Looking Back at Icons in Windows: From Windows 1 to 11

Here's a look at how the size and style of Windows icons have changed over time.

Windows 1.x (1985) and Windows 2.x (1987)

In the first two major releases of Windows, application icons appeared only if you minimized the program to the taskbar at the bottom of the screen (in Windows 1.x) or on the desktop (in Windows 2.x). Icons are simple black and white illustrations measuring 32×32 pixels.

To run applications in Windows 1 or 2, you must select a filename from a list in a program called 'MS-DOS Executive'. MS-DOS Executive doesn't show icons, only the names of the files (as if you typed the command 'dir' in DOS). At the time, Windows ran as a basic graphical shell on top of MS-DOS, so the list of basic files made sense, even if it wasn't as visually appealing as later versions of Windows. this.

Windows 3.0 (1990)

Windows 3.0 introduced the ability to display 16-color icons that are 32×32 pixels. They had a new '3D' look (as it was called at the time) with simulated shadows, made by artist Susan Kare. Kare previously designed the icons and fonts for the first-generation Macintosh.

With version 3.0, Windows icons have color for the first time, and Kare has injected them with playfulness and 'calculation' that make them look more appealing. Kare established archetypes in Microsoft's icon design to filter out future Microsoft apps and Windows versions alike.

Windows 3.1 (1992)

Basically, the icons in Windows 3.1 are the same as the Windows 3.0 icons, but with more detail, although still 32×32 pixels and 16 colors. Microsoft artists used dithering effects and improved shading in the illustration style to simulate color depth.

Windows 95 (1995)

In Windows 95, many icon designs were overhauled, although some were still 'raw' from Windows 3.1. Most Windows 95 system icons are 32x32 pixels in size with 16 colors by default.

However, for the first time, the Win32 API used in Windows 95 introduced support for 256x256 pixel icons with 16.7 million colors. Actually, with Plus! (a registry hack) you can enable 65,536 color icons (called "high color" at the time), although not many Windows 95 users use them.

Windows 98 (1998)

Windows 98 ships with 256 color icons by default and is 32×32 pixels. In addition, for the first time Microsoft provides many system icons with a size of 48×48 pixels.

The icons could perform ideally for accessibility purposes and for use with high-resolution screens (although their use in general was rare at the time). Many icon designs (such as My Computer and Recycle Bin) have received updates, but Windows 98 is also based on many legacy icons of Windows 95 and some even legacy of Windows 3.1.

Windows 2000 and Windows Me (2000)

Like Windows 98, Windows 2000 ships with 256-color system icons, available in 32x32 and 48x48 pixel sizes. Some of the main desktop icons have been upgraded once again, with more detail and color depth. Windows Me used many new icons similar to Windows 2000, including the new 'My Computer' icon.

Windows XP (2001)

For the first time, Windows XP supports 32-bit icons (16.7 million colors and an alpha channel for transparency). This allows for shadow and transparency effects to be created. Besides, the border of the icons is also less distracting thanks to the removal of jagged shapes. As with Windows 2000, most XP system icons are 32×32 or 48×48 pixels.

In terms of design, XP's icons give it a fresh start, with rounded corners, color depth, and a smooth use of gradients. This marks a turning point, escaping the shadow of Kare's icon design style in Windows 3.0. Even so, many of the icons for rarely used applications and utilities remain the same as in previous versions of Windows.

Windows Vista (2007)

In Windows Vista, Microsoft applied the new Aero interface, highlighting blur and shadow effects. For the first time, Windows ships with a 256×256 pixel set of system icons.

This icon set is not complete, however, smaller icons can be automatically scaled to fit. Accordingly, Windows Explorer in Vista allows icons to dynamically scale to non-standard sizes based on the user's personal preferences.

As with XP, many of Vista's main icons and applications received a sleek, energetic Aero-style redesign as Microsoft tried to match the modern look of Mac OS X. .

Windows 7 (2009)

Windows 7 mainly uses the same icon set as Vista, but it has changed some key icons for Control Panel and Microsoft Paint. Some of the revised icons received a flatter look, which began to move Microsoft away from the 3/4 view icons in Vista.

Windows 8 (2012) and Windows 8.1 (2013)

Windows 8 has received a radical user interface design with Metro interface. Metro includes a new type of icon, called 'Live Tile', that allows information to be updated in a motion style in a tile (like a small widget) on the Start Screen.

In Windows 8, many application icons are simply white or have details that match the background color. In addition, Windows 8 includes the usual desktop icons (File Explorer), most of which are preserved.

Windows 10 (2015)

At launch, Windows 10 initially carried the look and feel of Windows 8's Live Tiles icons, while still using the File Explorer icons that existed from both Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Windows 10 also includes a number of icons. redesigned screen icon with a more angular design and softer gradients.

Around 2020, Windows started rolling out new app icons in the Microsoft Store, ditching the flat, angular Live Tile interface in favor of more colorful icons with a more rounded design.

Like today, Windows 10's icon set was still a mixed bag, combining at least three or four icon styles inherited from earlier versions of Windows.

Windows 11 and later (2021)

Over the past few years, Microsoft has introduced a whole new unified set of icons for Windows 10, including them first in Windows 10X and then planning to release them in the upcoming 'Sun Valley' update. . Now, it seems that these icons may only launch with Windows 11, but the answer certainly remains to be seen.

Notably, it seems that Windows 11 will completely abandon the Metro/Live Tile concept of Windows 8 and 10, which means icons can have more depth and freshness.

Microsoft is aiming for a flat animated interface with low detail and gentle gradients. For many users, this is a welcome change, especially if Microsoft can get past the mixed bag of legacy icons present in Windows 10.

Lesley Montoya

Update 22 June 2021