Dear Forum,
I'd like to customize the icons of some of my PortableApps folders, my favourite ones, to notice them more quickly above the others. For example, I'd like to change the icon for the ThunderbirdPortable folder; so, I created a specific icon, I placed it in the ThunderbordPortable folder and also created a Desktop.ini file as following:
[.ShellClassInfo]
InfoTip=Thunderbird Portable
IconFile=ThunderbirdFolder.ico
IconIndex=0
But no changing: still the icon is the default one.
How to do?
The icon is a complete .ico file, with various resolutions each one in a different layer.
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You also need to set the system flag on the folder.
This can be done from the command line using attrib +s foldername, otherwise there is likely some software out there that can do the same (but I cannot recommend any as I've never used them).
Because of this you may then want to add
ConfirmFileOp=0to your desktop.ini, otherwise if you try to delete or move the folder Windows will throw out a warning that you are trying to delete a system folder.
Actually, you're better off setting the folder (but not it's contents) as read-only, which can be acomplished with
attrib +R foldername. This is the same method used by Windows when setting a folder icon from the Properties dialog, and it is also the method that the PortableApps.com Platform's installer switched to, after having previously had problems caused by the folders it had set to have icons having the system flag.~3D1T0R
It's been 3+ years since I have changed the icon on a folder, good to know there is an alternative, although both read only and system flags still feel kinda hacky.
Welcome to Windows.
~3D1T0R
This morning I setted attrib +s and magically the icon of the folder changed: thank you, Ken Herbert, for the instructions.
But all this was before reading 3D1T0R, and his suggestion. I'd like to try also with attrib +r, as it looks more bug-free. But I'm not sure I've understood:
"Have I to remove the system flag as before typing attrib +s?"
To remove you type attrib -s
"Alternatively to attrib +r, could I change the read-only attribute via Right-click --> Properties? Or have I to use the command line?"
Possibly, it depends on your Windows config.
"Setting my folder as Read-only, isn't there the risk to encounter problems whenever I use the application? I mean, shouldn't be the files editable?"
Possibly, it depends on the app and how it uses the files in the folder.
Ed
If folder was on desktop why not right click choose properties and then change icon and navigate it to the icon you made ?
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
As Ed_P says, if you change the
+to a-it removes the flag. Also, you can chain them up on one command, so if you've set the system flag, and would like to remove that and add the read-only flag, you can runattrib -S +R foldername.As for entering the folder's Properties, and checking the 'read-only' checkbox, I'm not sure, as there is an option to "Apply changes to this folder only", but when I tested a moment ago, that option was greyed out, and I could only choose "Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files". If it offers "Apply changes to this folder only", then yes, doing that will be the same as running
attrib +R, if not, then no, you can't do it that way, as choosing "Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files" will mark the whole directory tree as read-only, and this will make it so you can't write to anything in the folder.As for read-only causing problems, there is only a risk of that if you set it for the files and folders inside the folder. If you run
attrib +Ron a folder, it will only set the read-only flag on that folder, not anything inside it, so it will not cause such problems.And, as vf2nsr asks, why not just right-click on the folder, click Properties, go to the Customize tab, click "Change Icon…" and "Browse…" for the icon you want to use? (also, FYI: If you want to use the app's icon, all apps that follow the PortableApps.com Format already have an ico at
App\AppInfo\appicon.icothat you could use.)~3D1T0R
Thank you for all the informations!
Yes, I didn't notice the possibility to customize the icon through "Right-click" --> "Properties". But -maybe- using Desktop.ini is issues-safer.
Anyway, now my facourite folders are customized with wonderful icons.
I used to do as you have suggested here, but it no longer works (Windows 10 x64).
Has anyone found a workaround? I have asked Microsoft support with no response for 3 months now.
My typical setup:
Desktop.ini:
[.ShellClassInfo]ConfirmFileOp=0
IconFile=folder.ico
IconIndex=0
Folder as read only, have tried adding system with attrib +s but it does nothing.
Can right click and set icon manually, but when I copy or move the folder it changes back to default.