Comprehensive Guide to Windows System Icon Extraction

The Krypton Toolkit now provides access to 1500+ Windows system icons from multiple DLLs across the Windows operating system.

Overview of Icon Sources

DLL Approx. Icons Description Enum Method
imageres.dll ~300 Modern Windows icons (Vista+) ImageresIconID ExtractIconFromImageres()
shell32.dll ~300 Classic Windows shell icons Shell32IconID ExtractIconFromShell32()
ieframe.dll ~200 Internet Explorer & web icons IeFrameIconID ExtractIconFromIeFrame()
moricons.dll ~100 Miscellaneous system icons MoreIconsIconID ExtractIconFromMoreIcons()
compstui.dll ~100 Printer & device UI icons CompStuiIconID ExtractIconFromCompStui()
setupapi.dll ~60 Setup & device icons SetupApiIconID ExtractIconFromSetupApi()
netshell.dll ~40 Network connection icons NetShellIconID ExtractIconFromNetShell()
TOTAL ~1500+ Complete system icon coverage

Quick Start Examples

1. imageres.dll - Modern System Icons

// Extract UAC shield
var shield = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres(
    (int)ImageresIconID.Shield, 
    IconSize.Large
);

// Extract lock icon
var lock = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres(
    (int)ImageresIconID.Lock, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

2. shell32.dll - Classic Shell Icons

// Extract folder icon
var folder = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(
    (int)Shell32IconID.Folder, 
    IconSize.ExtraLarge
);

// Extract recycle bin
var recycleBin = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(
    (int)Shell32IconID.RecycleBinEmpty, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

// Extract computer icon
var computer = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(
    (int)Shell32IconID.Computer, 
    IconSize.Large
);

3. ieframe.dll - Internet Explorer Icons

// Extract Internet Explorer icon
var ie = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromIeFrame(
    (int)IeFrameIconID.InternetExplorer, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

// Extract download icon
var download = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromIeFrame(
    (int)IeFrameIconID.Download, 
    IconSize.Small
);

// Extract secure connection icon
var ssl = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromIeFrame(
    (int)IeFrameIconID.SecureConnection, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

4. moricons.dll - Miscellaneous Icons

// Extract MS-DOS icon
var dos = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromMoreIcons(
    (int)MoreIconsIconID.MsDosIcon, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

// Extract archive icon
var archive = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromMoreIcons(
    (int)MoreIconsIconID.ArchiveFile, 
    IconSize.Small
);

5. compstui.dll - Printer & Device Icons

// Extract printer icon
var printer = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromCompStui(
    (int)CompStuiIconID.Printer, 
    IconSize.Large
);

// Extract color settings icon
var color = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromCompStui(
    (int)CompStuiIconID.Color, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

6. setupapi.dll - Hardware & Setup Icons

// Extract hardware device icon
var device = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromSetupApi(
    (int)SetupApiIconID.HardwareDevice, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

// Extract USB device icon
var usb = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromSetupApi(
    (int)SetupApiIconID.UsbDevice, 
    IconSize.Large
);

7. netshell.dll - Network Icons

// Extract network connection icon
var network = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromNetShell(
    (int)NetShellIconID.NetworkConnection, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

// Extract wireless network icon
var wifi = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromNetShell(
    (int)NetShellIconID.WirelessNetwork, 
    IconSize.Large
);

// Extract VPN icon
var vpn = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromNetShell(
    (int)NetShellIconID.VpnConnection, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

Accessing Undocumented Icons

Each DLL may contain more icons than are documented in the enums. You can access any icon by index:

// Access shell32.dll icon at index 250
var customIcon1 = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(250, IconSize.Medium);

// Access ieframe.dll icon at index 50
var customIcon2 = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromIeFrame(50, IconSize.Large);

// Access any DLL directly
var customIcon3 = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIcon(@"C:\Windows\System32\mydll.dll", 10, largeIcon: true);

Using Icons in Your Application

With Krypton Buttons

var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(
    (int)Shell32IconID.Folder, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

if (icon != null)
{
    kryptonButton1.Values.Image = icon.ToBitmap();
    kryptonButton1.Values.Text = "Open Folder";
}

With Picture Boxes

var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromNetShell(
    (int)NetShellIconID.WirelessNetwork, 
    IconSize.ExtraLarge
);

if (icon != null)
{
    pictureBox1.Image = icon.ToBitmap();
}

Creating an Image List

var imageList = new ImageList();
imageList.ImageSize = new Size(32, 32);

// Add icons from multiple sources
var icons = new[]
{
    GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32((int)Shell32IconID.Folder, IconSize.Medium),
    GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32((int)Shell32IconID.Computer, IconSize.Medium),
    GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromNetShell((int)NetShellIconID.NetworkConnection, IconSize.Medium),
    GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromIeFrame((int)IeFrameIconID.InternetExplorer, IconSize.Medium),
};

foreach (var icon in icons)
{
    if (icon != null)
    {
        imageList.Images.Add(icon.ToBitmap());
        icon.Dispose(); // Remember to dispose icons when done
    }
}

// Use with TreeView, ListView, etc.
treeView1.ImageList = imageList;

Icon Categories by DLL

imageres.dll Categories

  • System security (shields, locks, keys)
  • User accounts
  • Files and folders
  • Media (audio, video, images)
  • Devices (computers, printers, cameras)
  • Actions (copy, paste, delete)
  • Applications and tools

shell32.dll Categories

  • Basic files and folders (0-4)
  • Drives and storage (5-12)
  • Network and computers (13-21)
  • System utilities (22-44)
  • Hardware and devices (45-99)
  • Media and entertainment (100-119)
  • Internet and communication (120-149)
  • System folders (150-179)
  • Actions and operations (160-189)
  • User accounts (220-234)
  • Windows features (240-269)

ieframe.dll Categories

  • Browser navigation
  • Favorites and bookmarks
  • Security and privacy
  • Download/upload
  • Web feeds
  • Internet settings

moricons.dll Categories

  • Legacy DOS/Windows icons
  • Document types
  • Archive files
  • Database icons
  • Media files

compstui.dll Categories

  • Printer icons
  • Print settings
  • Device configuration
  • UI components

setupapi.dll Categories

  • Hardware devices
  • Device drivers
  • System devices
  • Installation icons

netshell.dll Categories

  • Network connections
  • Wireless networks
  • VPN connections
  • Network settings
  • Firewall icons

Icon Size Reference

IconSize.Tiny          // 8x8
IconSize.ExtraSmall    // 16x16
IconSize.Small         // 20x20
IconSize.MediumSmall   // 24x24
IconSize.Medium        // 32x32 (default)
IconSize.Large         // 48x48
IconSize.ExtraLarge    // 64x64
IconSize.Jumbo         // 96x96
IconSize.ExtraJumbo    // 128x128
IconSize.Huge          // 256x256

Error Handling Best Practices

Always check for null returns as icons may not be available on all Windows versions:

var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(
    (int)Shell32IconID.Folder, 
    IconSize.Medium
);

if (icon != null)
{
    try
    {
        // Use the icon
        myButton.Values.Image = icon.ToBitmap();
    }
    finally
    {
        // Dispose when done
        icon.Dispose();
    }
}
else
{
    // Use a fallback icon or embedded resource
    myButton.Values.Image = Properties.Resources.FallbackIcon;
}

Performance Tips

  1. Cache extracted icons if you're using them multiple times
  2. Dispose of icons when no longer needed to free resources
  3. Extract icons once during initialization, not on every render
  4. Use appropriate sizes - don't extract 256x256 if you only need 16x16
// Cache icons at startup
private Icon? _folderIcon;

public void InitializeIcons()
{
    _folderIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromShell32(
        (int)Shell32IconID.Folder, 
        IconSize.Medium
    );
}

public void Cleanup()
{
    _folderIcon?.Dispose();
}

Windows Version Compatibility

  • imageres.dll: Windows Vista and later
  • shell32.dll: All Windows versions (95+)
  • ieframe.dll: Windows XP and later (varies by IE version)
  • moricons.dll: Windows 95 and later
  • compstui.dll: Windows 2000 and later
  • setupapi.dll: Windows 2000 and later
  • netshell.dll: Windows XP and later

Icon appearance and availability may vary across Windows versions. Test on your target platforms.

Complete Example Application

See IconExtractionTest.cs in the TestForm project for a complete working example demonstrating icon extraction from multiple DLLs.

Summary

You now have access to 1500+ Windows system icons across 7 different DLLs:

  • ✅ imageres.dll (~300 icons)
  • ✅ shell32.dll (~300 icons)
  • ✅ ieframe.dll (~200 icons)
  • ✅ moricons.dll (~100 icons)
  • ✅ compstui.dll (~100 icons)
  • ✅ setupapi.dll (~60 icons)
  • ✅ netshell.dll (~40 icons)

Each DLL provides specialized icons for different system functions, giving you comprehensive access to the Windows icon library without needing to embed custom resources.