Windows 10: Clear/transparent icon backgrounds

Yes, I googled it. everyone wants me to buy special/expensive software I can't afford or suggests things that don't work for PCs.Other's say there's a way to right click an image and make a specific color transparent... but only if you're using a cell phone.This is being used on a win10 desktop 24" monitor.------------------------------With all the questions/problems I've had with icons lately, one that's vexed me for years is creating a custom wallpaper icon background that is clear/transparent.Not the Icon itself, just the background.I create a custom icon by producing a small square image a

:)

 

Transparent Start menu icon background?


On the start menu each application / file has an associated icon. Unfortunately it appears that Windows 10 is using the accent color as the icon's background. So I get squares of color with the icon in the middle. There are screen shots from Windows 10 previews that show the icon backgrounds as transparent, or at least matching the background color of the start menu. But with transparency turned on, the icon backgrounds are not transparent, but instead the accent color.

It is as if Microsoft said "Hey - ALL icons should be SQUARE - so we will make all icons SQUARE just like tiles, whether you like it or not".

Bleh. So - how does one make the start menu icon background color transparent?

 

Transparent desktop icon label background

I do agree, and I appreciates the help. I did not mean to appear disrespectful or ungrateful. This is free advice, and whoever moderates is under no obligation. But it is common in most forums to see threads simply passed over. It would just be nice if somebody said there is no known solution, rather than feeling no one else but you is interested.

I finally ran across a little program that does what I was was looking for, and other tasks as well.

Iconoid 386
Iconoid - Hide and show desktop icons, make transparent backgrounds

 

Desktop Icon Background Color

Your example is a shortcut for the Camera app, a UWP app managed by the Store. I'm betting that the other blue desktop icons are also for Store apps.

The icon is part of the app, and would be updated whenever the Store automatically updates its apps. Going from transparent background to blue suggests MS have modified the Store app icons in the latest update and messed up its transparency effect. You'll have to wait for the next Store update to see if they correct this.

You cannot uninstall a Store app update to revert to an earlier version, but you can change its shortcut's icon. Right-click on the icon and select Properties, then click the Change icon button. Choose an appropriate icon, there is a camera icon available in the SHELL32.dll that it will offer by default - and that one is transparent .