Vista - Control Panel Desktop Icon

**Brink**

How to Change the Desktop Control Panel Icon in Vista

Information

This will show you how to change the Control Panel icon on the Desktop and in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane Folder section to any icon you want for all user accounts.

Tip

For how to have the Control Panel icon on the Desktop, see: How to Restore and Change a Desktop Icon in Vista

WARNING

The icons you decide to use must be a 256x256 bit .ico (icon) file, not .png, to be used in Vista without viewing problems. A png file must be converted to a 256x256 ico file before it can be used. To convert a PNG to ICO you must use a program such as this free 30 day trial program called Axialis IconWorkshop: Axialis IconWorkshop Download Page . Here's a good location for some icons: deviantArt: Dock Icons

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Before and After Control Panel Icon Change

Here's How:

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5)
NOTE: CLSID is there. You just need to scroll past all the file extensions first.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon

5. In the right pane, right click on (Default) and click on Modify.

6. To Restore the Default Control Panel Icon -
A) Type %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-27 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

B) Go to step 8.

7. To Change the Control Panel Icon -
A) Type in the full path of where the icon is saved at and click on OK.
(EX: C:\Users\Everyday\Downloads\Tools.ico)
NOTE: The icon will need to remain in it's location for as long as you are using it. You can use any icon (.ico file) you want, or one that came with Vista. (EX: A .dll file path) See the How to Use a DLL OR EXE Icon Library File tip section below.

8. Close Regedit.
NOTE: The change will be immediate. You may need to press F5 to refresh the window to see the new icon though.

Tip

How to Use a DLL OR EXE Icon Library File
NOTE: Example: For a .dll library full path, you would type in something similar to this: C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll,24

1. imageres.dll is just one the many icon library files that come with Vista. This one contains most of the different icons used by
Vista.
2. The ,24 is the icon's index number location inside the imageres.dll icon library.
NOTE: See the highlighted icon in the screenshot below.

3. You can determine this by counting the icons in the library. The top left icon is 0, and it counts vertically down until you run out
if icons. It then starts in the next column/row and repeats vertically down.
NOTE: See the added red numbers in the screenshot below to help understand this.

4. When you count to the highlighted icon, you get 24. Thus, the imageres.dll,24
NOTE: (Icon Library File),(Icon Index Number)
To see how to open a box like this to just see what the icon index number is, See: How to Change a Shortcut Folder or File Icon in Vista and How to Change a Folder Icon in Vista

That's it,
Shawn

**niGht kiD** · 12-06-2007

I've spent some time checking every "DefaultIcon" in the registry last night, but how did I miss it? U've done a great & better job than me, Shawn, Thanks again!

**Brink** · 12-06-2007

Your welcome niGht kiD,

LOL, do not feel bad. I missed it the first few times through it myself until my eyes stopped crossing. haha

Shawn

rajah · 08-03-2008

Hi Shawn,
Just a quick note to say thanks. Finally got rid of CP icon and replaced it with one I created. The task seemed so daunting at first and I almost gave up in frustration, but I stuck with it, and after going over the tutorial more than once I eventually saw where I was slipping up. Thanks again! Well-written tutorial.

**Brink** · 08-03-2008

Your welcome Rajah. I'm happy to hear that you got it the way you wanted.

I want to make this tutorial easy for everyone to follow. If you have any suggestions or ideas to add from your experience to add to the tutorial to help prevent others from slipping up like you and make it easier, then please let me know.

Thank you,
Shawn

**claustrawberry** · 08-29-2008

hi..
why my CP icon back to the original one?

**Brink** · 08-29-2008

Hello Claustrawberry, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It could have happened from some Windows Update, using a sfc /scannow command, or some other changed setting that reset it.

Double check the settings in the registry to see if they have been changed or not. You should be able to change it back if it was.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**claustrawberry** · 08-30-2008

thanks.. i've got my icon back

**Brink** · 08-30-2008

Your welcome Claustrawberry.

ktrenta · 02-11-2009

I've followed your directions, but my control panel won't change. I've tried different icon files as well as just switching the default dll to see if it would change. Any help would be apprecieated.

also, could you please post a link for the control panel icon you used. I like it.

12-06-2007
niGht kiD Vista™ Business 32-bit 32 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon I've spent some time checking every "DefaultIcon" in the registry last night, but how did I miss it? U've done a great & better job than me, Shawn, Thanks again!
My System Specs

12-06-2007
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon Your welcome niGht kiD, LOL, do not feel bad. I missed it the first few times through it myself until my eyes stopped crossing. haha Shawn
My System Specs

08-03-2008
rajah Vista Home Basic 32bit 3 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon Hi Shawn, Just a quick note to say thanks. Finally got rid of CP icon and replaced it with one I created. The task seemed so daunting at first and I almost gave up in frustration, but I stuck with it, and after going over the tutorial more than once I eventually saw where I was slipping up. Thanks again! Well-written tutorial.
My System Specs

08-03-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon Your welcome Rajah. I'm happy to hear that you got it the way you wanted. I want to make this tutorial easy for everyone to follow. If you have any suggestions or ideas to add from your experience to add to the tutorial to help prevent others from slipping up like you and make it easier, then please let me know. Thank you, Shawn
My System Specs

08-29-2008
claustrawberry Vista Home Premiun 32bit 12 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon hi.. why my CP icon back to the original one?
My System Specs

08-29-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon Hello Claustrawberry, and welcome to Vista Forums. It could have happened from some Windows Update, using a sfc /scannow command, or some other changed setting that reset it. Double check the settings in the registry to see if they have been changed or not. You should be able to change it back if it was. Hope this helps, Shawn
My System Specs

08-30-2008
claustrawberry Vista Home Premiun 32bit 12 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon thanks.. i've got my icon back
My System Specs

02-11-2009
ktrenta vista home basic x32 4 posts	Re: Control Panel Desktop Icon I've followed your directions, but my control panel won't change. I've tried different icon files as well as just switching the default dll to see if it would change. Any help would be apprecieated. also, could you please post a link for the control panel icon you used. I like it.
My System Specs

Similar Threads
Tutorial	Category
New Control Panel Icon	Vista hardware & devices
No Mail Icon in the control panel	Microsoft Office
Control Panel - Hide Icon	Tutorials
Control Panel Icon on Desktop	Vista General
Cant delete Control Panel Desktop Icon on Taskbar	Vista General