How do I change folder icon (Windows 7) if there is no customize tab?

Anonymous
2009-12-18T14:51:46+00:00

original title:  Change folder icon (Windows 7)

I want to be able to customize the icon for a folder. When I right click the folder and select Properties, there is no Customize tab (as in Vista) to select an image to represent the folder.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-04-08T18:43:05+00:00

Hi.  I believe the problem is that you are in "Documents Library" view, rather than the actual "Folder Location"

  1. Right-click the folder you want to change the icon of
  2. Select "Open Folder Location"... it's just above "properties"
  3. Once you are in the "Folder Location", right-click the folder again that you want to change
  4. Select "Properties" at the bottom
  5. Select "Customize"... the far right tab
  6. the "Change Icon" button is at the bottom

[Note: For the changed icon to show up in the "Library" view also, you may need to close and re-open file explorer]

Hope this helps.

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Anonymous
2009-12-18T21:24:33+00:00

Perhaps you tried on a Library rather than on a folder? Try on an ordinary folder and you should find the Customize tab.

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Anonymous
2009-12-29T15:48:18+00:00

Laurie_g,

Highlight or single click on the folder > click file > open folder location > right click properties > the “customize” tab should be available now.

I hope that helps!

Lisa

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-12-23T16:37:19+00:00

    i want to change my windows folder icons...

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-04T06:15:19+00:00

    What I found that finally worked was to go into the folder and find the desktop.ini in that folder.  I uses notepad to change the line containing the icon's location and typed in the new location.  With Total Commander,  a Windows Explorer Sub.,  it was easy to do even though the desktop.ini's attributes are hidden and system.  The line changed is as follows:

    IconResource=C:\ICONS\Vista\hardware\Phone_blue.ico,0

    Presto chango new icon for my folder without the customizing button that disappeared with the last update and no file location over the properties.  For newbies,  the hidden and system attribute problem is a problem.

    PoP

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