In Windows, you get the option of setting up a shortcut for any file, folder, or program. This shortcut icon acts as a link to the original file, folder, or program, and opening it will open up the original file, folder, or program. By default, we get a small arrow as an overlay over the shortcut icon to help the users understand that it is a shortcut. But some users don’t like the default shortcut arrow that comes as an overlay. They prefer to change the shortcut icon.
If you are also one of them, you should know that there are ways to change the icon, and even remove or restore it to its default form. Here in this guide, we will guide you on customizing the small shortcut icon in Windows 10 according to your liking. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Also Read
Page Contents
How to Change, Remove or Restore Shortcut Arrow Icon?
Everything about the small shortcut icon can be managed directly from the Windows registry. But follow the instructions mentioned below carefully as tweaking around the registry can prove to be fatal for your operating system.
How to change the shortcut arrow icon?
To change the small shortcut icon, you will have to download the icon that you want. You can google and find an icon of your preference, or you can head over to a site like iconarchive, where you will get different kinds of icons in different formats and sizes. To replace the small shortcut icon, you will have to get an icon in ICO format, and it needs to be 32 x 32 pixels in size.
Once you have downloaded the icon that you want to set as the new shortcut icon, save it in a location that you prefer. As mentioned above, now you will have to tweak the registry to make the changes that you want.
- Press and hold the Windows key + R, and it will open the Run dialog box for you.
- Now in the empty field, type “regedit” and press the Enter key or click on the Ok button.
- Navigate to the following location in Windows Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
- Right-click on the Explorer key on the left side and then select New>Key. Set the name of the new key as “Shell Icons” and press Enter.
- Now in the Shell Icons key, right-click on the space in the right pane. Select New>String Value and set the name of the new value as “29.”
- Double-click on this new “29” key, and in the Value Data field, enter the location where you have stored the newly download ICO file.
- Now click on Ok, close the registry and then restart your entire system. After the restart, you will see the new shortcut icon with all your shortcut files, folders, and programs.
How to remove the shortcut arrow icon?
If you are someone who does not even want to see the shortcut icon with the shortcut files, folders, and programs, then you can remove it too.
- Press and hold the Windows key + R, and it will open the Run dialog box for you.
- Now in the empty field, type “regedit” and press the Enter key or click on the Ok button.
- Navigate to the following location in Windows Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
- Right-click on the Explorer key on the left side and then select New>Key. Set the name of the new key as “Shell Icons” and press Enter.
- Now in the Shell Icons key, right-click on the space in the right pane. Select New>String Value and set the name of the new value as “29”.
- Double-click on this new “29” key, and in the Value Data field, enter “%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50”.
- Now click on Ok, close the registry and then restart your entire system. After the restart, you will not see the shortcut icon anymore.
How to restore the shortcut arrow icon?
If for some reason, you don’t like the new shortcut icon, or you want to bring back the default shortcut icon after you have removed it, then you can do that too.
In both the cases mentioned above(Changing and Removing the icon), we have created a new String Value 29. So to restore everything to default about the shortcut icon, navigate to the location in the registry where you have the 29 String Value and then delete it. Then restart the system, and you will see the default shortcut icon of Windows back again.
So that is how you can change, remove, and restore the shortcut icon in Windows 10. If you have any questions or queries about this guide, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.