Want to know where icons are hidden (stored) in Windows 10, so I can use them as I please in documents I create?

Question

I have searched hi & low and elsewhere inside of Windows 10 to find where all the icons are stored so I can create a database or spreadsheet and copy/paste them as needed inside documents I will be creating.  I find it is better to show the icons when referring to quoted documents that are intended for showing how to do something on a desktop computer plus it helps to teach inexperienced users what the icons actually mean for later reference of the inexperienced user.  I am sure they all are not stored in one single location because that would be too simple and too easy.  Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi,

If you right click on a icon and select "Properties... Customize Tab", or "Change Icon", You will get a screen to "Browse" and have a location already available...

Most Icons Windows 10 uses are actually located in C:\Windows\System32...

The two primary locations are...

C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll

C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll

Plus a few in C:\Windows\System32\imagesp1.dll and C:\Windows\System32\filemgmt.dll...

These locations are "Libraries" that are only accessible when using a "Change Icon" setting of some type... Even if you were able to "Extract" the files, I don't know if they would be usable this way...

I have never actually tried...

Answer 2

Hi TemporaryUser0101

All Windows and application icons are not stored as images on your hard drive, they are encoded inside dll's and the program executables and are not accessible to the user . . .

For example, right click an application icon on your desktop and choose properties

On the resulting dialog, click 'Change icon' if there is a set of icons in the program executable, you will see them there - but they are inaccessible as an image file, because they are encoded into the exe, or an application dll

To get a version of those icons, google 'windows 10 icon sets' you will find plenty of really high quality versions of those icons . . .

Answer 3

I dont know.

You might want to search for that info online with Bing.  Icons generally seem to be in various windows system .dll & program .exe files.

You might right click your desktop and select New.. Folder and leave it unnamed - then right click that folder and select Properties you will see a change icon button... and it will show the path to the icon that your new folder is using.

There are some programs that will extract the .ico's .  You might want to be extra careful though.. various icon programs used to be really popular targets for the hackers to do their things.

In a pinch you could make your desktop white and make a shortcut to the program icon you want.. enlarge or shrink it & do a screen capture.