How to Change Taskbar Icons for Programs in Windows 10

Customizing your Windows 10 taskbar is a simple way to make your desktop feel more personal and organized. One of the best ways to do that? Changing the icons for the programs you use every day. Here’s how to do it—step-by-step.

Why Change Taskbar Icons?

Maybe you prefer a minimalist look. Maybe you’re just tired of the default icons. Or maybe you want to use custom icons that match your wallpaper or theme. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to swap them out.

Important Note:

You can’t directly change icons for apps that are already pinned to the taskbar. You’ll need to:

1. Unpin the app from the taskbar.
2. Change the icon via the shortcut.
3. Re-pin it.

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Step-by-Step: Change a Taskbar Icon in Windows 10

1. Unpin the Program from the Taskbar

• Right-click the icon you want to change.
• Click “Unpin from taskbar”.

2. Find or Create a Desktop Shortcut

If you already have a desktop shortcut for the app, skip to Step 3.

If not:

• Press Start and find the app.
• Right-click it > More > Open file location.
• Right-click the shortcut in the File Explorer window and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).

3. Change the Shortcut Icon

• Right-click the desktop shortcut > Properties.
• Go to the Shortcut tab.
• Click Change Icon….
• Browse and select a new icon file (must be .ico format).
  • You can use icons from built-in system files like C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll or download custom .ico files online.
• Click OK, then Apply.

4. Re-pin to the Taskbar

• Right-click the updated desktop shortcut.
• Click Pin to taskbar.

Your new icon will now show up on the taskbar.

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Where to Get Custom Icons

Want something unique? You can find free icons on sites like:

• IconArchive
• Flaticon
• DeviantArt

Make sure to download .ico files or convert PNGs using free tools like ConvertICO.com.

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Quick Tips

• Stick to 256×256 pixel icons for best quality.
• Avoid renaming system apps or using unauthorized tools to edit core files.
• If the icon doesn’t update right away, try restarting Windows Explorer via Task Manager.

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Changing your taskbar icons is a small tweak, but it can make your desktop feel like your space. Got questions or run into issues? Drop a comment below.