How to Change an Application's Icon on Your Computer

Where to find and change an app's icon

The steps to change an application's icon depend on your operating system. On Windows, you can change the icon that appears on your desktop or in your Start menu by right-clicking the application shortcut, opening its properties, and selecting a new icon from your computer or the web. On Mac, you can change how an app appears in your Dock or Finder by getting information about the app, copying a new image, and pasting it into the app's icon well. Both methods take a few minutes and require no special software.

The icon you see when you launch an app from your desktop or taskbar is usually just a visual pointer to the actual application file. Changing this icon does not change how the program runs — it only changes what you see. The original application file stays exactly the same.

Key Takeaways

On Windows, right-click a shortcut, choose Properties, click Change Icon, and pick a new image from your computer or a built-in Windows icon library.
On Mac, select the app in Finder, press Command+I to open Get Info, drag a new image onto the icon preview in the top-left corner, and close the window.
You can use any image file as an icon — PNG, JPG, and ICO formats all work, though PNG and ICO tend to look sharper at small sizes.
Changing an app's icon only affects what you see on your screen; the program itself and all your files remain unchanged.
If you want to revert to the original icon, you can repeat the process and select the default icon from the application's own file.

Changing an icon on Windows

Right-click the application shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu. If you do not have a shortcut on your desktop, you can create one by right-clicking the app in your Start menu and selecting "Pin to desktop" or "Create shortcut". Once you have the shortcut, right-click it and select Properties.

In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab at the top. Near the bottom, you will see a button labeled Change Icon. Click it. A dialog box will open showing icons built into Windows. You can scroll through these or click Browse to select an image file from your computer — look for PNG, JPG, or ICO files. Once you have chosen an icon, click OK, then click OK again to close Properties. The shortcut's icon will change immediately.

If you want to use an icon from the application's own file, click Browse in the Change Icon dialog, navigate to the program's installation folder (usually under Program Files), and select the .exe file itself. Many applications store multiple icons in their executable file, and Windows will show you all of them to choose from.

Changing an icon on Mac

Open Finder and locate the application you want to change. You can find most apps in your Applications folder. Right-click the app and select Get Info, or select the app and press Command+I. A window will open showing information about the application.

At the top-left of the Get Info window, you will see a small preview of the app's current icon. Click this icon preview to select it — it will show a blue border when selected. Now find an image file on your computer that you want to use as the new icon. Drag this image file onto the selected icon preview. The image will replace the old icon. Close the Get Info window, and the change takes effect immediately.

If you want to revert to the original icon, open Get Info again, click the icon preview, and press Delete. The app will return to its default icon. You can also use any image format — PNG, JPG, TIFF — though PNG files tend to look clearest when scaled down to icon size.

Where to find or create new icons

You do not have to create your own icons. Websites like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project offer thousands of free icons you can download. Search for the type of icon you want, download it as a PNG file, and use it to replace your app's icon using the steps above. Many of these sites let you customize the color and size before downloading.

If you want to create a custom icon, you can use free tools like GIMP or Photopea, or paid options like Adobe Illustrator. The image should be square (1024×1024 pixels or larger) so it scales cleanly to smaller sizes. Save it as a PNG file for the best results on both Windows and Mac.

Icon formats and what works best

Windows and Mac both support several image formats for icons. PNG files are the most reliable choice — they support transparency, scale cleanly, and work on both systems. ICO files are Windows-specific and were designed for icons, so they also work very well on Windows. JPG files work but do not support transparency, so they may have a white or colored background behind your icon.

For the sharpest appearance, use an image that is at least 256×256 pixels, ideally 512×512 or larger. When you shrink a large image down to icon size, it stays crisp. A small image blown up to icon size will look blurry. If you are downloading an icon from a website, choose the largest size available.

What happens if you change an icon

Changing an application's icon affects only the visual representation on your screen. The program itself runs exactly the same way. Your files, settings, and everything the app does remain unchanged. You can change the icon back at any time by following the same steps and selecting a different image or the original icon.

If you change the icon for a shortcut (rather than the app itself), only that shortcut's appearance changes. Other shortcuts to the same app will keep their original icons unless you change them separately. On Mac, changing an app's icon in Get Info affects the app everywhere it appears — in Finder, the Dock, and Spotlight — because you are changing the app's actual icon, not just a shortcut.

Troubleshooting icon changes that do not appear

Sometimes after changing an icon, the old one still appears on your screen. On Windows, try clearing the icon cache by restarting your computer or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, finding "Windows Explorer" in the list, right-clicking it, and selecting "Restart". On Mac, try logging out and back in, or restarting the Dock by opening Terminal and typing killall Dock, then pressing Enter.

If the new icon still does not appear, make sure the image file is in a supported format (PNG or ICO work best) and that the file path does not contain special characters or spaces. On Windows, if you are using an image from the web, save it to your computer first rather than linking to a web address. On Mac, make sure you have permission to modify the app — some system apps cannot be changed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the icon for a built-in Windows or Mac app?

On Windows, you can change the icon for any shortcut, including shortcuts to built-in apps. On Mac, you can change the icon for most apps, but some system apps (like Finder or System Preferences) are protected and cannot be modified. If you try to change a protected app's icon, Mac will not let you save the change.

What image size should I use for an app icon?

Use an image that is at least 256×256 pixels, though 512×512 or 1024×1024 is better. Larger images scale down cleanly to the small sizes icons appear at on your screen. Smaller images will look blurry when enlarged. Square images work best since icons are displayed as squares.

Will changing an app's icon affect my files or backups?

No. Changing an icon only changes what you see on your screen. Your files, documents, settings, and any backups remain completely unchanged. The application itself works exactly the same way.

Can I use an emoji or a photo as an app icon?

Yes, as long as you save it as an image file first. You can take a screenshot of an emoji, save a photo from your computer, or download any image and use it as an icon. PNG format works best. Keep in mind that very detailed photos may not look good when shrunk to icon size.

How do I change an icon back to the original?

On Windows, right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, click Change Icon, and select the original icon from the Windows library or from the app's .exe file. On Mac, open Get Info, click the icon preview, and press Delete to restore the default. Both methods take just a few seconds.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.