FolderHue
How to change a folder icon in Windows 11
Windows 11 can change a folder icon on its own, but only to an .ico file you already have. For a custom folder icon with your own color, a symbol or a photo, a folder icon changer like FolderHue makes the icon for you and applies it from the right-click menu.
Steps
Install FolderHue
Get FolderHue from the Microsoft Store. It is free to start and works on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Right-click the folder
In File Explorer, right-click the folder and choose Folder color → More colors and icons…. To change several folder icons at once, select them all first.
Build the icon
Pick a color, then a folder style, and add a symbol, an emoji, a short word or a picture. The preview shows the icon at the sizes File Explorer uses.
Apply
Click Apply. The new icon shows straight away, and it stays after a restart because it is saved inside the folder.
The built-in way in Windows 11
Right-click the folder, choose Properties → Customize → Change Icon…, then pick an icon from the list or Browse to an .ico file. It works, but only with icons you already have, one folder at a time, and with no way to color the folder. The manual guide covers it step by step.
Folder icon changer or folder colorizer?
A folder colorizer for Windows only changes the color; a folder icon changer swaps the whole icon. FolderHue does both: color a folder from the right-click menu in a second, or build a full custom folder icon in the app.
Start from a ready-made icon
Not sure what to make? Pick one of 170 ready-made folder icons for work, study, development, media and games, then change its color if you like.
Questions
Can I change folder icons in Windows 11 without an app?
Yes, through Properties → Customize → Change Icon, but only to an existing .ico file. Colors, symbols and pictures need an app that makes the icon file for you.
Can I go back to the default folder icon?
Yes. In FolderHue, open My folders and restore one folder or all of them. See how to restore the default folder icon.
