Start Screen Tiles - Change Icon and Name in Windows 8

How to Change Start Screen Tile Icon and Name in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to rename and change the icon of a tile on your Start or Apps screen to anything you like in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

This tutorial does not apply to modern app tiles from the Store on your Start or Apps screen.

This tutorial will only apply to drives, files, folders, libraries, shortcuts, and desktop programs that were pinned to your Start screen or listed on your Apps screen.

   Note

Since the tiles on your Start and Apps screen are only shortcuts in the hidden folder location below, changing the name or icon does not change the name or icon of the shortcut's target. It only changes the actual shortcut's name or icon, and thus changes the tile on your Start and Apps screen as well.

C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Here's How:

1. Open your Start screen to either Start or Apps view from where you want to change the tile.

2. Right click or press and hold on the tile to select (check) it, then click/tap on Open file location in the bottom options bar to go to this shortcut's location in File Explorer. (see screenshots below)

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3. Do step 4 and/or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)

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4. To Rename the Tile on your Start or Apps Screen

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A) Right click or press and hold on the shortcut, and click/tap on Rename. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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B) Type in a new name you want, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​

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5. To Change the Icon of the Tile on your Start or Apps Screen

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A) Right click or press and hold on the shortcut, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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B) From here, you can change the icon of the shortcut to any icon you want using the same method in the tutorial link below. (see screenshot below)​

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How to Change the Icon of a Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

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6. When finished, you can close File Explorer, and reopen your Start screen to see the change. (see screenshot below)

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Open the "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Resize Start Screen App Tiles to be Smaller or Larger in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Clear Current Updates on Start Screen Live Tiles in Windows 8
• How to Allow or Prevent Users from Customizing Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Pin or Unpin a App, Folder, Library, or Drive on"Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Pin to Start" Context Menu for Files in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Pin and Unpin Websites from IE10 to Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Name or Rename a Pinned Metro IE Site Tile on Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Organize Apps into Groups on "Start" in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Name or Rename a Group of Apps on "Start" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[independent2100]

Thanks, Shawn! Your instructions worked perfectly.

 

[Brink]

Glad it could independent, and welcome to Eight Forums.

 

[jerryboy]

Rename tile/app

Hi, I tried your tutorial and it was different on my screen. When I right click on the tile/app that I want to rename, the bottom screen only says 'unpin' and on the right it says 'customize' I can't get to the location as shown above.
Any suggestions? Thanks for your help....Jerry

 

[Brink]

Hello Jerry, and welcome to Eight Forums.

What tile is this for?

If it's for a modern app tile from the store, then that would be why since you can't change them like this.

 

[jerryboy]

Thanks for the quick response. The app is for my Brokerage that I created when I first set up this computer.
What should I try next?

 

[Brink]

Is it a modern (metro) app, or a desktop program that you installed?

 

[jerryboy]

Sorry Blink, I don't know what a Modern app is. When I go to a website that I use frequently I add it to my system so that I can just click on the tile on my start screen. That's the tile that I am trying to change. I would like the title to be more descriptive then what the system assigned when I added it to my screen. It shows up as an app that I pinned to the start screen.

 

[Brink]

Ok, so it's a website shortcut then?

If so, then you could use the method in OPTION THREE in the tutorial below to create a custom website shortcut with an icon of your own that you could then "Pin to Start" afterwards.

Internet Website Shortcut - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[jerryboy]

Hi, I was able to follow the instructions (I'm not exactly computer literate) and was able to create a shortcut to my brokerage firm and it is on my desktop. I was even able to change the background. However I could not pin it to my start page. I dragged it down to the task bar but the only option was 'Internet Explorer' or back to the desktop. There is no start button that I could find.

 

[Brink]

Did you use OPTION THREE in the tutorial?

 

[jerryboy]

Yes, the shortcut was created and it is on my desktop and it works from the desktop. I tried to drag it to the taskbar (at the bottom) and there was no option to pin it to anything other than 'Internet Explorer'.

 

[Brink]

Yes, but was the website shortcut created using Option Three in the tutorial?

I ask because if you did, you should be able to right click on the shortcut to pin it to Start/taskbar.

 

[jerryboy]

Hi Brink, I couldn't get back to you this afternoon because I was blocked from the entering the forum as (jstack2000). I had to re register as Jerryboy and here I am. I went back to the tutorial and found that I did not follow all the steps. When I did the link worked as you said and the new shortcut was pinned to my start page.
Thank you for all your patience and help.

 

[Brink]

That's great news Jerry. You're most welcome.