Change Icon Text Name

Question regarding how to change an icon's text name for renaming a folder or other icons in Windows XP.

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How to change an icon's text name in Windows XP

Question: How do I change the text name on a desktop icon in Windows XP where I see text under the icon? -- Joyce

Answer: The text associated with desktop icons are also called desktop icon labels. There are 2 ways to change the label text on an icon to rename an icon.

METHOD #1 Right + Click to Rename an Icon

1. Have a good name in mind - Choose a new name that is descriptive enough to indicate the icon's function but also short enough to fit in the abbreviated space. An example might be Family Photo Archive if the folder is going to house your older family photos, or Business Tax Statements 09 for a folder containing tax information for a business in 2009. As you can see in these examples here, the names are very specific and descriptive enough so that they are easy to distinguish / find among other named icons on a system. It's important to note that the first word(s) of the icon name are most important so that you can quickly find the folder it at-a-glace. This is because the overflow text for very long labels will be hidden until you actually click on the folder.. Below illustrates this point...

In a test Windows XP allowed 202 characters in this folder name...

202 text characters were allowed.

Same folder name abbreviated.
Same folder name abbreviated

If you click any other icon, or perfrom other tasks, then this icon text will only show the first characters. This can make it hard to find unless the first few words of the label name are chosen wisely.

Note: Clicking this icon once will expand the label again.

TIP: Make sure your icon label does not use these characters: \ / : * ? < > |

$file name cannot contain \ / : * ? < > |characters$

2. Now that you have a name decided, right + click the icon you want to name and choose Rename. This will automatically place your cursor inside the icon label. Click your Delete or Backpace key to remove the old text and then begin typing what you want. After you are done entering the text, click on an open area on your desktop away from the icon and this will set the name in place.

METHOD #2 - Right + Click the Label Field Text to Change the Name

1. Locate the icon you want to change the name of and right + click carefully the actual text area of the icon. Wait one second and right + click a second time tothe same area.

NOTE: Clicking twice too fast will actually open the folder so it's important that you wait about 1 full second before the second click.

2. Type-in the text you want to rename the folder with.

HOW TO Pages for Creating Windows Icons:

How To Make Icons
How to Make an Icon from a JPG >>
How to Make an icon from GIF >>
Edit an Icon | Page 2 Edit an Icon
Advanced Icon Editing | Page 2 Advanced Icon Editing
Windows XP Icon Sizes
Color Depths for Windows XP Icons
Convert your GIF to JPG
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Basic Windows Display Properties Easy Steps:
Change System Icons Windows XP
Change Icon Size
Change Icon Font
Change Icon Spacing
Make XP Icon Labels Transparent

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Essential Downloads:
Latest Version Microangelo Studio for Creating & Editing Icons
Free Windows Desktop Icons Collection Gallery

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