If you use a custom icon for VS Code, an update may revert it to the default icon. This extension sets the Visual Studio Code shortcut icon to an icon you choose and restores it after updates.

Requirements

• Windows
• PowerShell

Guide

Set the icon path

1. When the extension is activated for the first time, you'll see a pop-up to set the VS Code icon.
2. Enter the path to a .ico file you want to use as the VS Code icon. You can also use the Set Icon Path command.
3. After you press Enter, the extension will validate the path and set the icon.
4. If the operation succeeds, restart VS Code to see the new icon in the taskbar.

Set the shortcut path

The extension automatically uses the default path where VS Code created the shortcut. Use this if you've renamed or moved your VS Code Start Menu shortcut.

0. Try the Find Shortcut command if VS Code is installed system-wide.
1. Run the Set Shortcut Path command.
2. Enter the path to the Visual Studio Code shortcut.

• To find the shortcut: open the Windows Start menu, search for "Visual Studio Code", right-click the item, and select "Open file location". Copy the shortcut's file location and paste it into the extension's input box.

If the icon is reverted

• Use the Set Icon command to set the icon again.

Commands

• VSC Icon Menu
  • A menu for selecting and running the other commands. It also shows what is wrong or what needs to be done.
• Set Icon Path
  • Set the path to a .ico file you want to use as the VS Code icon.
• Set Shortcut Path
  • Set the path to the VS Code shortcut.
• Set Icon
  • Set the icon for VS Code.
• Find Shortcut
  • Search for the VS Code shortcut in the system and user Start Menu folders. If the shortcut is found in the system Start Menu folder, it will be copied to the user's Start Menu folder so the icon can be changed. If no shortcut is found, you can set the path manually.

To run an extension command, press Ctrl + Shift + P and type the command in the input box.

Used PowerShell commands

• Get the path of the running VS Code process.
• Read data from a .lnk file (e.g., target path, hotkeys, arguments) — only the target path is used.
• Set the icon of a .lnk file.

You can view all PowerShell commands here: https://github.com/Appstun/VSC-Icon/blob/main/src/powershell.ts

Other system tasks

The extension also checks whether paths exist and copies files/folders (for example, copying the system Start Menu folder entry for VS Code to the user's Start Menu folder). See https://github.com/Appstun/VSC-Icon/blob/main/src/FileManager.ts#L102C9-L106C71.

Appstun — Developer