We usually do not pay attention to the internal changes that are included in each new version of the operating system. However, visual changes tend to always give a lot to talk about, both for better and for worse. The new Windows 11 promises a radical change to the desktop, with a new start menu, rounded corners, and macOS-style centered taskbar icons. In addition, it also releases new icons for the programs and folders of the operating system. Icons that are as we know them thanks to the evolution that the operating system has had for more than 35 years.
With each new version of Windows, Microsoft has updated the icons for its operating system. Right now, the safest thing is that we all have in mind the icons of Windows 7, and those of the latest version of Windows 10. However, these icons have been part of the operating system for more than 3 decades. And, over the years, there have been very big changes in its design, as we can see in the How-to-Geek compilation.
First stage: from Windows 1.0 to 3.11
The first versions of Windows were programs that ran on MS-DOS. And the technology of 1985 was so severely limited that we could not even imagine the system as we know it now. Windows 1 and 2 used 32 × 32 pixel icons, in black and white, to represent programs and tools.
The revolution came with the launch of Windows 3. This version, released in 1990, also used 32 × 32 pixel icons, but a 32-bit color palette and a slight three-dimensional effect have already begun to be used. A revolution that undoubtedly marked the future of the OS.
Second stage: Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000
With its pluses and minuses, Windows 95 was a revolutionary operating system. Although it continued to run on MS-DOS, it no longer depended so much on this other operating system, and could even be installed independently.
This operating system brought with it most of the Windows 3.1 icons , with some slight changes. Although originally the icons were in 32 × 32 pixels and a 16-bit color palette, the Win32 API supported icons up to 256 × 256 pixels, and 16.7 million colors. Also, if we installed Plus! we could activate new icons with 65,536 colors.
Windows 98 was gradually modernizing the icons, bringing by default 32 × 32 pixel icons with 256 colors. In addition, users could also use the alternative 48 × 48 pixel system icons.
Windows 2000 and ME used similar icons in size and color, although many of them were modernized. The most characteristic was the My Computer icon.
Third stage: from Windows XP to Windows 7, going through Vista
XP already marked a before and after in the system icons. Although this system still used a size of 32 × 32 or 48 × 48, they were already 32-bit icons with support for 16.7 million colors. These, in addition, had shadows and transparencies, in addition to a characteristic 3D effect. These icons were drawn directly to the GPU and had antialiasing to avoid jagged edges.
Windows Vista introduced the Aero theme for the first time. And as part of this topic we could find 256 × 256 pixel icons that were dynamically scaled according to the PC configuration. Many of the icons were redesigned according to the Aero theme.
Windows 7 arrived as a well-made version of Windows Vista. This system included the same icons as Windows Vista, although some of them (such as Paint) had been redesigned.
Fourth stage: 8, 10 and the new Windows 11
Windows 8 was a rare project. This new system wanted to do away with the conventional desktop, offering a tile-based interface. Fortunately, it did not succeed. Within the tiles panel, most of the icons were redesigned as white outlines of the original icons. And, when we opened the desktop, what we had were the same icons as in Windows 7.
Windows 10 brought the same icons as Windows 8 (that is, the same as Windows 7) with very minor modifications. However, in 2020 Microsoft began updating the icons of its main applications to adapt them to the Fluent design. Windows 10 mixes many concepts of icons, both those of Windows 7 and the tiles of Windows 8. In addition, it continues to inherit libraries full of icons from the first versions of this OS, it is not known why.
The new Windows 11 already completely changes the set of operating system icons. Virtually all the icons have been updated and modernized. And not only those of the programs, but also the icons of the folders and even those of the disk drives and SSDs. A necessary radical change in the appearance of the operating system that, this week, Microsoft will officially present.
