Wouldn’t it be great if you could change the color of your folders in Windows? Unfortunately, no version of Windows has given us a way to customize folder colors. As such, the only way to achieve this goal is to turn to third-party customization software.

There are a few software packages that enable you to customize folders’ colors on Windows 11. For this article, we'll be exploring the freeware program Rainbow Folders to add a little bit of color to your desktop.

How to Install Rainbow Folders

The Rainbow Folder program is a lightweight tool that you can install onto most Windows platforms. This software enables you to adjust the color for selected folders with Hue and Saturation bars. It also includes three alternative folder style options.

Here's how to download and install Rainbow Folders on Windows 11:

  1. First, open the Rainbow Folders Softpedia page within your browser.
  2. Click the Download Now button to save its ZIP file to a folder.
  3. Select the rf ZIP archive, and click the Extract all button.
    The Extract all button
  4. Then click the Show extracted files when complete option.
  5. Select the Extract option.
    The Extract Compressed window
  6. Open the extracted rf folder.
  7. Click Rainbow Folders to open its setup wizard.
    The Rainbow Folders setup window
  8. Press the Next buttons, choose a folder for the software, and select the Install option.
  9. Also, select the Install system shell extension checkbox.

How to Change Folders’ Colors on Windows 11

Once you’ve installed the software, it's time to change the colors of your folders.

To do so, open the Rainbow Folders window. If you’re not sure where installed it, press the Win + S hotkey to enter Rainbow Folders within Windows 11’s search box. Then you can select to open its window from there.

The Rainbow Folders window

Click This PC within the directory selection section to expand that category. Then select Local Disk (C:) to view your directory tree. Choose a folder to change to the color for. You can choose multiple folders by clicking the Multiple select option.

Now drag the Hue bar slider left or right to choose a color. Drag the Saturation bar’s slider to further configure your selected color. Press the Colorize button to apply the selected color.

After that, open File Explorer’s window. Open the folder you changed the color for there to see the effect. It will have the color you chose for it with Rainbow Folder.

Two red folders customized with Rainbow Folders

You can also select a Rainbow Folders context menu option. To do so, right-click a folder in File Explorer and select Show more options. Select the Rainbow Folders context menu option there to bring up the window.

Now you can apply a color change to the folder you right-clicked on. Note that you might have to close and reopen File Explorer for color changes to come into effect.

The Rainbow Folders context menu option

Read also: Free Icon Changer Programs to Customize Your Folders

Adjust Permissions For Folders You Can’t Change the Color For

If a “Failed to write icon file” error message pops up and a folder’s color doesn’t change when you try to alter it, you probably need to adjust permissions for the folder. For Rainbow Folders to work, you need full control permissions to modify folders.HJere is how you can apply such permission to a folder you can’t change the color for.

  1. Right-click the folder you need to change the color for and select Properties.
  2. Select the Advanced option on the Security tab shown directly below.
    The Advanced button
  3. Click Change on the Advanced Security Settings window.
  4. Enter Everyone in the Select User or Group window, and click the OK button.
    The Select User or Group window
  5. Then select the Replace owner on subcategories and objects checkbox.
    The Replace owner checkbox
  6. Click Apply to save the options.
  7. Select OK to exit the Advanced Security Settings window.
  8. Press the Edit button on the folder’s properties window.
  9. Press the Add button in the screenshot directly below.
    The folder permissions window
  10. Input Everyone within the text box on the Select User window, and click OK to exit.
  11. Select the Everyone group on the permissions window.
  12. Then select the allow Full control and Modify checkboxes.
    The Full Control permission checkbox
  13. Press the Apply and OK buttons.
  14. Finally, click OK within the folder properties window.
  15. Now try changing the color of the folder you changed permissions for.

Read also: Take Ownership of Windows 10 Files and Folders With These Tools

Add More Colorful Folders to File Explorer With Rainbow Folders

That’s how you can apply all the colors of the rainbow to folders in Windows.

It’s a pity there aren’t any built-in Windows 11 options for doing so. However, Rainbow Folders is a nifty customization kit with which you can apply your favorite colors to folders. With it, you can add different colors to folders to highlight your most important ones or apply color-coding schemes for them. As such, Rainbow Folders is a freeware software package that’s worth using