Custom Icons for Windows 11 Thread (Folders, Dropbox, Google Drive, Podcasts, NVME Drive, Steam, Adobe)

In my ongoing quest to keep Zune alive, I sought to create a custom matching Podcasts folder for Windows 11.

For those wondering where this folder comes from: when the Zune software is installed, a special Shell folder is also installed for podcasts (called "My Podcasts" by default) and is contained within the User folder. Since Windows 7 was the latest version of Windows when Zune was still being supported, its icon uses the Windows 7 style design. So since then, I've been updating it for each following version of Windows to match the folder icon style (see this TenForums post for example).

Old Windows 7-style icons from the Zune software:



Windows 11-styled podcast icon:

The aqua folder icon was nabbed from the imageres.dll via this method and I simply added a podcast icon from Syncfusion's MetroStudio in Photoshop and added a drop shadow to it. Then I used IcoFX to customize it at each size to get it to be perfect. Check out the .ICO file I made at each size:





In my pursuit I came across two unused folder icons: 3D Objects and OneDrive also, which inspired me to want to make more.



The attached .zip containing three .ico files: a custom Podcasts folder icon, and the OneDrive and 3D Objects icons included in Windows 11.

How to Install

1. Download the .zip attachment and extract its contents to a permanent location you can find later.
2. Locate your target folder by opening File Explorer and selecting This PC. Then navigate to C:\Users\[YOUR-USERNAME]\, or your other desired location.
3. Either find the folder that you'd like to customize or create a new folder.
4. Right click the target folder and select "Properties."
5. Under the "Customize" tab, select "Change Icon...".
6. Navigate to your custom .ico file and select it, and click Apply.
Note: it's recommended to find a permanent place to store your custom .ico files so they don't get moved.

I'm hoping this thread can become a hub for custom folder icons that match Windows 11's Fluent Design aesthetic. Looking forward to seeing what's made! I'll probably continue to add to this also.

Here's a Dropbox link to all of the custom icons I've made so far:


And here's a link to all of the default Windows 11 icons as of 7/7/2021.

Two new folders you may find more useful!

Google Drive and Dropbox folders for Windows 11.


Here they are next to some others.



Here they are in multiple sizes.





Enjoy!

These are awesome! I wish I was talented enough to create these. I need quite a few made myself. Would you be willing to make me some?

JMedlock83 said:

These are awesome! I wish I was talented enough to create these. I need quite a few made myself. Would you be willing to make me some?

Click to expand...

I'd love to! What folder icons are you looking for?

davidvkimball said:

I'd love to! What folder icons are you looking for?

Click to expand...

Documents, Games, HTML, Images, Movies, Music, TV Shows, Software

lol

I must say they are pretty cool. I wouldn't mind having them also.
You can add links, downloads, and favorites to that list.

JMedlock83 said:

Documents, Games, HTML, Images, Movies, Music, TV Shows, Software

lol

Click to expand...

Zardoc said:

I must say they are pretty cool. I wouldn't mind having them also.
You can add links, downloads, and favorites to that list.

Click to expand...

I've attached some of the folder .ICO files that come with Windows 11.



I can get you TV Shows, HTML, Software next.

JMedlock83 said:

Documents, Games, HTML, Images, Movies, Music, TV Shows, Software

lol

Click to expand...

Zardoc said:

I must say they are pretty cool. I wouldn't mind having them also.
You can add links, downloads, and favorites to that list.

Click to expand...

I just added four more new ones! Hopefully these meet your needs. If not, let me know.

Some are very nice thanks. I must say that I also like using icons with clear background like Microphone

Zardoc said:

Some are very nice thanks. I must say that I also like using icons with clear background like Microphone
View attachment 2991

Click to expand...

You're welcome. What do you mean by clear background?

Well as you can see, the top icon has no folder, just a microphone. I like a match of icons with folders (like yours) and some that are not folders but just an image but nice clear image like that microphone

Zardoc said:

Well as you can see, the top icon has no folder, just a microphone. I like a match of icons with folders (like yours) and some that are not folders but just an image but nice clear image like that microphone

Click to expand...

Ah, I see. I assume you mean like the download folder icon:



In larger sizes it's the icon + the folder, and in smaller sizes, it's just the icon itself?

Generally speaking if something is a folder in Windows, it ought to look like one in anything larger than 32x32 pixels.

Zardoc said:

View attachment 3024

Click to expand...

Gotcha, so you want an icon that doesn't look like a folder for your taskbar. I came up with this:



I've attached the .ICO file! Hopefully you like it more.

davidvkimball said:

I've attached some of the folder .ICO files that come with Windows 11.

View attachment 2980

I can get you TV Shows, HTML, Software next.

Click to expand...

thanks! I'll try and see if I can figure out who to get these to work. . lol

JMedlock83 said:

thanks! I'll try and see if I can figure out who to get these to work. . lol

Click to expand...

Sure! From the initial message in this thread:

davidvkimball said:

How to Install

1. Download the .zip attachment and extract its contents to a permanent location you can find later.
2. Locate your user folder by navigating to C:\Users\[YOUR-USERNAME]\.
3. Either find the folder that you'd like to customize or create a new folder.
4. Right click the target folder and select "Properties."
5. Under the "Customize" tab, select "Change Icon...".
6. Navigate to your custom .ico file and select it, and click Apply.
Note: it's recommended to find a permanent place to store your custom .ico files so they don't get moved.

Click to expand...

davidvkimball said:

Gotcha, so you want an icon that doesn't look like a folder for your taskbar. I came up with this:

View attachment 3049

I've attached the .ICO file! Hopefully you like it more.

Click to expand...

NI.........CE!! If you have a few like that, I'll take them all. Nice work my friend

Zardoc said:

NI.........CE!! If you have a few like that, I'll take them all. Nice work my friend

Click to expand...

I can make icons like that pretty quickly, although they won't be as optimized as my folder ones for different sizes. List out icons you want and I can try to make them.

My goal is to capture the Windows 11 looks as closely as possible.

Just shoot whatever you think. As you can see, I love High res Icons. Just look at what I'm using it will give you a good idea.

I'm sure you have some great ideas!

As you can see here, these are my most used ones.

davidvkimball said:

How to Install

1. Download the .zip attachment and extract its contents to a permanent location you can find later.
2. Locate your user folder by navigating to C:\Users\[YOUR-USERNAME]\.
3. Either find the folder that you'd like to customize or create a new folder.
4. Right click the target folder and select "Properties."
5. Under the "Customize" tab, select "Change Icon...".
6. Navigate to your custom .ico file and select it, and click Apply.
Note: it's recommended to find a permanent place to store your custom .ico files so they don't get moved.

Click to expand...

Do I just follow the same for folders that I have on my "extra storage" drive?