At the very top left of this window, you will see a small preview of the current icon. Click on this icon preview to select it — it will get a blue highlight around it. Now drag an image file from your computer onto this highlighted icon. The image will become the new icon.
The image file can be a .png, .jpg, or other common image format. If you want to go back to the original icon, click the icon preview again and press Delete on your keyboard.
Common mistake: dragging the image to the wrong part of the Get Info window. Make sure you are dragging directly onto the icon preview in the top left corner, not onto the file name or other text below it.
Changing a program icon on Windows
Find the program file on your computer. This is usually in the Program Files folder or Program Files (x86) folder. You can also right-click a program shortcut on your desktop, select Open file location, and this will take you to the actual program file.
Right-click the program file and select Properties. Click the Shortcut tab at the top. Look for a button labeled Change Icon and click it. A window will open showing available icons for that program.
Select the icon you want and click OK. Then click Apply and OK again to close the Properties window. The program icon will now show the new image wherever it appears on your screen.
If you want to use a custom image instead of the built-in options, click Browse in the Change Icon window, find your image file, and select it. Windows will attempt to convert it to an icon format automatically.
Changing app icons on iPhone
Apple does not let you change the actual app icons on your home screen. However, you can create a shortcut that looks like a custom icon and does the same thing as the app.
Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Tap the + button to create a new shortcut. Tap Add Action, then search for and select the app you want to create a shortcut for. Tap Open App when it appears in the results.
Tap the three dots at the top right of the screen. Tap Add to Home Screen. A new window will open. Tap the icon preview at the top — it will show the app's current icon. Tap Choose Photo or Choose File to select a custom image from your phone. Adjust the image if needed and tap Add.
Name your shortcut and tap Add again. The shortcut with your custom icon will now appear on your home screen. Tapping it will open the app just like the original icon would.
Changing app icons on Android
Like iPhone, Android does not let you change built-in app icons directly. The easiest workaround is to use a third-party launcher app, which replaces your home screen and lets you customize icons.
Download a launcher app from the Google Play Store — popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Niagara Launcher. Open the launcher app and follow its setup instructions. Most will ask you to set it as your default home screen.
Once the launcher is active, long-press an app icon on your home screen. Select Edit Icon or Change Icon (the exact wording depends on which launcher you use). Choose an image from your phone's gallery or download an icon pack from the Play Store. Select the image and tap Apply.
The app icon will now show your custom image. The original app still works the same way — you have only changed how it looks on your home screen.
Where to find icon files and images
You can use any image file as an icon, but some sources have images already designed to look good at small sizes. Icon websites like Flaticon, Icons8, or Noun Project offer free and paid icon downloads in formats that work well as computer icons.
You can also take a screenshot, draw something in a paint program, or use any photo on your computer. The image does not have to be square, but square images usually look best as icons. For the clearest result, use an image that is at least 256 pixels by 256 pixels.
If you download an icon in .ico format, you can use it directly. If you have a .png or .jpg file, most operating systems will convert it automatically when you set it as an icon. If you run into problems, a free online image converter can change your file to .ico format in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the new icon stay if I move the file to another computer?
On Windows and Mac, the icon information is stored with the file or folder, so it will usually stay. However, if you used a custom image file as the icon, that image file must also be on the new computer in the same location, or the icon will revert to the default. To be safe, keep your custom icon image file in a permanent location on your computer.
Can I change the icon of a file I downloaded from the internet?
Yes, you can change the icon of any file you own. However, if the file is a program or installer, changing its icon does not change what it does — it only changes how it looks. Be careful not to change an icon in a way that makes a dangerous file look safe.
What do I do if the Change Icon button is grayed out?
This usually means the file is protected by Windows or Mac. System files and some built-in programs cannot have their icons changed. Try right-clicking the file, selecting Properties, and checking the Attributes section to see if it is marked as read-only. If it is, uncheck that box and try again.
Can I use an emoji as an icon?
Not directly — emojis are text characters, not image files. However, you can take a screenshot of an emoji, save it as an image, and use that image as an icon. Alternatively, download emoji images from a website like Emojipedia and use those files instead.
Why does my custom icon disappear after I restart my computer?
This usually happens if you used a custom image file that Windows or Mac cannot find. Make sure the image file is saved in a permanent location on your computer and has not been moved or deleted. If you used an image from a temporary folder or Downloads folder that got cleaned up, the icon will disappear.