Change Open Folder icon in Windows Vista

der_untergang · 06-30-2009, 11:19 AM

How to Change Open Folder icon in Windows Vista?

This tutorial will help you in knowing how to display a different icon in the Navigation pane or Start menu for the folder that is opened currently. This will help you in distinguishing between the open and closed folders.

Default open folder icon in the Navigation pane:

Figure 1

Changed open folder icon in the Navigation pane:

Figure 2

You can accomplish this in the following manner:

1) Open Registry Editor and navigate to the key branch

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer in the left pane

Figure 3

2) Right click on the explorer key and choose New and then Key option

3) Name the key as Shell Icons

Figure 4

4) Now right click on the right pane and choose New and then String option

Figure 5

5) Name this string key value as 4 and double click it

Figure 6

6) Now type the location of the desired icon saved on your computer or you can type or copy C:\windows\system32\Shell32.dll,137 to take display an icon shipped with Vista

Figure 7

7) Click OK button

8) Close Registry Editor

9) Log off and then Log on or restart your PC for the changes to take effect

Note: To restore the default icon for opened folder simply right click on the Shell Icons key created in the step 2 and 3 above and choose Delete option

Figure 8

Click Yes button to confirm

Figure 9

Log off and then Log on or restart your PC for the changes to take effect

06-30-2009, 11:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
der_untergang Status: Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 29	Change Open Folder icon in Windows Vista How to Change Open Folder icon in Windows Vista? This tutorial will help you in knowing how to display a different icon in the Navigation pane or Start menu for the folder that is opened currently. This will help you in distinguishing between the open and closed folders. Default open folder icon in the Navigation pane: Figure 1 Changed open folder icon in the Navigation pane: Figure 2 You can accomplish this in the following manner: 1) Open Registry Editor and navigate to the key branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ explorer in the left pane Figure 3 2) Right click on the explorer key and choose New and then Key option 3) Name the key as Shell Icons Figure 4 4) Now right click on the right pane and choose New and then String option Figure 5 5) Name this string key value as 4 and double click it Figure 6 6) Now type the location of the desired icon saved on your computer or you can type or copy C:\windows\system32\Shell32.dll,137 to take display an icon shipped with Vista Figure 7 7) Click OK button 8) Close Registry Editor 9) Log off and then Log on or restart your PC for the changes to take effect Note: To restore the default icon for opened folder simply right click on the Shell Icons key created in the step 2 and 3 above and choose Delete option Figure 8 Click Yes button to confirm Figure 9 Log off and then Log on or restart your PC for the changes to take effect

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