Old IE8 Logo in IE9: Restore It

If you upgraded to Internet Explorer 9 and miss the familiar blue “e” logo from IE8, you can bring it back. This guide shows you how to replace the IE9 icon on your desktop, taskbar, and Start menu with the classic IE8 logo. You’ll need a copy of the IE8 icon file (explained below) and a few minutes of your time.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows PC with Internet Explorer 9 installed.
• The IE8 icon file (ie8.ico). You can extract it from an IE8 installer or download it from a trusted icon archive (see Tips).
• Administrator access to your user account (needed to change system icons).

Step-by-Step

1. Get the IE8 icon file. The easiest way is to download a pre-made ie8.ico from a reputable icon website. Alternatively, if you have an old Windows XP or Vista system with IE8, copy the icon from C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe by right-clicking the file, selecting Properties > Change Icon, and saving the icon. Save the .ico file to a folder you can find, like C:\Icons\ie8.ico.
2. Change the desktop shortcut icon. Right-click the Internet Explorer shortcut on your desktop and select Properties. Go to the Shortcut tab and click Change Icon. Click Browse, navigate to your ie8.ico file, select it, and click OK twice. The desktop icon now shows the old logo.
3. Update the taskbar icon. If IE is pinned to the taskbar, right-click the IE icon, then right-click on Internet Explorer in the jump list and select Properties. Follow the same steps as above to change the icon. If the icon doesn’t update immediately, restart Explorer (see Troubleshooting).
4. Change the Start menu icon. For the Start menu shortcut, right-click the IE icon in the Start menu (or search for Internet Explorer, right-click, and select Open file location). Right-click the shortcut there, go to Properties > Shortcut > Change Icon, and select your ie8.ico.
5. Replace the default program icon (optional). If you want the old logo to appear even when IE is launched (e.g., in the title bar or Alt-Tab), you need to replace the icon embedded in the executable. This requires using a resource editor like Resource Hacker. Open C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe with the editor, navigate to the Icon group, replace all icon entries with your ie8.ico, and save. Warning: This modifies a system file; create a backup first and run as administrator.
6. Clear the icon cache. After making changes, the old icon might still appear due to Windows caching. Open a Command Prompt as administrator and type ie4uinit.exe -show (for Windows 7/8) or ie4uinit.exe -ClearIconCache (for Windows 10/11). Then restart your computer or log off and on.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong file format: The icon must be an .ico file, not a .png or .jpg. Windows won’t accept other formats for shortcut icons.
• Not saving the icon to a permanent location: If you delete the .ico file after applying, the icon reverts to default. Keep it in a stable folder.
• Editing the wrong shortcut: Make sure you’re changing the shortcut that points to iexplore.exe, not a copy or a web link.
• Skipping the cache clear: Windows often caches icons; without clearing, the old icon may persist even after the change.

Tips

• Download the IE8 icon from a well-known icon site like IconArchive or DeviantArt. Verify the file is a genuine .ico and scan it with your antivirus before use.
• If you want the icon to match the exact IE8 look, find a version with the glossy blue “e” and the orange swoosh. Some icons have different sizes; choose one with 256×256 pixels for best quality on high-DPI displays.
• For advanced users, you can create a custom shortcut that launches IE and uses the old icon, without modifying system files. Just create a new shortcut to iexplore.exe, then change its icon as in Step 2.

Troubleshooting

• Icon doesn’t change after following steps: First, restart Windows Explorer. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find “Windows Explorer” in the list, right-click and choose Restart. Then check the icon again.
• “Change Icon” button is greyed out: This happens if the shortcut is a pinned tile (Windows 8/10) rather than a standard shortcut. Unpin it, then right-click the IE icon in the Start menu and choose Open file location to find the actual shortcut.
• Icon reverts after reboot: This is usually because the .ico file was deleted or moved. Ensure the icon file is in a permanent location like C:\Windows\Icons (create the folder if needed).
• Resource Hacker gives an error when saving: Close all IE windows and make sure you have administrator privileges. Also, back up the original iexplore.exe before editing. If the file is in use, you may need to boot into Safe Mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t the taskbar icon change when I change the desktop shortcut?

The taskbar icon is tied to the pinned shortcut, not the desktop one. You need to change the icon on the pinned shortcut itself, as described in Step 3.

Can I use any icon, or does it have to be the IE8 one?

You can use any .ico file. The guide focuses on the IE8 logo, but the same steps work for any custom icon.

Is it safe to modify iexplore.exe with Resource Hacker?

It is generally safe if you create a backup and follow instructions carefully. However, Windows updates may overwrite the file, reverting the icon. The shortcut method is safer and easier to maintain.

Will this affect the browser’s functionality?

No. Changing the icon is purely cosmetic and does not alter how Internet Explorer works.

I don’t have an IE8 icon file. Can I extract it from my old Windows?

If you have access to an old Windows XP or Vista machine with IE8, you can copy the icon from the executable as described. Otherwise, download a trusted .ico from the internet.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing the icon?

Not always, but clearing the icon cache and restarting Windows Explorer usually does the trick. A full restart guarantees the change appears everywhere.

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