Here’s what to do if your Windows 7 PC starts displaying the wrong programme icon overlay on documents in folders.

On my PC, the problem usually shows up on PDF documents, which feature a small Adobe icon on the lower right-hand corner in Tiles view and Medium to Extra Large Icons views.

So instead of looking like this…

Win 7 File Icon showing correct programme icon

… they look like this (your wrong icons may vary)…

Win 7 file icon showing wrong programme overlay

No biggie for some people but in my case it goes straight to my brain’s obsessive orderliness compulsion centre.

How to fix the wrong programme overlay

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Click on “Default Programs”
  3. Click on “Associate a file type or protocol with a program”
  4. A list of file extensions opens up. Select the one you’re having trouble with (in my case, .pdf)
  5. Click on the extension to highlight it and then click “Change Program” at the top of the window.
  6. The “Open with” dialogue opens. Click on the correct programme to highlight it (it’s probably already selected but click on it anyway) then click “OK”.
  7. Close Default Programs and Control Panel

Check your folder icons – they should now display the correct programme overlay.

BIG DISCLAIMER: The above information is offered without guarantee or warranty as helpful advice. If you’re not confident about file associations, get someone else to help you. In particular, if you accidentally associate a file extension with the wrong programme, you won’t be able to open those files. If in doubt, set a system restore point before making any changes so you can get back to where you were.