1. Open the Start Menu, then type
regedit in the search box and press enter.
2. If prompted by
UAC, then click on
Yes.
3. If Using the Default Program in Windows 7 to Open the File Extension With -
NOTE: You would use this option if you are using the default program that Windows 7 uses to open the file extension with, and not opens with a 3rd party program that you installed.
A) In regedit, go to: (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute .mps with the file extension you want to change the icon for instead.
B) In the right pane of the file extension, make note of the
Data value to the right of
(Default). (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example it is WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 for the .mp3 file extension.
C) Go to step 5.
4. If Using a Installed 3rd Party Program as the Default Program to Open the File Extension With -
NOTE: You would do this option if you have changed the default program used by Windows 7 to open the file extension with to be opened by a installed 3rd party (not included in Windows 7) program instead.
A) In regedit, go to: (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute .mps with the file extension you want to change the icon for instead.
Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\
.mp3\Userchoice
Attachment 49205B) In the right pane, look at the
Data value to the right of
Progid. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: For example it is WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 for the .mp3 file extension type by default. Your value will vary depending on the default program you have set or installed to open this file extension with.
5. In regedit, scroll past the file extensions and go to: (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 with the Data value from step 3B or 4B for the file extension Data value that you want to change the icon for instead.
6. Click on the arrow next to
WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 to expand the key (folder). (see screenshot above)
NOTE: Substitute WMP11.AssocFile.MP3 with the Data value from step 3B or 4B for the file extension Data value that you want to change the icon for instead.
Tip
To Backup the Default File Extension Icon
NOTE: To restore the default file extension icon from this created backup below, right click on the .reg backup file and click on Merge. Next, approve the merge and log off and log on to apply the change to restore the default icon.
A) In the left pane of regedit, right click on DefaultIcon and click on Export. (See screenshot below step 5)
B) Select a location to where you want to save the backup reg file to.
C) Type in a name and click on the Save button.
NOTE: Be sure to type in a name that is easily recognized by you for that file extension. For example, MP3 default icon.
7. In the right pane of
DefaultIcon, right click on
(Default) and click on
Modify. (see screenshot below step 5)
8. Select either
Option One or
Option Two below for what type of icon you want to replace the default file extension icon with.
OPTION ONE:Use Another Icon Included in Windows 7A. Download and install the free program
IconViewer for your
32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7.
NOTE: This program will add a Icons tab to files (ex: imageres.dll) that contain a icon library in them so you can see the icons available in it.
B. In Windows Explorer, navigate to
C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll and right click on
imageres.dll, click on
Properties, and click on the
Icons tab.
NOTE: You can use any of the Windows 7 files that include icons in them that you want though. This is just the most common one.
C. Scroll through the icons and make note of the icon number of the one you want to use to replace the default file extension icon with, then close the properties window. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, icon number 1023.
D) In the Modify window, type in
(full path of the Windows 7 file with file extension),-#### and click on
OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, I would type in the location exactly as below for what I used in B and C above.
E) Go to step 9.
OPTION TWO:Use a Saved Custom Icon of Your OwnA) Create or download and save a icon (.ico file) of your choice to a location you wish to keep the icon stored at.
NOTE: See the Note box at the top of this tutorial for about what kind of icon to use. The icon must stay at this location for as long as it is being used for the file extension.
B) In the Modify window, type in
"full path of the icon file with file extension" and click on
OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, If I I had a icon store on my Desktop name New Icon Location.ico, I would type in the location exactly as below. Just substitute with your icons full path and name with file extension in quotes instead.
9. Close regedit.
10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer, to fully apply the icon change.
That's it,
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