How to Change Folder Icons in Windows XP
Customizing folder icons on your computer can be enjoyable, as well as helpful. You can use the different icons to help you see at a glance which folders contain what types of files, or you can change the icons just for fun, to give your computer a more personal feel. There are hundreds of pre-made icons available for you to use whenever you want, and you can even create your own icons and use them to customize your folders.
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Instructions
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Find the folder that you wish to customize. Virtually all standard folders in Windows XP are able to change icons. There may be some system folders, such as "Program Files" or "Shared Documents", that are required to have a certain icon, but these are rare. You will also be unable to change the preset icons of the three automatically created multimedia folders: "My Pictures," "My Music," and "My Videos."
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Right-click on the desired folder. In the right-click menu that pops out of the folder, click the "Properties" menu option. A small window containing the folder's general properties will appear. Click on the tab at the top of the window labeled "Customize."
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Click the "Change Icon" button near the bottom of the properties window. Use the scroll bar to scroll through the icons in the window that pops up. When you find the icon that you want to use, select it and then click the "OK" button. Back in the properties window, click "Apply" and then "OK." Your folder should now be shown with the icon that you just selected.
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Use your own custom icon by going to "Change Icon" as before. This time, click "Browse" near the top of the icon choosing window. Browse through the folders until you find the file that you wish to use for the folder icon. Select it and click "Open." Click "OK" in the icon window, and then "Apply" and "OK" in the properties window as before.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on your computer, edition of Windows XP, and other things, the computer may not display some colors correctly in a personally created icon. Try changing the colors around in your icon file, or removing all white in the icon to fix this problem.
References
- Photo Credit computer icon image by Kit Wai Chan from Fotolia.com
