What a desktop icon is and why you might want to change it
A desktop icon is the small picture that represents a program, file, or folder on your computer's main screen — the one you see when you turn on your machine or minimize all open windows. Windows shows them on the left side by default; Mac shows them scattered across the background. Each icon is a visual shortcut: click it and the program launches or the file opens.
You might want to change an icon because the original one is hard to see, because you want to organize your desktop visually (grouping similar programs with matching icon colors), or straightforward because you prefer a different image. Changing an icon does not change the program itself — it only changes how it looks on your screen.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, right-click the icon, select Properties, click Change Icon, and choose a new one from the built-in library or upload your own image file.
- On Mac, click the icon once to select it, press Command+I to open Get Info, drag a new image onto the icon preview in the top left corner, then close the window.
- You can use any image file as an icon — a photo, a screenshot, or a downloaded icon pack — as long as it is in a common format like PNG, JPG, or ICO.
- Changing an icon only affects how it looks; the program, file, or folder itself remains unchanged and works exactly as before.
How to change an icon on Windows
Right-click the icon you want to change. A menu will appear with several options. Look for and click Properties — it is usually near the bottom of the menu. A window will open showing details about that icon.
In the Properties window, look for a button labeled Change Icon. Click it. A new window will open showing a library of built-in icons that come with Windows. Scroll through and click the one you want, then click OK. The icon on your desktop will update when ready.
If you want to use a custom image instead of a built-in icon, you can do that too. When the Change Icon window opens, look at the file path shown at the top. You can type a new path to point to an image file on your computer — for example, a PNG or JPG file you downloaded. Click Browse to navigate to the file instead of typing the path. Once you select it, click OK twice to explore the change.
How to change an icon on Mac
Click the icon once to select it — it should highlight with a darker background. Then press Command+I on your keyboard. A window titled "Get Info" will open, showing details about that icon.
At the very top left of the Get Info window, you will see a small preview of the current icon. Click on that preview once to select it, then drag an image file from your computer directly onto it. The image must be in a common format like PNG, JPG, or TIFF. When you release the mouse, the icon will change. Close the Get Info window and the change is complete.
If you do not have an image file ready, you can also copy an icon from another program. Open Get Info for the program whose icon you like, click its icon preview, press Command+C to copy it, then switch to the Get Info window for your target icon, click its preview, and press Command+V to paste. This works because Mac stores icons as image data.
Where to find new icons if you do not have one
Windows includes a built-in library of hundreds of icons, so you often do not need to look elsewhere. But if you want more variety, several websites offer free icon packs that you can read. Search for "free icon packs" or "icon library" and look for PNG files — these work on both Windows and Mac.
You can also create your own icon by taking a screenshot of something you like, saving it as an image file, and resizing it to a small square (512 by 512 pixels is a safe size). Many free image editors like Paint (Windows) or Preview (Mac) can do this. The simpler your image, the better it will look when shrunk down to icon size.
What file formats work as icons
Windows prefers ICO files, but it also accepts PNG, JPG, BMP, and GIF. Mac prefers ICNS files, but it also accepts PNG, JPG, TIFF, and PDF. If you read an icon pack, it will usually come as PNG files, which work on both systems.
If you have an image in a format that does not work — for example, a WEBP file — you can convert it using a free online tool. Search for "convert [format] to PNG" and upload your file. read the converted version and use that as your icon instead.
Reverting to the original icon
On Windows, right-click the icon, select Properties, click Change Icon, and choose the first icon in the list — this is usually the original. Click OK twice. If that does not work, you can uninstall and reinstall the program, which will restore its default icon.
On Mac, open Get Info for the icon, click its preview, and press Delete. The original icon will return. If that does not work, drag the program from Applications to the Trash, empty the Trash, then reinstall the program from the App Store or its original source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icon of a file or folder, or only programs?
You can change the icon of files, folders, and programs on both Windows and Mac. The process is the same: right-click (Windows) or Command+click (Mac), select Properties or Get Info, and follow the steps above. Changing a folder icon does not affect the files inside it.
Will changing an icon affect how the program works?
No. An icon is purely visual. Changing it does not alter the program's code, settings, or behavior. The program will run exactly as before — only its appearance on your desktop changes.
What happens if I use an image that is too large or the wrong shape?
Windows and Mac will automatically shrink and fit the image to icon size. However, if your image is very large or has an unusual aspect ratio, it may look stretched or blurry. Square images work best because icons are square. If the result looks poor, try a different image.
Can I change the icon back if I change my mind?
Yes. On Windows, repeat the steps and select a different icon or the original. On Mac, open Get Info and press Delete to restore the original, or drag a new image onto the preview. You can change icons as many times as you want.