Replace 7-Zip Icons: Improve Visuals with Custom Icons
Improving 7-Zip's Visual Appearance with a Theme Manager
7-Zip is a powerful Windows utility designed for comprehensive file archiving and compression. It offers features like password protection and advanced compression algorithms. However, a common complaint centers around the aesthetic quality of its default icons.
Many users find the standard icons to be visually unappealing. This isn’t limited to the application itself; 7-Zip also modifies the icons associated with archive file types – such as ZIP, 7Z, and TGZ – within Windows Explorer, resulting in outdated and blurry visuals across the entire system.
Utilizing the 7-Zip Theme Manager
Fortunately, a solution exists in the form of a free, portable application called 7-Zip Theme Manager. This tool allows for quick and easy customization of 7-Zip’s icons.
Begin by navigating to the program’s download location. Download both the 2.1 and 2.1.1 versions of the application. Extract the contents of the 2.1 archive to a directory of your choosing. Since the application is portable, installation is not required.
Next, extract the 7zTM.exe file from the 2.1.1 “hotfix” archive. Place this executable into the same folder as the files extracted from the 2.1 archive, overwriting the existing 7zTM.exe file.
Double-click the 7zTM.exe file to launch the 7-Zip Theme Manager.
Users of Windows 10 may encounter a compatibility warning indicating that the 7-Zip Theme Manager is not officially supported. Selecting "OK" will dismiss this warning; the application has been reported to function correctly on Windows 10.
Applying New Themes
The application will automatically attempt to locate your 7-Zip installation. Confirm the detected path by clicking "Yes" if it is accurate.
The main window will then appear. In the upper left corner, you’ll find options to browse icon themes for both the 7-Zip toolbar and the archive file types displayed in Windows Explorer. Let's begin by customizing the toolbar icons.
A list of available themes is presented in the left sidebar. Clicking on a theme will display a preview on the right side of the window. Select a theme that suits your preferences and click the "Activate Theme" button.
Allow a moment for the theme to be applied. Once complete, launch 7-Zip to observe the updated toolbar icons.
Customizing File Type Icons in Windows Explorer
Now, select "Filetype Themes" in the upper left-hand corner. This section controls the icons that appear for archive files within Windows Explorer.
Browse the themes available in the left sidebar. The "Vista Azure" theme closely resembles the default ZIP icons found in Windows. Keep in mind that some themes may not include icons for all archive formats, potentially leaving some with the original, undesirable icons.
Click "Activate Theme" to apply your chosen file type theme.
Upon completion, both 7-Zip and Windows Explorer should exhibit the newly applied icons, significantly enhancing the visual experience.