How to change folder colors in Windows 7?

Solution 1:

The default icon set in Windows is a little limited but you can get free icons off the internet. I used IconFinder. I downloaded this red folder as an experiment:

You need to download the ico file from that site. I recommend saving them in a directory somewhere away from the folders you are editing.

Right click the folder you want the customise and select properties and then click on the "Customise" tab.

Click "Change icon" then you can browse through the window of the default icons or click "Browse" and navigate to your downloaded icons and select the one you want.

Then click OK and click "Apply" on the properties dialog box. Your folder will have now changed to the one you chose.

If you can't find any icons you like you can make your own in Paint and save them as a 64x64 gif then change the suffix to ico.

If you want to change back to the default icon you can go to the icon chooser dialog (second picture) and click "Resore Defaults". This will return the folder to the Windows default folder icon.

Solution 2:

You can use PowerShell! I wrote this script that generates an icon of the color you specify and sets it as the icon of a given folder:

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
$folderPng = 'iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAIAAAACACAYAAADDPmHLAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAAARnQU1BAACxjwv8YQUAAAAJcEhZcwAADsMAAA7DAcdvqGQAAAAZdEVYdFNvZnR3YXJlAHBhaW50Lm5ldCA0LjAuMTZEaa/1AAAZbElEQVR4Xu1dabBVZXYVacEx3dKm1cQBW9ofKW2TdOxq5xkcEXBEcABnkMc8iCCDFA5RFLVES0VLUkpRaJKqWGIlrTbmT0AokCJaFI2WbZQy+nBMSd8pe52669Zi9z7nDu++RyqcXbXq+/bea+/9nbO/d+507n175ZJLLrnkkksuueSSSy655JJLLrnkkksuueSSSy655JJLLrnkkksuueSSSy655JJLLrnkkksuueSSSy57tlQqlV6G3oYf9QBQp1e1dC67W6wZe1enPSq7q24uImyCjfu+//77V7733ntzuhuog3paP5fdIDz5W7duPenZZ5/dNH/+/Mrdd99dmTFjRrcB+VFn6dKlm1BX15FLDwpOuqHXZ5991n/OnDlfTpw4sTJp0qRCD6Iyb968zu3btx+DdeSboIfFTnhvjEuWLFl6xx13oPk7sQmACRMmdBtYw7ATdZ955pnndT259IDgLw5joVDYb8qUKX8YO3Zsedy4ceU777yz0lNAvTFjxpSnTp36yRdffLG/riuXbhae6O+++67f5MmTd9x2220VNAN/kT0F1Lv11lsrtgE7sQ5cAQx8ibgnYPc95FlxboCDx48f33nTTTdVrBnlW265pdJTQD1sgNGjR//Ptm3bfpYsbA8TbAL2okdFN4Bd/jtvuOEGNKJswNgjGDVqVMU2XmnEiBGVRx555F82btw45JNPPjnXcM6nn3569v932JPf/kkzTHp8E+gGsMtx58iRIyu2CcrYCD2N66+/PtkMeF7Q0dGxR8AediuzZ8/+buXKlUu/+eabg7UnPSK6Aezxv/Paa6+tXHfddWUDxh6HbcCirQEo7QkYPnw4xmTzP/jgg2u/+uqrg6wnPfdwoBvAHo87r7nmGjShjMvx7gCuQHsgyoYfrr766opdCeZX+9IzL4V1A9gTsU7bkVyQX2SOboRd/Uq2AUqTJk36vfWkD/rC3nSLWHJcZmovQ77//vuf/l94CNiDUca5tyfiO6wXh/j+VNvWHokSmq2PPQR8mfYQgF0azSNwV6uufrUrIg6h/ka49Tj1wByt5KkXE+U1vYxzb3+EX6IX1bbUpG2bgIk++uijX7355ptPGX771ltv/dZk9dNPP1148sknK0899VTF5ruMBPQlS5YkUDugNu9nXu/DHD6MBOztqs946JhrPuZSns6jGswR5QNgB3hMEUd5akOMcQvoxdtvv82+PP3xxx//SnvXsjDB66+/fudjjz1WXLx4ceWBBx6oLFy4sHLfffdVoJu98uijj+6CRYsWJSP8arPX7DUdc0A5mAOwk88YHYl211col3WUS115BG0aw1qPP/54ojOnxpPDGPLoAx+gTqAn6Ie9Kkj0J554orhq1ao7tYdNiwUmzyrXrVt3/pw5c1CgPH/+/IKheO+99xYxzp07F5/KJcDHtATsGBcsWJD4qJMLnVA/ORhRE3OrVePQR5022gnma6U+bQrGYk30k0+fxqmNUBvmOC7MeZwK2DGCo8ePOByTz2H+oqBgf6BlxFjvBmovmxLsHEMv21HvzJ49u2yF0PxdFoM5AR2Ar7qo2uJ1sThgPZHK58hcjFOe8hXkq78r9TGPckY2ctWPOXUdGUObt9NGO9eqNow8Nvo13uYF9MyuFqurfWzuKoDGY/z2229/cs899+yonrSyJa2YnhTFCKAwdPjoV5vyvZ5lRw7MAeajrvN21vccz4ugOTDXddPOnDrnGhnPONoA5gToZzwBX6AnvbIN0Wk9/LH2tCEh+cMPPzzkrrvu2oFks2bNKuOOHKJqq40K2silDdAcGkMORvXjoBg7c+bMmp1cjoooD3PQRjsBXf08oZoH9VUHmBd2jFGMxnkuRj0ujdc8fs5YtdNn9qRXdpXAp6XNv12sVwC7pHw5ffp0LLLMg8HtWbYxkmLQMSeq3BoH4OI8V30EbMqjjeiu+jyR4ER85NOc8JHr5+QwjjbyyCVH/VFdHFPE5fFzXfRZjqRXdtX4Ej3UnjYkJO/YseNA202fYQFWpIzkKKYF4Zs2bVoNU6dOTWxcNPkEONV8NR59akes9yGWenfUZ35vU11zws51sj51xkD3MfRpDuWSA7A+QA5H5blY3CyDK8F2fFagPW1ISLaxryX9cMqUKTixJR4kkgOcV/01m+dhUeRF/ojHnORpDSLyRfmbre9BPv0a62tz7qG1qadxqJOvUF80r6KETw3tD2Sr9TB5k6ilDQCxJOur9+ElSbFI3JQJQAcw1wPCHFA/595HnTkVnofcmNNPH7mt1o84nBOsSV4Up3O1aU2Nx5x6FAtoHPNonOdVOSX0zK4U66ptbF5sEyQvHRYvXvxvY8aMQcEiilY3QwJ3o2baDZy76JjzAKBrThwAObR5H0B/VIfwdp2n1ec8LR5+rAM6oTzNC9CfFuP1COPHjw85fq3Uq2ssjh07Fm8a/av2simxoOTNA0vyT7fffjsKFbEYYty4cbU5wBsWeFBqI4cxyiOXB+N5Gq/ozvqcU9dYzpmXvAjkYg5+9YbWml9zYOS6MFcd66FOG+MJzWNjET2z3r2qvWxKGPTwww8/i/vvrEjBF+QcB8U7dmHnnAesnDRdbV7HSNDXnfUxql19mOOKiL8w6uQTWIO3gcsY1mA84Y9JOYzTGMzB8brlKeBm3UWLFj2rvWxKLOhHGFesWDEft13Z4gs8cIIL4lz92IG4g9f7yCe87qH5I5/621U/snn4c4ETr7oHczaSO+Kinh4TbeAoD3PbDIUbb7yxsnz58gXay6aEQa+99tpUfP5syQtcAAoDXAx12gBwPR/wfIAxjNMYHlhaXLvqYwTf2zyy1kLQRq7ng0Mb+V5X0Ka+iEdYrgLumUTvtJdNCYNeffXVm/H5s11SkssKCgM4WdB5ohXKIcj1MVE+6DpXnTblezBGbeT6GOXCp37O4efJxdznIOjDQybzAvDRTi50+pQT5dY8alO+6tgAuH8AvdNeNiUWlDxurF69+iIksyKlm2++uVaken9+DbQDavc8gBzkU51gDEbOyaGNdoK103IpyNH6EU/r6Ig4b2cO6gRtGuPh7XqeCc/TufoB00vo2TvvvHOR9rIpYdCWLVtOwUOAJU6+/MGTBmCOL4bw4HSEHXO1K2Ajj3Pl+bnn9FR9PbHkaIzaqXtEPh/jdc/zx6k86mIvoWfonfayKbGg5LXjpk2bThw+fDi/iVP7YgZGf/Kgk0O/B+0YkYd2WfwuOQFwMSqXOZRHG0G+gnaMafUB+JiT0BiukzrjAV8bOkB/FEOet3ufgnlVt9zJH6o9bJc3b978S+1lU2JBybuB27dvP9wSf4tFIznGaqFU4BkoF0edPo2FnVwcgPo1ngfIGIxZaEd9P49szAsb7VE8/Vov4jGfB+1ssq+ruQxl+I37rfXuMO1lU8IgfCBkTyq244mgJU6+AYQCaeC3drzOBabxeBC0qY92tdGOUe2eR73Z+lpTub6m5iTo0zi1e/hcaTGY4wsh1D3gtxzJHdroGXqnvWxKGGRjH3tS8XsktSIlLiJrxGIwRwx09alOgAcox/M9NB46a+q8nfWVH/mVo3o9v9pUV5vns9kAj1V4yXcm7WFgm/Wur/ayKUEQAzs6OtbiFmQrUmQxnjSeuAiRT0+06pwTkQ3As1u1Q8dIviKy05ZVX+2RP82GtXA9HBWMAarNqoG5fBz5Pl7tiBG9iC/rWM/+g33E2JJYcPLsceHChW8MGzYsSV69J/1PFgodPvVz7m2KyI9RczM/RhwkuWl89dPHOesyjnMfp7qfRz6fL8pJkBvpWXEA6/u6nJu9iF5Zz1ZpD1sSBs+dO3clkloRfAmzQmCnoSjmGKGrnz7OlavwfOalrhyCfj149UdrUagNXK3JWOo+PqoHMIeuiSP5Gkd7ZNP1K0dHvw7EcAPMmzdvhfawJbHg5B2kRYsWLR48eDCKFFAEX0pkQQIPEYDa0hDFIifjmYtI8zFeT0BkU66CeZCfoN1zAc3HOM7VTl1jIqgPc59L16N2QGO5DszNXkCvHnrooUe1hy0Jg1euXDnzoosuSpKzoB489auuuupPbNQjRH7Y9MCUw/zervA+5FE/kZaDtsjPXLBzLX6dURztqmsu2jQHbdQ9vJ1cuyIULr74Ynxr+G7tYUvC4OXLl0/ABrBFF1gQJwDQORbAuYfyqCs8J82vc+XyhPhYcrw9gnLS+DxG6sxNeHsaj6CPPOV7H+Y8ToVy0KMLL7ywsmLFig7tYUvC4FdeeeXaCy64AMWLKHbllVcmwJzgQujHeMUVV9RAG0ZwqXNOXeOz5hG8n7rWAHStaTzPIcjl6OcK5gJ4Dgj4WY+1vJ26jsjjOfQD6BE2gF0BrtYetiQWnDyB2Lhx45mXXnopCpS0qQoujouhTpsuUrnk0K62tJgIytEY2tSu3Msvv7yWl6PG6Fz9gOahT+sSPl7j1K/8yE4b4unDXHXjlC655JIKeqY9bEkYvHnz5r/D4woK4ITxpFHXkYuMeN6mPh6g91PnSI4ii0tdeQr66E/jAZGPNl8Lz8SVR6Tlh13PAXnKp139HhZfRq82bdr0a+1hS2LByYcIGzZsOM4uKwUUsAMr+4UQOOgIEZdQHvLTzgNSnXNA86bNs0Ae62bVAsCLuB6N1Gcu1XUkWId87/c2mye9sSvAH+2P9hfaw5bEgpN3kT7//PN+9tiyY8iQIZWhQ4eWDRgT6EJoo94MGKc5fD6dEzx4XQfA2CjG47LLLqvg2KjrXOFrKHyttHVl5VDUW7vmJtfWXcba7ZVAa18J88Lgzs7OA0aOHPkpXl9aoaSIFlZwgZGPiPzI6ed+TENazUbWgtwK9aXFZsVEtjT4/D5nlIc2jcUGrs7LeK5mvfov9Ex72JIw2MbedgV4H8mtSAkF+VejUFsapx4Qg4NJ83FsNHe9XK2C8T5/V9aVFQsf/Z4HvZqvVH3D7n30THvYsliC5DFk8uTJvxs4cCCKFFEkAhYS2dPg+VF8Ws5GYtMArof6PDdN975WUC8H/ujAATinj3Pa0Rv0aNKkSb/T3nVJuJNmzZr12nnnnZcUQUGAxbkg6gq8JPE25fk50EgMoRz169zz0mLT4tL4irTYNCjHc6NY2nhuIg56c+655+JLoa9p77okTDJjxox/QHLbaQUuAiNBnYvxPkXEU7vaFN7WKIdQO314yUSfcjSGc/Ur0ny00e853q8+9UeIctmmSDbA9OnTu/5BEMWSJO8kLViw4KGzzz4bRZINQPAEcuRcdbV7mwIH4jle58HSF/lpI9dzFN7XLJc2XRd9qtezEz5PI2BO9Oacc87B7wgt0t51SZjk5ZdfnnXGGWckRXjgCl0MPjegjnkaF740v+dxDntaHH3KzQJzaF6N0xpq9/mjGD9G8Hlo8z7k0Dx+Ti56gx699NJLM7V3XRImWbZsWcfpp5+OHVrIOihdrF+ozvF+dWTDHCOhHA/No1yMtHm+6gRrRT6A+TCvxwVYW+NoV525vI16lINQG+e2CQro0YsvvjhRe9clkSvAcCS3IkUU1MVFoN/z6uke8Cto8zyF+n1sGuiPYiOO+vxIeJ73eZsiLZf6lIM5eoMeWa9Gau+6JJYkeSKxdu3ac8466ywUK7EgPiFUwI4RPgVtGscxAnketGMkoCMm4vm8yoli1OZjPF/tuhbOqTOO+WgnaPdQHnSNoU/rAHYVKKFH6JX2rkvCJBs2bDi5ugHKWNCgQYN2WTAWABvt0DkSygc0R8TzubyuoE9zKjQmquHtmKfx/Dqgk0+fjvSRr34/9zxFZHexZTxRt179RnvXJbEkyZsJa9as+aVdXspYhBblIvAGBO3qVx9Bn0J9Omqs+ohIV36EKKfngxP5smLS4GM0lqNCfWl+78McvbEngeX169efoL3rkjDJBx988Bf2GvO76skr6yIALoIn9/zzz6/5YKOdo/q87m0RlMdaaXE+p+qRXW3NQmOxLuo+N0ffUPror2djDUNyZUaPtmzZ8pfauy6JJUneS/7666//bNiwYf+N15koVi26C2QxCbjIYLHJnKDNQw+UyIrx3Hr2CD53tHaF+tM4RJSLcT7Wcxo4tjLeBEKP0CvtXZeESfAPGi35J9gAtqAS3hb2i/agHyP4nPs4+j0n4hLkRxy16ZiFKJ52jFrL+3xMGpf2qAZtnkMdI3n0cayihN4MHTr0D239Z5pMYuPegwcP/k9uABbGwrDzMEYgz6MRntqzeEBWDvo4V5Cnx0AufdTVp0CschsF83FOKMfDc0RPNgB6hF5p77osTDR69Oh38E6TFSuysAcXpSc02iDg0Y6R8DzC++rxFVk8rINrBpSrNdJyeLvGNALl+9hG81SPoYjejBo16t+1Z20RS5a8nJg6deqqU045BZee5EOHaOGcYzdG9iybBzjIw9H7NAf85ERc1RXMo2C82nyMjt4H6Br8ehRRDo8sDn3oCXozbdq017VnbREmmzx58j+iiBUt4qAIv6gIjfIUeE2LkbE6KshXX2SjXfUIGkuo3fOo04Z1e38aV30K5SknjY8rAHozceLE9n0SSGGyjo6OpdUNkHzq1AhwMnhCqKu/FTAnDtz7IlsExnt+2voayct1Ya58zjV3I/kiMIdfJ3qC3liPntOetUUsWfKe8v333/8AithuK6QtJAvgKp96ZMeIk+RPVGTTWOo+Z7Mn3Mer3etAtC76G7XRjjwRhz5vAxcb4OSTT66gR9qztgiTLVu2bCY3gC6Ei/fQRWZBuVEcbczrOap7Xz074XMQaX7leT/h/UTaufMxnkMdb8lD1zzoCXpjPZqlPWuLMNnSpUunYJehGBfGBTQKxjQSC47yohNHPQue12wsuTo2Gq9oJkZrcK42z0NP0JsXXnhhsvasLcJkzz///BjdAH4h3tYomomNuGmXRW/LstdDVCMLrNNsXKvgBrAe3ao9a4sw2XPPPTcCRfCSwy8A4ME2cpLB1ZMTxdTL4+s1UhdgnNaPdM3HuedEAIc8xGke9WXZ1BfZNS9G2wBF9MZ6NFx71haxZMkzytWrVw+sPgcoYWF8DdoIsrg8KOrK1blyiIibVivLnhWrftUjrofyGo0h0uI453mDbn+UJfQGPdKetUWYbP369WeceuqpyQZAURtriyO8jboeiAJ+IvJFc+Sizrw+B3W1edDneWr3Ns5V9/7IHvHVh+PQc0SfHh991NWGDXDaaadV0CPtWVuEydatW3cqbjkaNGhQ8mkgF4E5dT8qR+deV3v1gGr+iKNz6p7r51k22hXep7rCx3jd29SuiPwRN/JbT5IN8O67756qPWuLWLLkwwXbAH+NDYDPna1wck8AFgBgTp1z1f2oyPIp4FeO3oOgdp8n8kc6bepLg4/Xuc9Dm7d7RHyF55OLEXcDYQNYj06q9qz9G2Dt2rUn4gMH3IGKu0/qQe9XawRoaGQn6McYzT2vnk3Xp/m8z0NzRXxfy/PJjfIQmi/iK5gTvcEfqfasLSIb4Lgzzzzzj4MHD8YmSH6IQMH70wHv82iE49FKTHeC66m3rh5Ydxk9sd7sXLNmzc+1Z20RJkNye8mxE99EtYLJV5FRuBVorH7hUZGWP40PNJsL8DH1jgv+epxGgBxp66Vd62Qcd/KbDfaK4Ad7EniM9qwtwmR2eRlgT9B24mdMhgwZsssPRWTBuAmo47vtquu8WTQS6+sT+h37dq1Hc2ZBeY3G+HVJXPLLIPaKYac9CRygPWuL6BXAnnD8gJ8qw2/R8DdtGkX0A0pZ4M+xRL5m0UgeradrbXUNGudzNJszi2++Mn41zJ4L7Ny4ceOx2rO2iCVL7i7Ztm3bT63QV/iRQ0O5OnYZ+quXjaKRGHKyuNjMkb1RNLp21NFaXa2rsDWUkW/EiBE7tm7d2k971i7pZYWwo3rbFeA9K4SCRR4UD4Yj52pXXdGIj3O1ZUHjdVR4XpqeZfcgz/vT7Ar1K4929Xu7/VHiR7xxW/h76JEBveryBkACJMJ7yvjdedxq3HvAgAETUNQef5IfJeaPFfEHi3ROKCdCGi8r3vs8Ly3Oox6PdQi1KQ+X6DSf2tP85OgYIfKZrYiHgGOPPXYCemT4sWFfwz5VvenNgAAE9t1nn30O6tu375/vt99+R++///5/deCBB5540kknrcKzT3t5U7KXIDVEehqU57mqRz5FZFebjoqInwblNJJLR7WrLdLT5mk6RnuVUMSrA+vJGwcccMDfGk7Yd999f96nT59DrXfYCPsZ8Efc1HMCkPexJAf07t37EBv7W+P/5uCDD77g0EMPvfGII46464QTTtiIT5/w2QDeHcS7UB7wRTpjAM9RqA/ziOvtupas/J6nvrQYgn5fWxHZfR0iyqNc9XseenD88cd/cNRRR917+OGH39avX7/B1qtf2yYYUN0EB1kvcQVv6kpQuwIYDkIiuwIcZxvgN7YBhlqx8bYJ/t7Glcccc8wbRx99dIL+/fuH8yyk8WjH6POmxUTI4tKnI6E8hfp1jvOQFhfxI3i/50axRx555D9bL56wccZhhx12jW2AM3Cltsbj62E/MeChAFeAph8GIAhKrgYGXEpwSfnZ3nvvfaRtimOtyC9y7H5YLwZYT46y3uC/hOEHIvEbgX0MLT3+NyJI2mvOnDl8tpljN8H1IJdccskll1xyySWXXHLJJZdccskll1xyySWXXHLJJZdcKHvt9b9KERyVI6hToQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg=='
$ms = New-Object System.IO.MemoryStream ([Convert]::FromBase64String($folderPng), $false)
$grayFolder = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromStream($ms)
$colorFolder = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap ($grayFolder.Width, $grayFolder.Height)
# Recolor the image
$desiredColor = [System.Drawing.Color]::FromArgb($args[0], $args[1], $args[2])
For ($y = 0; $y -lt $grayFolder.Height; $y++) {
    For ($x = 0; $x -lt $grayFolder.Width; $x++) {
        $color = $grayFolder.GetPixel($x, $y)
        $r = $color.R + (1 - $color.R / 255) * $desiredColor.R
        $g = $color.G + (1 - $color.G / 255) * $desiredColor.G
        $b = $color.B + (1 - $color.B / 255) * $desiredColor.B
        $colorFolder.SetPixel($x, $y, [System.Drawing.Color]::FromArgb($color.A, $r, $g, $b))
    }
}
$colorFolder.MakeTransparent()
$iconPath = Join-Path $args[3] 'foldericon.ico'
# Generate an ICO from the image
$file = New-Object System.IO.FileStream ($iconPath, 'Create')
$bw = New-Object System.IO.BinaryWriter $file
$bw.Write([int16]0)
$bw.Write([int16]1)
$bw.Write([int16]1)
$bw.Write([byte]($colorFolder.Width))
$bw.Write([byte]($colorFolder.Height))
$bw.Write([byte]0)
$bw.Write([byte]0)
$bw.Write([int16]0)
$bw.Write([int16]0)
$lenPosition = $file.Position
$bw.Write([int]0)
$start = $file.Position + 4
$bw.Write([int]$start)
$colorFolder.Save($file, [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Png)
$imgSize = $file.Position - $start
$file.Seek([int]$lenPosition, 'Begin')
$bw.Write([int]$imgSize)
# Finish up
($file, $bw, $grayFolder, $colorFolder, $ms) | % {$_.Dispose()}
$desktopPath = Join-Path $args[3] 'desktop.ini'
[IO.File]::WriteAllText($desktopPath, "[.ShellClassInfo]`r`nIconResource=$iconPath,0`r`n[ViewState]`r`nMode=`r`nVid=`r`nFolderType=Generic")
(gi $desktopPath).Attributes = 'Hidden, System'
(gi $iconPath).Attributes = 'Hidden'
(gi $args[3]).Attributes = 'ReadOnly'

The second line is a Base64 encoding of the grayscale version of this image from Burgi's answer. The script recolors the image using this algorithm, then makes an ICO using a translation of this code. Finally it saves that ICO into the folder, writes an appropriate desktop.ini, sets those files hidden so they don't get in your way, and marks the folder read-only (which is the flag that lets Explorer know to look for a desktop.ini).

To run it, first follow the instructions in the Enabling Scripts section of the PowerShell tag wiki. Save that script as a PS1 file, like foldercolor.ps1. Then you can run it in a PowerShell prompt. The first three arguments are the red, green, and blue values for the color; the fourth is the target folder.

.\foldercolor.ps1 200 40 100 'C:\Users\Ben\test\fancy folder'

The directory gets a nice pink folder icon. Explorer may take a while to update, but it should definitely be showing after a logon/logoff cycle.

Note: PowerShell might print an error about method invocation failing, but this is nonfatal. For some reason, BinaryWriter won't dispose on Windows 7, but it does on Windows 10. If you want to remove the error, just delete the line that ends with {$_.Dispose()}. There'll be a memory leak, but that doesn't matter too much since you'll probably just close PowerShell anyway.