User Shell Folders Appear With Generic Yellow Icon in Windows

When you open Explorer, the shell folders such as Documents, Videos, Music, or Pictures may be displayed with a standard folder icon rather than the special folder icons. This behavior can occur when the desktop.ini file in the shell folder is missing or incorrect, or the folder has lost its read-only attribute.

If a shell folder has lost its special icon and showing up as a generic (yellow) folder, you need to create or fix the Desktop.ini file for the shell folder.

Method 1: Fix the shell folder icons using GUI

To reset the shell folder icon automatically, follow these steps:

The following procedure is especially for Windows 11. Let’s say the “Music” folder is showing up with a generic/yellow folder icon.

user shell folders generic icon fix

All you need to do is right-click “Music” and click Properties.

Click the Customize tab, click “Change icon”, and click “Restore Defaults.”

user shell folders generic icon fix

Click OK, Apply, and click OK.

That’s it. The Music folder icon is back!

user shell folders generic icon fix

The above procedure fixes the desktop.ini in that shell folder, sets “system” and “hidden” attributes to it, and then sets the folder attributes to “Read-only”. Note that the read-only attribute for a folder simply means that the folder is customized. Only if that bit is set, the folder will show up with the custom icon.

This GUI method works on Windows 10 as well, but there is a glitch. It sets a different icon than the default one when resetting the Videos and Pictures folder icons.

Method 2: Fixing the shell folder icon manually

The default contents of the desktop.ini file for various shell folders are given below for each Operating System. In each shell folder that’s missing the special icon, create a file named desktop.ini and paste the content corresponding to the shell folder.

Once done, set the Read-only attribute for the shell folder using the attrib command, and set the desktop.ini file attributes to Hidden (and, optionally, the System attribute). If the icons don’t update automatically, refresh the shell icons, or log off and log in again for the icons to refresh. See the full instructions provided at the bottom of this article.

Desktop.ini Contents for Various Shell Folders

Step 1: Fix the Desktop.ini contents

For Windows 11

3D Objects

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21825
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-198

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21798

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236

Saved Games

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21814
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-186

Searches

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9031
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-18
[LocalizedFileNames]
Indexed [email protected],-32820
[email protected],-32822

Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21791
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-238

For Windows 10

3D Objects

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21825
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-198

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183
[LocalizedFileNames]
computer.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9216
4 - Control Panel.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-4161

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21798
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184

Favorites

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-115
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236

Public Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21799

Recent

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21797
InfoTip=@shell32,dll,-12692
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-117
CLSID={0C39A5CF-1A7A-40C8-BA74-8900E6DF5FCD}
[LocalizedFileNames]
Paint.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22054
Desktop.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769

Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21791
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-238

For Windows 7

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183
[LocalizedFileNames]
GameExplorer.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10082
Windows Media Player.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\unregmp2.exe,-4
Chess.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10054
FreeCell.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10055
Hearts.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10056
Internet Checkers.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10101
Minesweeper.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10057
Spider Solitaire.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\gameux.dll,-10061

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21798
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184

Favorites

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-115
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173

Links

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21810
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-185
DefaultDropEffect=4
[LocalizedFileNames]
[email protected],-37217
[email protected],-21769
[email protected],-21798

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236

Recent

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21797
InfoTip=@shell32,dll,-12692
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-117
CLSID={0C39A5CF-1A7A-40C8-BA74-8900E6DF5FCD}

Saved Games

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21814
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-186

Searches

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9031
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-18
[LocalizedFileNames]
Indexed [email protected],-32820
[email protected],-32822

For Windows Vista

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236
[LocalizedFileNames]
Sample Pictures.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21805

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237
[LocalizedFileNames]
Sample Music.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21806

Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21791
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-238
[LocalizedFileNames]
Sample Videos.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21807

Searches

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9031
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-18
[LocalizedFileNames]
Indexed [email protected],-32811
[email protected],-32814
Shared By [email protected],-32802
Recent [email protected],-32803
Recent [email protected],-32804
Recent Pictures and [email protected],-32806
Recent [email protected],-32807
Recently [email protected],-32813

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21798
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184

Favorites

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-115
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183

Links

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21810
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-185
DefaultDropEffect=4
[LocalizedFileNames]
[email protected],-21816
[email protected],-9031
Recently [email protected],-32813
[email protected],-21790
[email protected],-21779
[email protected],-21770

Saved Games

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21814
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-186

Public Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21799

Public Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21801
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-235

Public Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21803
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-237

Public Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21802
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-236

Public Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21804
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-238

Using DesktopINIFix for Windows Vista

Here is a small utility DesktopINIFix that I wrote which fixes the desktop.ini file for various shell folders in Windows Vista.

desktopinifix for windows vista
DesktopINIFix for Windows Vista

Download DesktopINIFix.zip for Windows Vista.

Note: After fixing the Desktop.ini, you may have to log off and login back (or restart explorer.exe shell) for the folder icons to refresh.

Step 2: Enable the Hidden attribute for Desktop.ini

After adding contents and saving the desktop.ini file, right-click the file desktop.ini and choose Properties.

Place checkmarks near Hidden and Read-only attributes, and click OK. The read-only attribute for desktop.ini is optional, though.

Press {F5} to refresh the folder views, and see if the special folder icon is restored. Or better, you may check again after a reboot cycle.

If the icons are not refreshed, you need to set the read-only attribute for the shell folder if it’s not already set.

Step 3: Set the Read-Only Attribute for the Folder

Open a Command Prompt (CMD.EXE) window. To do so, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Command Prompt. Using the Attrib command, set the Read-only attribute for the shell folder. Here is an example, which explains how to set the Read-only attribute for the special folder “Downloads”

Note: Where Ramesh (in the above example) is the user account name, and Downloads is the shell folder name. You may run the Attrib command from any Command Prompt path, as long as you mention the full path to the folder, as in the above example.

You could use the Copy as Path shell command to copy a shell folder path to the clipboard, and paste it in the Command Prompt so that you don’t have to manually type the entire path.

Desktop.ini file automatically opens when you start Windows?

When you start your computer, the desktop.ini file may automatically open showing the following contents:

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21787

This happens if the hidden attribute for the desktop.ini file in the Startup folder is somehow removed. Enable the hidden attribute for desktop.ini in your Startup and Common Startup folders. To do so, you can use the Command Prompt.

Open an elevated Command Prompt window and run these two commands:

attrib +s +h "%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\desktop.ini"
attrib +s +h "%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\desktop.ini"

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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

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6 thoughts on “User Shell Folders Appear With Generic Yellow Icon in Windows”

  1. I LOVE this tool!!! Manually replacing desktop.ini is not only a bother, sometimes it doesn’t work. I’ve tried fixing it like 50 times before I found this program. Previous attempts were successful though, but this just saves the hassle.

    Thanks!!!!

    -Earl

  3. For “Downloaded Program Files”, make sure the folder has the system and read-only attributes set.

    C:\Windows>attrib +s +r “Downloaded Program Files”

    I had the same issue, and this resolved it.

  5. Here’s how to hide desktop.ini

    D:\Wolf\Desktop>attrib +a +s +h desktop.ini attrib +a -s -h desktop.ini.

    If you want to check how desktop.ini is configured in another folder, just navigate there and do >attrib desktop.ini to see what flags are set.

Comments are closed.