Windows 11 Folder custom Icon Issue

You lost me at  “change

Scroll to MIDDLE closed folder icon next to cog icon, click it,”. I’m not sure that is going to fix my issue anyway. I don’t want to see an icon that looks like a manila folder with a photo peeking out of it. I want to see the whole picture with no folder covering half of it up. You used to be able to rename a selected photo as “folder” and it would appear as the icon itself, without a folder covering most of it. It’s been a while so I’ll scroll thru the responses and see if anything else looks like it would help. Thank you for trying. If you can clarify what that last part means I’ll give it another try

Well, here we go. Pictures ON the folders!? Isn't that nice? Now, who would have thought, when you go to "Choose a file to show on the folder icon," you would actually get one? Thanks to azhotaz and Windows XP!

I completely understand. We are no longer permitted to be ourselves - we have to fit into a mould decided by the powers that be.

Oops missed something out. Try below.

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.