The Windows 10 Icon Saga Continues, This Time with File Explorer

Bogdan Popa

Microsoft launched a new File Explorer icon in Windows 10 build 14328, as it’s aiming for an improved look of the desktop, but it turns out that the new design is once again stirring up controversy in the Windows community.

It’s not a secret that some Windows icons haven’t been really well received and the Recycle Bin case is probably the best example this time. During the development of Windows 10, Microsoft revamped the Recycle Bin icon several times and some versions caused heavy criticism from users trying them out.

This could happen with the new monochrome icon of File Explorer too, as posts in the Windows 10 Feedback app show that Microsoft hasn’t made the best decision when picking a black and white design.

“The new File Explorer icon is washed out and awful,” a message posted in the Windows 10 Feedback app reads, while another user says it a little bit more directly: “File Explorer icon is ugly!”

There’s still a bit of color

Before anything, it’s important to know that Microsoft is only experimenting with this new icon, so it could very well change before the next big Windows 10 update sees daylight in the summer.

Gabriel Aul, head of the Windows Insider program, says that the team of designers wanted to give the File Explorer icon a new look without giving up on traditional elements, so there’s still a little bit of yellow in the design because it “has become such a familiar part of File Explorer branding.”

“They explored a variety of different ways to keep the yellow and still match the cleanliness of the black and white Windows app icons. The new icon you see in this build is where the design team landed that is closer to monochrome, but still has the familiar shape that users recognize, and has a nod to the yellow that you see all throughout File Explorer. Let us know what you think,” Aul explained.

Microsoft itself wants to hear from users and get more suggestions on how to improve the File Explorer icon, so seeing such criticism reaching the web isn’t the end of the world. Windows 10 is work in progress and every opinion counts.

File Explorer and its new icon on the taskbar