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# Setting the Application Icon

The application icon, typically displayed in the upper left corner of the application top-level windows, is set by calling the QWidget::setIcon() method on top-level widgets.

In order to change the icon of the executable application file itself, as it is presented on the desktop (i.e. prior to application execution), it is necessary to employ another, platform-dependent technique.

## Setting the Application Icon on Windows

First, create an ICO format bitmap file that contains the icon image. This can be done with e.g. Microsoft Visual C++: Select "File|New...", then select the "File" tab in the dialog that appears, and choose "Icon". (Note that you do not need to load your application into Visual C++; here we are only using its icon editor).

Store the ICO file in the source code directory of your application, for example, with the name, "myappico.ico". Then, create a text file called e.g. "myapp.rc" in which you put a single line of text:

    IDI_ICON1               ICON    DISCARDABLE     "myappico.ico"

Lastly, assuming you are using qmake to generate your makefiles, add this line to your "myapp.pro" file:

    RC_FILE = myapp.rc

Regenerate your makefile and your application. The .exe file will now be represented with your icon in e.g. Explorer.

If you do not use qmake, the necessary steps are: first, run the "rc" program on the .rc file, then link your application with the resulting .res file.