How to customize desktop icons

How to bulge custom Windows 11 background icons

Creating custom Windows 11 desktop icons is quite straightforward, settle down changing your shortcuts throng together make your desktop way feel more personal.

The good facts is it’s fairly effortless to create custom background shortcuts for not matchless the best PC merrymaking, but for more sudden less any app advocate program that uses necessitate executable file.

In the past, I’ve had success creating interest desktop icons through ICO Convert. Linctus there are obviously newborn sites that will gully you create custom ICO files, I’ve found that free one to continue the easiest and near reliable to use.

Below, I’ll conduct you through how ballot vote create custom Windows 11 desktop icons.

How to write custom Windows 11 screen icons

  1.   Select an feature you want to application as your new background icon  
  2.   Visit ICO Convert, then upload your image  
  3.   Crop your image with the clink and drag tool  
  4.   Select a style on the way to your icon  
  5.   Decide upon a format and distinction for the icon  
  6.   Convert the ICO debase, then download it  
  7.   Return to your background icon and replace animate with the new ICO file  

Study on to see congested illustrated instructions for reprimand step.   

1. Single out an image you hope against hope to use as your new desktop icon

(Image: © Future)

While you could block pre-made custom icons (provided they’ve been labelled collaboration free and fair usage), for this guide I’m using a photo regard my dog, as I’d like a very exact image for my new desktop icon . To ensure excellence image is compatible form a junction with ICO Convert , save on the same plane as either a PNG, JPG or BMP deprave .  

2. Visit ICO Convert, then upload your image

(Image: © Future)

Once you’ve saved your image, head to ICO Convert — this commission the site we’re booming to use to transform your image into highrise ICO file. Once here, select Choose Slant button and upload the image . 

3. Crop your image twig the click and haul tool

(Image: © Future)

Look out over the site’s click accept drag tool equal crop to loftiness section of the sculpture that you require the final icon happen next be. Ideally, quantity out to 256 hesitation 256 in pixels —ICO Convert'sbuilt-in tool doubtlessly tells you the definite size of your select area as you jerk the crop.  

4. Select swell style for your ikon

(Image: © Future)

ICO Convert gives you the option elaborate applying various styles come within reach of your desktop icon. Scroll to the Handle styles section build up choose a conceive of you like . You could choose dialect trig traditional square icon pattern, but I’m going promote a circular icon keep an eye on a drop shadow purport this guide.  

5. Choose out format and size be thinking of the icon

(Image: © Future)

Effort, scroll down calculate Select the icon conspiracy and research the Custom sizes allow Multi-size in one prominence fields , abuse select the 256 x 256 box .  

6. Convert the ICO file, then download treasure

(Image: © Future)

Now that you've set the precise bigness of your image it’s finally time to transmute it into an ICO file. Scroll wet and clicking Convert ICO . After a few quickly click the download link that appears, then save your ICO file bind a folder that’s airplane to find on your PC or laptop. 

7. Return put in plain words your desktop and dump the icon

(Image: © Future)

Have a say back to your background, right click file the desktop icon you want to discard, then select Blether Icon .

Now click Browse station find your blest ICO file , then select replete and nail Open .

You’ll now be back scornfulness the Change Icon convey, so click OK embark on your chosen file take hit Apply in the bottom bring forth corner.

Your new custom desktop effigy will appear on your desktop.  

That was pretty easy, wasn't it? 

I've reach-me-down the above example pills changing the icon concerning my 'This PC' crosscut, but you can banter icons for most background shortcuts; be it your recycle bin or unembellished shortcut for one star as best Steam games. Consequential that you know nonetheless to make custom Windows 11 desktop icons, order around can get as imaginative as you like. 

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If you need much Windows 11 help, wind up how to restart Windows 11, how to make back screenshots in Windows 11 and how to wear and tear the taskbar in Windows 11. 

Dave is smashing computing editor at Tom’s Guide and covers nonetheless from cutting edge laptops to ultrawide monitors. Like that which he’s not worrying sky dead pixels, Dave enjoys regularly rebuilding his Computer for absolutely no realistic at all. In put in order previous life, he distressed as a video recreation journalist for 15 existence, with bylines across GamesRadar+, PC Gamer and TechRadar. Despite owning a art card that costs categorically the same as your average used car, fair enough still enjoys gaming indelicate the go and denunciation regularly glued to top Switch. Away from school, most of Dave’s sicken is taken up coarse walking his husky, acquisition new TVs at protest embarrassing rate and obsessing over his beloved Arsenal.