Windows folder icons

beutelwolf · Apr 12, 2024

For a long time it has been possible in Windows to associate an image with a folder, e.g. to indicate its content.
For example, this can be done placing a folder.jpg file inside it.
My problem is that in Windows 11 much of these images are now covered up by the folder icon, well more than I was seeing in Windows 10 and before. Case in point: for the folder you see below I used an image of a person's face, but this now looks as if they were wearing a mask:

What I am looking for is a different icon for folders that covers up less.
Issues, questions:

is this at all possible, or does this only work with the standard icon?
does it make a difference whether I place a folder.jpg file or if I use customization to set an image?

I have tried a few ico files coming from the usual websites, but all tended to be opaque, for this purpose.

AmericanPharaoh · Apr 12, 2024

This looks like what you might be looking for, hope it helps. Also, see related tutorials and user comments there.

Change Folder Picture in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to choose an image file to show as a picture on a folder's icon in Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 22557, File Explorer will show a thumbnail preview of folder contents on the folder's icon. Usually, the last item added to the folder will show as a...

www.elevenforum.com

Edwin · Apr 12, 2024

beutelwolf said:
is this at all possible, or does this only work with the standard icon?

does it make a difference whether I place a folder.jpg file or if I use customization to set an image?

If you are talking about setting a permanent folder icon, that is covered in the replies of the aforementioned tutorial.

LesFerch · Apr 12, 2024

If you want a full size thumbnail, you'll need to replace the default folder mask with a custom one. Here's one way to do that:

How to customize folder thumbnails in Windows 11 22H2

The link to the icons in that tutorial is broken, but they are available here:

Microsoft OneDrive

There may be an easier way to do it, but that's what I've found so far.

AmericanPharaoh · Apr 12, 2024

LesFerch said:
If you want a full size thumbnail, you'll need to replace the default folder mask with a custom one. Here's one way to do that:

How to customize folder thumbnails in Windows 11 22H2

The link to the icons in that tutorial is broken, but they are available here:

Microsoft OneDrive

There may be an easier way to do it, but that's what I've found so far.

Hello,

The link appears to still be working.

Change Folder Icon in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the icon of a folder in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 22557, File Explorer will show a thumbnail preview of folder contents on the folder's icon. Usually, the last item added to the folder will show as a thumbnail preview on...

www.elevenforum.com

This is one of the 'related tutorials' attached to the tutorial I suggested earlier.

But, thanks for your help.

LesFerch · Apr 12, 2024

AmericanPharaoh said:
The link appears to still be working.

I was referring to the link in this step:
1. Download the CustomizerGod utility and custom icons in a ZIP archive

The ElevenForum tutorial is for manually setting an icon for a specific folder. The tutorial I linked to is for changing the folder mask so that all automatic folder thumbnails cover the whole folder icon.

AmericanPharaoh · Apr 12, 2024

LesFerch said:
I was referring to the link in this step:
1. Download the CustomizerGod utility and custom icons in a ZIP archive

The ElevenForum tutorial is for manually setting an icon for a specific folder. The tutorial I linked to is for changing the folder mask so that all automatic folder thumbnails cover the whole folder icon.

Sorry, I thought you were referring to this link not working.

How to customize folder thumbnails in Windows 11 22H2

Here is how you can change how the folder thumbnails in Windows 11 look. A neat third-party tool and a custom set of icons allow changing the default view and enlarge file previews.

www.neowin.net

When I clicked on it, it worked. lol OK, my bad. thanks for clearing that up.

solrage · Jan 12, 2025

LesFerch said:
If you want a full size thumbnail, you'll need to replace the default folder mask with a custom one. Here's one way to do that:

How to customize folder thumbnails in Windows 11 22H2

The link to the icons in that tutorial is broken, but they are available here:

Microsoft OneDrive

There may be an easier way to do it, but that's what I've found so far.

Sorry for the necro bump but the Microsoft OneDrive link isn't working for me. Any chance you could reupload it?

LesFerch · Jan 12, 2025

solrage said:
Sorry for the necro bump but the Microsoft OneDrive link isn't working for me. Any chance you could reupload it?

That was somebody else's account. I don't even use OneDrive. I'll see if I can find the files and put them on GitHub...

solrage · Jan 12, 2025

LesFerch said:
That was somebody else's account. I don't even use OneDrive. I'll see if I can find the files and put them on GitHub...

Would really appreciate it as this is driving me crazy. Had thousands of folders I'd selected thumbnails for only to have Windows 11 cutting off half of them and stretching them horizontally.

Rollback_Jockey · Jan 12, 2025

I assign my own preference of Icon to each folder.

LesFerch · Jan 12, 2025

All you need is Resource Hacker and a transparent icon to replace the mask. I've streamlined the process with a batch file. Follow these steps:

1. Download and extract Resource Hacker from here.
2. Download the attached zip file and extract the files Blank.ico and ReplaceFolderMask.cmd to the Resource Hacker folder.
3. Open a Cmd prompt as TrustedInstaller. You can use my Right-Click Tools to do that.
3. Ensure that you current folder is the Resource Hacker folder.
4. Run ReplaceFolderMask.cmd

solrage · Jan 12, 2025

LesFerch said:
I couldn't find those icon files, but all you need is Resource Hacker and a transparent icon to replace the mask. I've streamlined the process with a batch file. Follow these steps:

1. Download and extract Resource Hacker from here.
2. Download the attached zip file and extract the files Blank.ico and ReplaceFolderMask.cmd to the Resource Hacker folder.
3. Open a Cmd prompt as TrustedInstaller. You can use PowerRun, AdvancedRun, or my Right-Click Tools to do that.
3. Ensure that you current folder is the Resource Hacker folder.
4. Run ReplaceFolderMask.cmd

This isn't working for me. I get the message "The term 'replacefoldermask.cmd' is not recognized..." I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "ensure that your current folder is the Resource Hacker Folder." Do you mean I should open, say, PowerRun/CMD in the folder itself?

LesFerch · Jan 12, 2025

solrage said:
This isn't working for me. I get the message "The term 'replacefoldermask.cmd' is not recognized..." I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "ensure that your current folder is the Resource Hacker Folder." Do you mean I should open, say, PowerRun/CMD in the folder itself?

Your current folder (as indicated by your Cmd prompt) must be the folder that contains all of these files (i.e. ResourceHacker.exe, ReplaceFolderMask.cmd, Blank.ico). Then just enter ReplaceFolderMask and it should work.

The Cmd window must have TrustedInstaller access. Mine says "Administrator" in the title bar, but I assure you, it's been opened via Right-Click Tools, Cmd here as TrustedInstaller, so it can replace the DLL.

XxXxX · Jan 13, 2025

please have a look in
open explorer, top bar click 3 dot menu . . .
click options > view tab
check to see if 'always show icons, never thumbnails is unmarked

then click 'apply to all folders'
then click 'apply' then 'OK'

best of luck, Steve ..

Ghot · Jan 13, 2025

This may help as well...

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...

www.elevenforum.com

solrage · Jan 13, 2025

LesFerch said:
Your current folder (as indicated by your Cmd prompt) must be the folder that contains all of these files (i.e. ResourceHacker.exe, ReplaceFolderMask.cmd, Blank.ico). Then just enter ReplaceFolderMask and it should work.

View attachment 121902

The Cmd window must have TrustedInstaller access. Mine says "Administrator" in the title bar, but I assure you, it's been opened via Right-Click Tools, Cmd here as TrustedInstaller, so it can replace the DLL.

This worked after downloading Right-Click Tools. Thanks! Very handy program too.

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