Using Customizer God to change system icons

Hello!

There is a utility called Customizer God that can open any system file (exe or dll) and extract the icons or replace the icons with custom ones. I used that in Windows 10 to replace the ugly flat icons of Windows 10 with the respective icons from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 I first tried this utility on an Insider's Preview version of Windows 11 and didn't work, the application window was blank and I could do nothing but end task from Task Manager to close it. I then tried it on my main PC (see 2nd PC specs) running the official release of Windows 11, fully updated and it did run! I then tried to replace the network/WiFi icons by opening the file pnidui.dll in C:\Windows\System32 folder. The icons were replaced successfully without any incompatibility and then I restarted my computer to see the result. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi icon at the taskbar did not change, so it looks like Windows 11 uses a different system file for the network icons.

In Windows 10 most icons (folder icon etc) are in imageres.dll, network icons are in pnidui.dll, USB safe removal icon is in stobject.dll

Does anyone know which system files contains the system icons in Windows 11?

Thanks.

spapakons said:

Hello!

There is a utility called Customizer God that can open any system file (exe or dll) and extract the icons or replace the icons with custom ones. I used that in Windows 10 to replace the ugly flat icons of Windows 10 with the respective icons from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 I first tried this utility on an Insider's Preview version of Windows 11 and didn't work, the application window was blank and I could do nothing but end task from Task Manager to close it. I then tried it on my main PC (see 2nd PC specs) running the official release of Windows 11, fully updated and it did run! I then tried to replace the network/WiFi icons by opening the file pnidui.dll in C:\Windows\System32 folder. The icons were replaced successfully without any incompatibility and then I restarted my computer to see the result. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi icon at the taskbar did not change, so it looks like Windows 11 uses a different system file for the network icons.

In Windows 10 most icons (folder icon etc) are in imageres.dll, network icons are in pnidui.dll, USB safe removal icon is in stobject.dll

Does anyone know which system files contains the system icons in Windows 11?

Thanks.

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if you want to use that software thats fine. But Im just giving my opinion here but go to Deviantart.com and download 7tsp. its a portable app. then find a 7tsp icon pack download that, then i place the 7tsp portable app somewhere like the main C:/ drive or like the Documents folder. Place the Icon pack which is in rar format in the same location of the software. Open 7tsp browse for the Icon rar file and install it. Done, easy and you can uninstall it through the portable app also.

spapakons said:

In Windows 10 most icons (folder icon etc) are in imageres.dll, network icons are in pnidui.dll, USB safe removal icon is in stobject.dll

Click to expand...

That changed a couple of years ago. As I recall, the change started with Windows 10 Version 1803 and more & more icons moved over the next few Versions.

When you look at, say, C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll to chose an icon for a shortcut, Windows silently redirects you to C:\Windows\SystemResources\imageres.dll.mun
It is that collection of .mun files that now holds Windows icons.

Customizer god has not been updated for years and it probably does not know how to work with the new icon files. This would account for the comment on its webpage about not being updated for v1903 & later.

All the best,
Denis

I tried to open a .MUN file with Customizer God and it displayed all the icons. I wouldn't dare touch anything before taking a backup. I'll report back if I have succeeded.

Unlike the .DLL files in C:\Windows\System32 Customizer God cannot modify directly the . MUN files in C:\Windows\SystemResources. So I copied the file imageres.dll.mun to another folder and replaced the icons. Then I restarted in Command prompt to rename the original file for backup and replace it with the modified file. Upon restart, success! Now I have Windows 8.1 system icons in Windows 11. I have not yet figured out which system files I must modify to replace the network and battery icons. Any help appreciated.

Best battery replacement app is called Battery Mode

I don't want to replace the battery app, I want to replace the battery/AC power icons with those of Windows 7 or 8.1 which were nicer. Anyone knows which .DLL or .MUN files contain the battery, network and speaker icons in Windows 11? Thanks.

PS: I have already tried to replace the icons in pnidui.dll for the network, but it didn't work. After restarting the Wi-Fi icons in the taskbar were unchanged. I opened the modified file, the icons were those of Windows 8.1, but in the taskbar were still the original Windows 11 icons.

Just thought it would help if you couldn't find the answer

Only thing I use CG for is to get rid of those stoopid push pins!!!

Edwin said:

Only thing I use CG for is to get rid of those stoopid push pins!!!

View attachment 24231

Click to expand...

Is that CG tool the only way to get rid of those?

Too bad CG developer has switched to Linux and has no Windows system to build a new version... Linux is the dark side... Be nice and stay in Windows, the light side of the Force...

Hi everyone there,

I'm using the latest W10 version (21H2) in which system icons also migrated to C:\Windows\SystemResources, like in W11.

I used iPack Builder to first patch the W11 icons, exactly like until the 1809 version, which modifies (concretely replaces) DLL in C:\Windows\System32 > imageres.dll (& imagesp1 +zpfldr), and it still apparently does work (!)
What I did was uninstalling the iPack icon theme after having saved the 3 DLL files, and then went back into System32 to replace them back again.

I first tried C:\Windows\SystemResources, but replacement was refused, with of course "ownership" first taken.
I posted in detail what I did in the Custom Icon Thread, and also added an edit just after.

Thanx @Try3 & @spapakons for highlighting this new location.
I discovered them while thoroughly searching into the system a few months ago.
I still don't know where "PC settings" (bitmap or PNG ?) icons are located. If anyone knows, that would be cool.
I found a few you might be interested in C:\Windows\SystemResources\Windows.UI.ShellCommon\Images (you can also check out in many other parent folders where there is an "images" folder. Though, they are white & black PNGs. Some others are in directly in System32, and C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\images. I'm sorry I cannot find the Battery yet. Maybe @davidvkimball knows the environment better. I'll search more thoroughly when I have time as this task requires pretty much (!)

This just shows that icons from DLLs in C:\Windows\System32 have priority upon C:\Windows\SystemResources, even if it originally has no icons, and does seem to also act as redirectioning, as it is still the same imageres.dll file you use to choose these system icons.

If anyone knows a way for directly replace the .mun file in C:\Windows\SystemResources, I'll be happy to know it.
I haven't tried replacing them "offline" yet (using command prompt Windows X:> ) before startup.
(edit: thanx for your #5 post confirmation @spapakons)


Thanx @Edwin for the trick, but I probably don't have the right version/build to use CustomizerGod.
I agree with @paradoxum's suggestion. Do you or anyone know a REG command to do it manually ?
I found an answer suggesting simply getting rid of the icon in imageres.dll, but this also deletes the big icon on the top ribbon of Explorer.
I also found out that the app only works on W11 build 22581.1 (maybe it's an Insider release) on reddit, and unfortunately seem to be problematic on others.







I don't know yet how 7tsp does the job, but I will soon need to use it (and iPack also) to provide the coming soon theme I'm finishing working on. By the way, I came across this other thread about Stardocks' Icon Packager. In addition to any tutorials I could find on YouTube, if anyone here have some experience here with these apps (for rebuilding icons any OS), I'll be happy to have it shared.



Thank you for reading.

spapakons said:

I don't want to replace the battery app, I want to replace the battery/AC power icons with those of Windows 7 or 8.1 which were nicer. Anyone knows which .DLL or .MUN files contain the battery, network and speaker icons in Windows 11? Thanks.

Click to expand...

I think I found it, but the display is pretty tricky !!
Looks like old versions are also part of the file.

I just guess the registry commands which version to display.
Maybe @abactuon could help with this ?








C:\Windows\SystemResources\batmeter.dll.mun

Replacing the battery icons in SystemResources only works in Windows 10, not 11. Thankfully replacing the imageres.dll.mun icons works also in Windows 11, so I have Windows 8 icons in 11. From what I have seen, any icon that appears on the taskbar (battery, sound, network) cannot be changed on 11. Any changes are ignored.

SUCCESS!!!!

I downloaded and installed Explorer Patcher for GitHub: GitHub - valinet/ExplorerPatcher: This project aims to enhance the working environment on Windows This is a utility that restores the Windows 10 style in Windows 11. This means that the network, sound and battery/power icons are ungrouped (separate) and that right-clicking on the taskbar gives you the familiar menu with the Task Manager etc. In practice this means that all modified system icons (network, sound, battery/power) show the modified icons which were ignored when the three icons were grouped together! So first install Explorer Patcher to ungroup the icons, then replace the default icons with Customizer God or any other similar utility, restart and ta-da!

PS: direct download link: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest/download/ep_setup.exe

TizianoMad said:

Thank you for reading.

Click to expand...

Lots of good info in here thanks.
I don't suppose you know where the information for these icons are stored?


More info;



The 'Home' on the sidebar is Quick Access renamed.

I have NO idea why the Music and Videos icons are kept when adding the libraries to the side.

Related possibly relevant information:
I have all my libraries and AppData on another partition and dropped them in the windows appdatalocalroaming places using Junctions.


Here are the junctions, I have tried setting the icon on the junction shortcuts too - but when I add the junction to quick access, it has the junction icon on the icon:

I'm using Winaero Tweaker to remove the shortcut icon from shortcuts but I can't find anything about removing the junction icon.

Any help would be appreciated.

I also have another theming problem, just check this out:


Unrealted to icons, but if anyone knows anything about this please chime in.

ADDITIONALLY, is there a forum anywhere for Winaero Tweaker? because I've found a few settings that do not work and would like to report them.

Thanks.

Edit again:
I am still looking for a way to get rid of the pins here:

If anyone is willing to collaborate and provide info they know, I may hire someone on Fiverr to create a tool to do all this stuff for is - but it'd be cheaper if I could provide them with as much info as needed etc.

The folder icons are in file C:\Windows\SystemResources\imageres.dll.mun. You can't modify this directly, so you have to copy it on another folder say C:\temp, change the icons with Customizer God or similar, then restart in Command Prompt to replace it. To do that you hold the left SHIFT key and restart. Select Troubleshoot from the List, then select the Command Prompt. Then give these commands:
The first line lists contents of drive c: and the second of drive d: The rest lines assume the Windows folder is in drive C: otherwise substitute C: for D:. The next line changes to the System Resources subfolder of the Windows folder were the original file is located. The next line renames the original file as backup in case you have any issues. The next line copies the modified file from the temp folder (change as appropriate) into the SystemResources subfolder. Exit to close the command line. Now restart your computer to load Windows, the icons should have changed.

PS: Change the file C:\Windows\SystemResources\batmeter.dll.mun similarly if you want to modify the power/battery icons and the file C:\Windows\SystemResources\SndVolSSO.dll.mun to modify the sound icons. Remember to first ungroup the icons, see my previous posts, or any changes are ignored.

Hello @paradoxum,

& thanx for your feedback.

paradoxum said:

1 : I don't suppose you know where the information for these icons are stored?

I have NO idea why the Music and Videos icons are kept when adding the libraries to the side.
I have all my libraries and AppData on another partition and dropped them in the windows appdatalocalroaming places using Junctions.

2 : I'm using Winaero Tweaker to remove the shortcut icon from shortcuts but I can't find anything about removing the junction icon.
is there a forum anywhere for Winaero Tweaker?

* : The 'Home' on the sidebar is Quick Access renamed.

3 : I am still looking for a way to get rid of the pins here:

Click to expand...

1 : In fact, default user icons keep being displayed in priority.
@spapakons indications are tip top.
Music & Video folders are also often reset after a windows update.
Desktop : #183 - Downloads : #184 - Documents : #112 - Pictures : #113 - Music : #108 - Videos : #189 - Shortcut : #163 - Pin : #5100
In addition (and also maybe as an alternative), apply icons to original folders located in your other drives (which can be pinned).

Though, the rest of the user folders of C:\Users\%userprofile% seem customizable, apart from "Contacts".
We recently discussed this subject with @JohnnyGui in a conversation you might be interested, so I just invited you.

2 : I guess you shouldn't create shortcuts in your Users profile folder, edit your Home (ex Quick Access) libraries by going to :
Properties > Location > Move > Choose location > I recommend you choose "No" in the confirmation box which asks you if you want to move all the file. Do this after manually. Otherwise original folders disappear and it may cause conflicts if you edit this back.

Of course, you can contact Winaero's author Sergey Tkachenko by leaving him a message down his page, like I did concerning the new Home icon and its title I would like to switch.

To get rid out of the pins, you just have to replace the icon with a blanc icon. Like you, I don't like them too much at this place, and will remove them but I still would like to keep the bigger view in the Explorer ribbon, so I will specially make one with only these visible.

See ya

Thanks, I'll give that a go soon.
But again, regarding having a tool made to help us customize icons and export/import the configuration across windows installs, it's something I'd seriously hire someone to create, because everything else is years out of date or just doesn't work great, has extra features I don't need, etc etc.

If anyone wants to help, I'm paradox#9343 on discord or zakalwe on libera.chat IRC.

TizianoMad said:

Properties > Location > Move > Choose location >

Click to expand...

I do this *as well* as adding junctions, because it is just so easy to just drop junctions for everything.

Changing the library location helps windows to open the right location in save dialogue boxes etc. And having the junctions there means this:






So much easier when reinstalling.

>To get rid out of the pins, you just have to replace the icon with a blanc icon. Like you, I don't like them too much at this place, and will remove them but I still would like to keep the bigger view in the Explorer ribbon, so I will specially make one with only these visible.

Is that icon in the imageres icon file along with everything else?