Change the Icon for an Exe File
Revision as of 04:41, 12 November 2016 by Kipkis (Kipkis | contribs) (importing article from wikihow)
Few things make a good program more unappealing than a bad icon. You can have the most powerful program in the world, but a lousy icon will make it look dated and amateurish. If you’d like to change the icons of your favorite programs to something a little more “you,” read on after the break to learn how.
Contents
Steps
- Create a shortcut of the EXE file you desire. Right click the desktop and select "Create Shortcut".
- Right click the shortcut with the default icon for the EXE file. Select Properties and click the "Change Icon" button.
- Locate the image which is stored as a file. Make sure the icon is preferably 128 pixels long by 128 pixels wide.
- Apply and save the changes. Click Apply, Hit OK.
Using Resource Hacker
- Download the Resource Hacker freeware. This tool is available for free from the developer’s website. Resource Hacker allows you to modify EXE files, including the icon. Once you’ve downloaded Resource Hacker, you can install it using the default settings.
- If downloaded from the developer, Resource Hacker will not install any adware or malware.
- There are other resource editing programs available that perform similar functions, such as the open-source XN Resource Editor, or the freeware program Resource Editor.
- Locate the EXE file that you want to change. EXE files are typically located in the folder that the program was installed to.
- Make a backup of the EXE file. This will allow you to quickly revert changes in the event that changing the icon results in the program not functioning correctly. Right-click on the file and select Copy. Paste the copy into the same folder and add “backup” to the name.
- Right-click on the EXE file. Select “Open using Resource Hacker” from the list. This will start the Resource Hacker program for that EXE file. If you are using a different resource editing program, the process may vary, and you may need to open the resource editing process first and then navigate to the EXE file that you want to edit.
- Click Action and select Replace Icon. This will open a new dialog box. In the left frame, you will see a list of all the icons contained by the EXE file. Some will only have one, while others may have dozens. The first one on the list is typically the icon that is shown in your file explorer.
- Open the new icon. Click the “Open file with new icon…” button. This will open the file browser, which you can use to find the file that contains the icon that you want to replace the original with. You can use ICO, EXE, DLL, or RES files.
- Once you open the file, you will need to select the new icon from the list in the left frame. Depending on the file you chose, there may be multiple options.
- Click the Replace button. The old icon will be replaced with the new one you selected.
- Click File and select Save. Your EXE file will be updated with your new icon. If you are unhappy with the change or the program stops functioning, delete the changed EXE file and restore your backed up copy to its original name.
Using a Batch File
- Open the location of the EXE file that you want to change. It will typically be located in the folder that you installed the program to, though it may also be wherever you placed it when you downloaded the file.
- Create a new text file in that location. Right-click and select “New” and then “Text Document”. Open the file in Notepad.
- Enter in the command to load the EXE file. You will be creating a file that will load the EXE file automatically. You will be able to set an icon for this file, allowing you to customize it. Enter the following code into the text file:
@echo offstart "" "<filename>"- Replace <filename> with the exact name of the EXE file whose icon you want to change.
- Save the file. Name the text file to a name that will help you remember what the file does. For example, you might name it “Launcher” because it will launch the program. Close Notepad once you have saved it.
- Change the extension for TXT to BAT. If the extensions are not visible, click the View menu/tab and select Options. In the Folder Options box, click the View tab and then uncheck the “Hide extensions for known types” box. This will show extensions for all of your files. After you are finished with this guide, you can recheck the box to hide your extensions again.
- Download a Batch to EXE converter. These programs will convert your file into an EXE file, which will allow for custom icons. Most Batch/BAT to EXE converters are free to download.
- Open your batch file in the converter program. In the Options section, ensure that “Invisible application” is checked.
- Add your EXE file. Click the Include tab and then click the Add button. Browse for the EXE file that your batch file will be replacing. This process will vary depending on the converter you use.
- Add the new icon. Use the converter program to load in the new icon. This is typically located in the “Versioninformation” section. You will be able to browse for the icon file that contains your new icon.
- Compile the new EXE file. Click the Compile button to create your new file. The batch file will be turned into an EXE file that will load the original EXE file when it is run.
- This does not actually change the .exe, it makes a new .exe "archive" with a new icon. The archive will run the batch file, which runs the program. It is like "wrapping" the old .exe with an icon and a .bat.
Video
Template:Video:Change the Icon for an Exe File
