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How to Replace Icon of EXE File

Exe Icon Replacement

Resource Tuner is an ideal choice for modifying icons in Windows executable files, whether it's the exe file's icon or the default menu icons. However, it's essential to remember that Windows executable files contain multiple icons grouped together.

These icons are stored within EXE or DLL files in Icon Groups, and each Icon Group can consist of several icon images, each with distinct sizes and color depths. Common icon sizes include 16, 32, and 48 pixels square, while color depths vary between 32-bit (24-bit with 8-bit alpha channel), 8-bit (256 colors), and 4-bit (16 colors).

Here's an example of an Icon Group found in the Notepad application:

When replacing icons and cursors, make certain that the replacement sources match the size and color depth of the item being replaced. For instance, a 16x16 4-bit icon cannot be swapped with a 32x32 8-bit icon.

If you encounter a mismatch error while attempting to change an icon that appears to have the same size and bits, it indicates that the source icon's color depth is not the same (24-bit and 32-bit icons may look similar but have different color depths).

Replace EXE File Icons with Resource Tuner

1. Open the EXE file in Resource Tuner and expand the Icon Group folder.

2. Select the icon or the icon group you want to change and click on the 'Replace Resource with...' button from the button bar as illustrated below.

3. You wil see the following dialog. Click on the 'Open Replacement Source' button and select your desired icon file on your disk. The file format should be either .ico or .png.

If you choose a .png file, ensure that the image size is not larger than 256 pixels in width and 256 pixels in height. Larger sizes may not be compatible with the application.

4. Check only those items in the 'New items' list you want to be added, select the action to perform and press the OK button.

5. Select 'File' 'Save File' to save the changes you have made to the target file.

Change Multiple Icons with Resource Tuner Console

When dealing with the need to update existing icons or add new ones for several hundred files, the most effective approach is to utilize a batch file. Resource Tuner Console becomes essential in scenarios where large numbers of files must be processed or accessed through batching.