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How to change the icons embedded in EXE files

When changing icons, make certain that the replacement sources are the same size and have the same number of colors as the item to be replaced (e.g. a 16x16 4-bit icon cannot be replaced with a 32x32 8-bit icon). If you keep getting a mismatch error when trying to change out an icon that looks the same size and bits, it only means the source icon is not the same color depth (24-bit and 32-bit icons look very much alike).

Why is it so important? Because the icon size and color depth in the EXE file is not optional, and there are more than just one icon inside any Windows executable file. When Windows prepares to display a main application icon, a desktop shortcut for example, it chooses an icon based on specific criteria rather than the first one available. Carelessly swapping out the icon sizes may result in visual artifacts.

Steps to Change Icons with Resource Tuner

1. Open your EXE or DLL file in Resource Tuner and expand the Icon folder.

2. Select the icon to be replaced in the Resource Tree.

If you already have an icon ready, skip the steps #3 and #4. Otherwise:

3. With this icon resource, select the 'Save Resource As...' button in the button bar (first button from the left) and save the .ICO file to your desktop.

4. Use any of your favourite icon editing programs to edit this icon (.ICO) image. Make sure that your new image is no bigger than the image it is replacing.

Now we are changing the icon:

5. Select the icon to be replaced as shown in step #2 and doubleclick it. Or click the Resource Editor button in the button bar (the third button from the left). You will see the following dialog:

6. Select the Open Source File button (Ctrl+O) as illustrated above and select your edited source file. The file format should be either .ICO or .PNG.

AGAIN: please make certain that the replacement sources are the same size and have the same number of colors as the item to be replaced (e.g. a 16x16 4-bit icon cannot be replaced with a 32x32 8-bit icon).

7. Press OK to close the Resource Editor and select 'File' -> 'Save File As ...' to save the changes you've just made to the target file. If warned that the image size has changed, click "Yes" from the next dialog box to update the file size.