File Extension Type Icon - Change

How to Change a File Extension Type Icon in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to change the default icon for a file extension type of your choice to whatever icon you want it to be displayed as in Windows Explorer instead.

   Note

This will change all of the icons for that file extension type in Vista, not just the shortcuts of them.

To see what the file extension is for a file, see: How to Show and Change a File Name Extension in Vista


Some Common Default Icon Registry Locations:

• Unknown file icon - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\DefaultIcon
• Folder icon - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder DefaultIcon

   Tip

You can also use the free configuration utilty program named Types to easily change a file extension icon to what you like in a easy to use window instead of through the registry.

   Warning

• You will need to use a 256x256 pixel icon that was made for Vista for them to display properly at all of the available icon view sizes in Vista. For more about Vista icons, see: Icons in Windows Vista
• Some programs may automatically reset the default file extension icon back to the default one it uses even after you have changed it. This tutorial will not work for these programs.
• If you change the default program for what opens the file extension, it will also change the icon of the file extension to be whatever it is for the program you selected uses.

EXAMPLE: The Default .txt File Extension Type Icon

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Here's How:
NOTE: For this tutorial, I am going to use just the file extensions .txt and .mp3 as an example. You can change any other files extension you like. Just substitute the file extension you want to change in the steps below instead.

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. If Using the Default Program in Vista to Open With​

NOTE: You would use this option if you are using the default program that Vista uses to open the file extension.​

A) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Substitute .txt with the file extension you want to change instead.​

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt​

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B) In the right pane of the file extension, look at the Data value to the right of (Default). (See screenshot above)​

NOTE: For example it is txtfile for the .txt file extension type.​

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C) Go to step 6.​

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5. If Using a 3rd Party Program as the Default Program to Open With​

NOTE: You would do this option if you have changed the program used to open the file extension to a 3rd party program instead of the one Vista used by default.​

A) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Substitute .mp3 with the file extension you want to change instead.​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.mp3\UserChoice

NOTE: If you do not have the UserChoice key, then in the left pane, right click on the file extension (ex: .mp3) and click on New and Key. Type UserChoice and press Enter.​

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B) In the right pane of UserChoice, look at the Data value to the right of Progid. (See screenshot above)​

NOTE: For example it is WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 for the .mp3 file extension type by default. Your value will vary depending on the default program you have to open this file extension.​

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6. In regedit, scroll down past all the file extensions and keep going until you see: (See screenshots below 7)​

NOTE: Substitute txtfile with the Data value from step 4B or 5B for the file extension you want to change instead.​

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile ​

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7. Click on the arrow next to txtfile to expand the key (folder).​

NOTE: Substitute txtfile with the Data value from step 4B or 5B for the file extension you want to change instead.​

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8. To Backup the Default File Extension Type Icon Settings​

NOTE: To restore the default file extension type icon settings from this created backup below, right click on the .reg backup file and click on Merge. Next, approve the merge and log off and log on to apply the change.​

A) Right click on DefaultIcon and click on Export. (See screenshot below step 9)​

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B) Select a location to where you want to save the backup (reg file) at. (See screenshot below)​

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C) Type in a name and click on the Save button.​

NOTE: Be sure to type in a name that is easily recognized by you for that file extension.​

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9. In the right pane of DefaultIcon, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)​

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10. Select Option One or Option Two below for what icon you want to replace the file extension icon with.​

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OPTION ONE

Change File Extension Type Icon to a Saved Icon

A. Download and save a icon of your choice to a location you wish to store this icon at.​

NOTE: See the Warning box at the top of this tutorial for about what kind of icon to use. The icon must stay at this location for as long as it is being used for the file extension.​

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B. After step 9 above, type in the full path of the icon file location from step A and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: For example, I used a icon file on my desktop. Sometimes you will need to add ,0 (number zero) at the end of the full path for it to work. For the example below, C:\Users\User-Name\Desktop\txt file.ico,0​

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C. The registry will now look similar to this. (See screenshot below)​

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D. Go to step 11 below Option Two.​

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OPTION TWO

Change File Extension Type Icon to another Vista Icon

A. Download and install the free program IconViewer.​

NOTE: This program will add the Icons tab to files (ex: imageres.dll) that contain a icon library in them so you can see the icons available in it.​

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B. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll and right click on imageres.dll and click on Properties.​

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C. Scroll through the icons and make note of the icon number of the one you want to use to replace the file extension icon with. (See screenshot below)​

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D. After you had made note of the icon number, close the Properties window and the Windows Explorer window.​

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E. After step 9 above, change the number after - at the end to the icon number in step C and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: For example, I wanted to change the icon for the .txt file extension to be icon number 19 from step C instead. If you do not have %SystemRoot%\system 32\imageres.dll,-### in Modify, then change it to this with the number (ex: 19).​

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F. The registry will now look similar to this. (See screenshot below)​

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G. Continue to step 11 below.​

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11. Close Regedit.​

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12. Log off and log on, or restart the computer, to apply the changes.​

NOTE: For the .txt file extension example, the left screenshot below is for after Option One, and the right screenshot is for after Option Two.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change a Folder Preview Picture in Vista
• How to Change a Shortcut Folder or File Icon in Vista
• How to Change the Open Folder Icon in Vista
• How to Change a Icon in the Control Panel in Vista
• How to Fix a Personal User Shell Folder Displayed as a Standard Yellow Folder Icon in Vista
• How to Change a Drive Icon in Vista
• How to Restore and Change a Desktop Icon in Vista
• How to Change the Desktop Control Panel Icon in Vista
• How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Vista
• How to Hide a Folder or Shortcut Icon in Vista
• How to Change a Folder Icon in Vista
• How to Associate a Individual File Extension Type With a Program in Vista
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista
• How to Show and Change a File Name Extension in Vista
• How to Add "Show/Hide Known File Extensions" to Context Menu in Vista and Windows 7
• Restore Default Vista File Extension Type Associations
• How to Change the Vista Default Folder Icon

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Suriname.

I don't know if it's open source or not. All I can find is the download for the program itself.

 

[Novocaine88]

Hi again,
After changing a few icons ive just noticed something thats gone wrongin the windows explorer toolbar. In the picture ive taken you can see the open function on the toolbar doesnt look right.

This only appears in .exe files. Do you know what i can do to fix this.

I have a list of the numbers in the registry that will change certain things;

0 Unknown File Type
1 Default Document
2 Default Application
3 Folder
4 Open Folder
5 5.25 inch Floppy
6 3.5 inch Floppy
7 Removable Drive
8 Hard Drive
9 Network Drive
10 Network Disconnected
11 Cd-rom Drive
12 Ram Drive
13 Globe
14 Network Pipes ?
15 Desktop
16 Print Manager
17 Network Neighborhood
18 Workgroup
19 Program
20 Document Folder
21 Settings
22 Find
23 Hint
24 Command
25 Screen Saver
26 Docking
27 Display
28 Sharing Overlay (Hand)
29 Shortcut Overlay (Small Arrow)
30 Default Printer Overlay (Small Tick)
31 Recycled Empty
32 Recycled Full
33 Dial-up Networking
34 Desktop
35 Control Panel
36 Program Groups
37 Printers
38 Font
39 Start Menu settings
40 Audio Cd
44 Log Off

would making a new value for any of these help?

Cheers

 

[Brink]

Hello Novoccaine,

This has nothing to do with the changes that you made. It is this way by default instead. I have not tried it, but you might test it with "2 Default Application".

 

[Novocaine88]

Unfortunately number 2 didnt work, ill probably just try a few others.

I do have another question though.
I just discovered how easy it is to just install new themes to windows, and icon packs, but now trying to install theses icon packs im left with the last icons that i changed manually that just dont fit the rest of the theme/icon pack.

>> How can i revert all icons back to their default state, so i can then reapply the new icon packs and in theory have ALL of the new icons rather that just the ones i changed.


I deleted the registry entry ShellIcons which i used to set the default folder and hard drive icons, so those new icons work fine. Its just the manually set icons by going into the properties>Change icon, that dont work right now.


Again thanks for the previous quick response

 

[Brink]

Novocaine,

Well, it was worth a shot.

You can restore the default file extension icons and associations using this tutorial below. If the default file extension is not listed, then just post there to request it. I'll be happy to add it.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/233243-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[Knocks]

Is there a utility that can automate this awful process?

 

[Brink]

Hello Knocks, and welcome to Vista Forums.

See yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial for one.

 

[Knocks]

That's excellent! Thank you.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[F u r u y a]

Hi,

This is in regards to my issue stated here

Anyway thought I would just reply here.

Ok I followed your steps for manually changing the icon for .xml files but when I go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml, I don't see the DefaultIcon folder so how do I go about changing the icon? I have tried manually creating the DefaultIcon folder and inserting the value: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Dreamweaver CS4\Dreamweaver.exe,459 in this case 459 being the icon number for the xml file, but that doesn't seem to work after restarting the machine. I have also tried putting C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Dreamweaver CS4\Dreamweaver.exe,-459. No luck in that. Also tried putting quotes like this "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Dreamweaver CS4\Dreamweaver.exe",459. Still no luck.

Am I missing something? I desperately need your help as I have no idea what to do next and the xml file showing a blank paper icon is starting to piddle me off. Please help

Looking forward to some positive feedback.

Using the program FileTypesMan v1.58 I found out that for .exe the correct way is:

X:\StarCraft II\StarCraft II.exe,3


You don't have to put quotes ( " ) nor dashes ( - ). That worked for me under Windows 7 Professional x64.

Also note that the icon counting starts from zero. So if you want to choose to fourth icon on the list, you have to put the number 3 after the comma.

 

[HELPING OTHERS]

You know, they say "The temptation to quit is usually GREATEST just before you are about to succeed".

That's especially true about this issue, because I searched literally everywhere and tried soooo many programs, and THIS SOLUTION is the ONLY one and actually EASIEST.

IN SUMMARY, for OTHERS who are trying to change their butt-ugly default NOTEPAD icon (this works in Windows 7 too), DO THIS:

IN SUMMARY, for OTHERS who are trying to change their butt-ugly default NOTEPAD icon (this works in Windows 7 too), DO THIS:

1. Regedit
2. Hkey_classes_root
3. go ALL THE WAY DOWN to (NOT ".txt" and NOT ".textfile"---very tricky if you also have that like I did!!)...so go ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ".txtfile"
4. Expand it (double click on it)
5. Click "Default Icon" on the left
6. Now, on the RIGHT side, right-click "DEFAULT" >Modify >THEN PASTE THE LOCATION/PATH of your PREFERRED icon there.
7. As Shawn said, that's it! Now all your plain (and for that reason, sometimes hard to identify) notepad files will have the icon you want.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Helping Others, and welcome to Vista Forums.