Windows 11 Folder custom Icon Issue

I still have XP on 1 computer and probably way back when this started I added a screen print of my files having a picture of what is in it...automatically created by XP. I thought it so great ..increased my "productivity " 1000x! So each new version gives us less and less of that function. 40 years of being a fairly heavy user ..I find it getting more frustrating with anything I encounter on software and websites. I'll start up my XP and resubmit that copy. An official MS site to file such complaints was mentioned. I've probably done that but could someone please let me know where we can do that. I've not had luck going different routes.

Navigate to: Personalization – Themes – Desktop Icon Settings, 

Uncheck Allow Themes to Change Desktop Items.

Create New Folder and select Customize to closed icon

New Folder default icon remains closed from then on

If correcting existing folders, right click on folder, Customize, Select Icon, Apply, Ok.

Your post has no bearing on the subject of "Customizing a folder to show a file on the the folder icon."

Windows 10 could do it; yet not Windows 11 and Microsoft leaves the same option there under Properties/Customize.

Can this be applied at once to the many 1000s folders that a computer holds??

Hi Rags,

I changed the icon using both of the options circled in my screenshot. It auto-applied it to the icon in the top left of the file explorer when you open the folder, but you couldn't see the new icon on the desktop. It remained the default folder icon.

After changing the icon, I restarted my computer, and I was able to see the icon.