Where Is The Desktop.ini File Located? | Quick Finder Guide

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The desktop.ini file sits inside each customized folder, such as C:\Users\\Desktop on Windows.

Windows stores a tiny configuration file named desktop.ini inside folders to control how those folders look and behave. You won’t see it at first because it’s hidden and marked as a protected system file. Once you reveal system items, you’ll notice desktop.ini popping up across user folders like Desktop, Documents, Pictures, and inside many app or special Windows locations.

What The File Does

The file tells File Explorer how to present a folder. Typical entries include a localized display name, a custom icon, and other shell hints. A common section is [.ShellClassInfo] with keys like IconResource or IconFile. When present, Windows reads those instructions and adjusts the folder’s appearance.

Typical Places You’ll Find It

Because the setting is per-folder, there isn’t one single master location. You’ll usually encounter it in these spots on a Windows PC (paths use angle brackets to show your username):

  • C:\Users\\Desktop\desktop.ini
  • C:\Users\\Documents\desktop.ini
  • C:\Users\\Pictures\desktop.ini
  • C:\Users\Public\Desktop\desktop.ini (shared desktop)
  • Inside any folder where you or an app changed the icon, display name, or template

On external drives or network shares, the same rule applies: if a folder carries custom view settings, a desktop.ini usually lives in that folder.

How To Reveal It In File Explorer

You’ll need two toggles for a full view:

  1. Open File Explorer, select View → Show → Hidden items.
  2. Open Options → View tab → clear the checkbox for Hide protected operating system files (Recommended), then confirm.

Once visible, the file icon appears slightly faded. That’s normal for hidden or system-flagged items.

Quick Ways To Locate Every Copy

If you want to scan a whole drive for these files, use one of these methods.

Command Prompt (fast, works everywhere)

cd C:\
dir /s /b /a:-d desktop.ini

/a:-d ensures only files are listed, not folders. The /s flag searches subfolders; /b prints clean paths.

PowerShell (flexible, filters well)

Get-ChildItem -Path C:\ -Filter desktop.ini -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
  Select-Object FullName, Length

-Force includes hidden and system files. Pipe to Out-File if you want a saved report:

Get-ChildItem -Path C:\ -Filter desktop.ini -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
  Select-Object FullName |
  Out-File "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\desktop_ini_paths.txt"

Why Some Folders Show It And Others Don’t

Not every folder needs one. Windows only creates or uses this file when a folder has custom settings. Also, for the file to take effect, the folder typically carries the System or Read-only attribute so the shell treats it as a “special” folder. That’s why a random folder without tweaks may not show a copy, while a tuned folder does.

What’s Inside The File

Here are common entries you’ll see. You can open the file with Notepad to peek at it (don’t change it unless you know what you’re doing).

[.ShellClassInfo]
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,3
IconFile=C:\Path\to\MyFolderIcon.ico
IconIndex=0
ConfirmFileOp=0
InfoTip=My custom tooltip text

IconResource or IconFile points to an icon. InfoTip adds a tooltip. Some special folders include a LocalizedResourceName value that points to a resource string inside a DLL.

Is It Safe To Delete?

You can remove a copy without breaking Windows, but you’ll lose any custom icon or display tweaks for that folder. In many cases the system recreates the file later. If this shows up on the desktop surface and it bugs you, it’s better to hide protected files again rather than chasing deletions.

Make Your Own Custom Folder Icon

If you want a folder to always use a specific icon, you can do it with the regular Properties panel, or by placing a hand-rolled desktop.ini with the right attributes.

Simple Way (GUI)

  1. Right-click the folder → Properties → Customize tab.
  2. Pick Change Icon…, select an .ico file, then apply.

This method sets the attributes and creates the file for you.

Manual Way (power users)

  1. Create an .ico file and put it in the folder (or in a stable path you control).
  2. Create a desktop.ini in that folder with content like:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=MyIcon.ico
IconIndex=0
  1. Mark the folder as system so Windows reads the customization:
attrib +s "C:\Path\To\YourFolder"

You can also hide the desktop.ini itself:

attrib +h +s "C:\Path\To\YourFolder\desktop.ini"

How To Stop Seeing It Without Breaking Anything

If the file on your Desktop is distracting, the clean fix is to keep protected files hidden:

  • In File Explorer, open Options → View.
  • Turn on Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
  • Leave Hidden items off unless you’re troubleshooting.

When The File Doesn’t “Work”

Sometimes you create or edit the file and nothing changes. Check these points:

  • The folder has the System attribute (attrib +s).
  • The file is ANSI vs Unicode: modern setups prefer Unicode when you use localized strings.
  • Paths in IconFile are valid and reachable.
  • You refreshed the view (close File Explorer or restart it from Task Manager).

How Many Copies Should You Expect?

Plenty. Any customized folder can have one. User profiles often contain many: Desktop, Pictures, Music, Videos, and app-made folders. Program installers may also drop tuned folders with their own copy, especially when they add branded icons or special views.

Pros And Cons Of Keeping Them Visible

Pros: You can audit changes, copy customizations across machines, and script icon rollouts for team folders.

Cons: The file clutters folder listings and invites accidental edits. If you don’t need to see system files daily, hide them again after your checkup.

Handy One-Liners

Audit All Copies On Drive C:

dir C:\desktop.ini /s /b /a:-d > "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\desktop_ini_inventory.txt"

Refresh File Explorer Quickly

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe

Common Paths And What They Mean

The list below shows frequent spots and why a copy lives there.

Folder Likely Reason Notes
C:\Users\\Desktop\ Desktop surface uses special shell settings Often present on both user and public desktop
C:\Users\\Documents\ Custom icon or template applied May carry localized name or tooltip text
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\ Shared desktop items Used for shortcuts visible to all users
Project or media folders App or user set a custom icon Delete it and the folder reverts to defaults
Vendor-installed folders Installer branded the folder view Safe to leave hidden; avoid edits

Good Practices

  • Keep protected files hidden unless you’re diagnosing a problem.
  • Version-control any hand-made file you plan to deploy across machines.
  • Store custom icons in a stable path so they don’t break when a drive letter changes.

Trusted References If You Want To Read More

Microsoft documents how folder customizations work via desktop.ini and explains File Explorer basics in help pages. These are handy if you’re building repeatable setups for a lab, classroom, or office fleet. See the official guidance linked earlier in this piece.