Did the icon you created have a .ico file name? Were you able to right click on the PDF file and select to change the icon? You would have to select a new icon to use.
Configured Icon for pdf files is overridden seemingly by MS Edge.
Gavin Williams
801
Reputation points
I used FileTypesMan to change icons for pdfs, it seemed to work for a couple of days, but today when I booted up, it has reverted to this...
FileTypesMan says this is the icon...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\152.0.4191.62\msedge.exe,11
Should I keep icons in a particular place when customizing? I would have thought Windows would make a copy of any selected icon and place it in the appropriate place automatically once assigned.
Why is this happening? And it shouldn't happen, I would consider this an issue with Windows. It looks to me like Windows needs a customization overhaul.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Themes
2 answers
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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-09-04T16:40:50.5633333+00:00 Hi Gavin,
Microsoft Edge updater resets the .pdf icon registry settings. Please do the following:
Customize the PDF icon using FileTypesMan.
Then, open Command Prompt and run the following command:
reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIconPost the output here.
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Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-04T18:51:18.34+00:00 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon
(Default) REG_SZ F:\Computer Management\Customization\Icons\PDF_Icon.ico,0 -
Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-05T02:22:57.8466667+00:00 From Command Prompt, run:
reg copy "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" /sSee if that resolves the problem.
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Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-05T02:40:18.3266667+00:00 Thanks for helping Ramesh, I'll report back in a couple of days to see if it sticks.
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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-05T02:52:23.1366667+00:00 Ok. Keep me posted.
FYI, I repaired Edge after running that command. The icon customization remained intact.
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Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-05T09:15:58.16+00:00 Just logged in and it has reverted to another icon. But not the pdf icon this time, it's a simple white document icon.
Edit: Actually, this looks like my fault, because I'm working on the icons, the icon was renamed. I've made a folder on C drive for deployed icons.
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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-05T10:15:25.0433333+00:00 Edit: Actually, this looks like my fault, because I'm working on the icons, the icon was renamed. I've made a folder on C drive for deployed icons.
Ok. Noted. After renaming the icon file and customizing the icon using FileTypesMan, run the command again.
reg copy "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" /sAfter running that command, please do not rename the icon file.
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Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-07T14:09:27.5566667+00:00 Unfortunately, the red & white pdf icon is back. Is this MS Edge doing this?
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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-07T14:10:42.01+00:00 Please post the output of this command:
reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" -
Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-07T14:21:27.5166667+00:00 (Default) REG_SZ C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\152.0.4191.66\msedge.exe,11
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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-07T14:24:11.2433333+00:00 Not sure why Edge updated the HKCU value.
Let's try this again.
Customize the PDF icon again using FileTypesMan.
Once done, run:
reg copy "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon" /sWait for the next Edge update.
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Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-07T15:55:10.2033333+00:00 Done. I'll report back tomorrow or the next day.
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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-07T15:58:25.93+00:00 Is this MS Edge doing this?
Yes. Edge update has overwritten that value.
Please run:
reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon"Does it point to your custom icon?
If so, let's see what happens in the next Edge update.
(If Edge continues to overwrite the icon settings in the registry, we can create a batch file to automate the setting and execute the batch file at startup.)
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Horace Wiggins 535 Reputation points2026-09-07T16:21:23.6733333+00:00 Did you create the icon and does it show .ico? Did you save it and where did you save it? If you can right click on the PDF, select Properties, then select change icon then go to where you saved it and select the icon, save it. I don't think you will be able to change the icon.
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Gavin Williams 801 Reputation points
2026-09-08T02:55:12.1433333+00:00 Edge just keeps wiping out my configuration. Very rude.
reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\MSEdgePDF\DefaultIcon"
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\152.0.4191.66\msedge.exe,11I created the icon, and put it into C:\Customization\Icons
@Horace Wiggins When you say "select change icon" - there is no change icon option. I think they took that option out years ago. I haven't seen it for a long time at least. The change button as seen below, changes the program that opens the filetype, it doesn't (or at least shouldn't) change the icon. They are two completely different things.
Some FileExplorer items do have a 'change icon' option. Including:
Folders - under Properties / Customize / Folder icons / Change Icon...
Shortcuts - under Properties / Shortcut / Change Icon...Honestly, this is all really unnecessarily inconsistent. It paints a picture of a chaotic art / ux direction at Microsoft. Basic features are falling by the wayside. And it's very difficult to ascertain if they are even aware of the issues, or if there is a timeline for updated functionality.
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