New icons in File Explorer: Windows 10 Visual Overhaul

As Microsoft’s UI changes to Windows continue, Windows 10 is getting a facelift for its app icons. The icon’s most notable change is the File Explorer icon, which is getting an entirely new look. Also, prepare yourself for a brand new Recycle Bin icon!

Here is all the information you need to know about the Windows 10 visual overhaul.

New Windows 10 Icons

Microsoft first began updating the icons in Windows 10 in 2020, starting with the built-in apps such as the Alarms & Clock, Calculator, Mail, and Calendar.

Microsoft then continued updating icons throughout Windows 10, including the icon for Windows Security, the Narrator icon, and the icon for Notepad. 

Now the tech giant is taking the next step in its icon overhaul by updating many of the system icons used throughout File Explorer.

New icons in Windows 10 File Explorer

Microsoft is giving the Windows 10 File Explorer a visual overhaul with new, unique icons. It has started rolling out a test build of Windows 10 that includes changes to the system icons that work through File Explorer.

Users will update many of these icons as app updates from the Microsoft Store. 

Microsoft is beginning to roll them out to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring first, which started in March 2021. They first rolled out the Mail and Calendar icons as Release Preview. 

Users should expect several changes, such as the folder icons’ orientation and the default file type icons. Microsoft has made these changes for greater consistency across Microsoft products that show files.

Notably, the top-level user folders such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and Pictures have a new design that should make it a little easier to tell them apart at a glance. Microsoft changed the folders' orientation for more consistency across Windows 10.

Here are some of the icon changes you can expect in pictures: 

Microsoft has updated the Recycle Bin icon, which is a clear nod to some changes the company tried to make to the Recycle Bin in the past that didn’t go down well with Windows users.

There have also been changes in OneDrive and Picture folders. The new designs are meant to make the folders easier to tell apart at a glance, which means no more multiple yellow-colored folders to choose from.

It is worthy to note that while these icon changes are fairly minor in the grand scheme of Windows, they’re part of a broader effort in Microsoft’s intent to modernize Windows.

Earlier in March 2021, Microsoft unveiled new system icons for Windows 10, and the company previously updated some of its Windows 10 icons last year (2020) with colorful versions. More importantly, Microsoft tweaked the Start menu to make it more streamlined.

So, updating the File Explorer icons is simply a continuation of Microsoft’s Windows modernization efforts.

Since there are many icons in Windows 10, we believe more icons will continue to get updated over time.

When launched, the icon updates will arrive alongside other tweaks to the layout of File Explorer. Notably, Microsoft is adding additional padding between elements in File Explorer. This will bring a compact mode to return to the classic File Explorer mode. 

The updated File Explorer view will be a little more touch-optimized and will complement the new icons.

Users are waiting for the new icons, while some have begun talking about them before the official release.

More Changes 

Microsoft has also introduced a few changes with the latest Preview build. For example, it has renamed the Windows Administrative Tools folder in Start to Windows Tools and added support for new shortcuts when renaming files. The CTRL + Left/Right arrow moves the cursor between words in the file name, while CTRL + Delete and CTRL + Backspace can delete words at a time. 

The new Preview build, which also comes with a long list of fixes for bugs and known issues, is now available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.

Finally 

These icon updates seem will definitely improve the image of File Explorer and make it better. They appear more petite and lighter, and they’re eye-catching. 

We, too, are waiting for the release. We shall keep you updated. 

Note: This article is subject to changes. Keep checking our blog for updates on the launching date and more information on the new File Explorer Icons.

One last thing 

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