Choose Your Own Folder Icons on Windows XP

Windows XP makes it easy to assign folders with your own choice of icon. Wise choice of icons for your folders or sub-folders can make it more efficient to navigate a crowded desktop or directory. Also, an array of colourful icons is sure to be more visually appealing than rows of generic brown folder graphics.

Before

After

To assign your own choice of icon to a folder:

• Right click on the folder and select "Properties" from the context menu
  
• Click the "Customize" tab
  
• Click the "Change Icon" button to open the icon chooser window
  
• Select the icon you want for your folder and click "OK" to close the icon chooser
  
• Click "OK" again to exit the folder Properties window.
  

Your chosen icon should now appear for that folder.

By default, the icon chooser opens a folder that stores many of the icons used by Windows XP. However, you can choose icons stored in other folders by clicking the "Browse" button in the icon chooser window.

If you change your mind and want to return to the original icon, repeat the steps above but click "Restore Defaults" in the icon chooser instead of "OK".

Folder Properties and Icon Chooser Windows