Create Win11 icon images and change the icons of folders and shortcuts!

This page explains how to create and change icon images for folders and shortcuts in Windows 11.

The icon file isextensionis a ".ico" file, which is an image format that allows for transparent backgrounds, just like ".png" files.

Try creating your own original icon file using the method shown here and changing the icon image of a folder or shortcut.

How to create an icon file with a transparent background

Apps to use

• paint app
• "@icon Conversion" v1.21 (Image and icon conversion software)

We will use the Paint app that is installed by default on Windows 11.

The version of Paint I am currently using is 11.2403.28.0.

Download "@icon Conversion" v1.21 from Vector. (icon121.zip)

https://www.vector.co.jp/soft/win95/amuse/se201729.html(Also works on Windows 11)

Official site:https://www.towofu.net/soft/

Create an icon image using the Paint app

1. Open the Paint app.

2. Click "File" > "Image Properties" in the top left menu.

3. The "Image Properties" will open, so change the width and height to 48 pixels and click OK.

Although the explanation here is for 48 pixels, we recommend that the width and height of the icon image be 256 pixels. You can see the difference more clearly by changing the icon display size in Explorer to "Large Icons" or "Extra Large Icons."

4. If the image is too small to edit, use the slider bar at the bottom right to enlarge it.

5. Create the image however you like.

*Here, we have used a round icon image to make it easier to understand.

We have created an image, but the background will be white if we leave it as it is, so let's try making the background transparent.

6. Click the "Layers" icon in the top right corner of the Paint app.

7. The layers will be displayed on the right side, so move the mouse cursor over the white area at the bottom right.

8. A mark with a diagonal line through it will appear on the eye, so click on the eye.

9. The diagonal lines above the eyes will then disappear and the background of the image will become transparent.

10. Click "File" > "Save As" > "PNG Image" in the top left menu.

11. Change the file name to anything you like and save it.

Now that you have completed creating the icon image, you can close the Paint app.

Next, let's change the ".png" format to ".ico" format.

Convert ".png" format to ".ico" format

1. Unzip the downloaded "aicon121.zip".

How to unzip a file

2. After extracting the zip file, run "aicon.exe" inside.

3. Left-click the image you just created and, without releasing it, move it to "Convert @icon" and release the click. (Drag and drop)

4.The image file will then be added.

5. Once you select the added file, the floppy disk icon above will change from gray to blue, so click it.

6. "Save as a single icon" will be displayed, so just click "Save".

This completes the creation of an icon file with a transparent background.

Close "@icon conversion" and try changing the icon image of your folder or shortcut.

How to change the icon image of a folder or shortcut

1. Right-click on the folder or shortcut and click "Properties."

2. For folders, open the "Customize" tab; for shortcuts, open the "Shortcuts" tab.

3. Click "Change Icon".

4. A lot of icons will be displayed, so click "Browse".

*From here on, the operations are the same for folders and shortcuts, so we will explain using folders.

5. Select the icon file you created and click "Open."

6. When the selected icon appears, click OK.

7. Return to the folder properties, then click OK.

8.The folder icon will then change.

It may seem a little difficult at first, but once you get used to it, it becomes very easy, so please try creating various icons.

How to revert changed icon images

For folders, click "Restore Default" in step 6 of "How to Change Icon Images" above, then click OK when you return to the folder properties.

In the case of shortcuts, there is no option to "restore to default values," so it takes a little more effort.

*This explanation will use Microsoft Edge shortcuts.

1. Right-click on the shortcut > Hold down the Ctrl or Shift key on your keyboard and click "Open file location."

2. This will open the file location, where you can delete the shortcut you want to restore.

3. On the app's filesright clickWithout releasing the mouse, move it to the location where you want to create the shortcut and release the click.

4. A menu will appear, so click "Create shortcut here."

5. This will create a shortcut to the file.

As you can see, it takes a little effort to restore the shortcut icon, but once you get used to it, it becomes easy.