Cause: Windows 11 changed how the Recycle Bin is rendered (now part of the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe).
Solution: Use IconTweaker's "Advanced Mode" to target the specific GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) for the Recycle Bin. The GUID is usually 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E. Manually paste this into the target field.
As of 2025, Microsoft is slowly moving towards a "cloud-first" icon model, where some icons are streamed from Microsoft servers rather than stored locally. This poses an existential threat to tools like IconTweaker. IconTweaker
However, the customization community is resilient. Developers are currently reverse-engineering the Windows App SDK to allow IconTweaker to intercept network icon requests. The next major release, IconTweaker 3.0 (Codename: Phoenix), promises: Cause: Windows 11 changed how the Recycle Bin
IconTweaker uses specific file formats (usually .icontweaker pack files or simple .icl icon library files). Manually paste this into the target field
Cause: Windows has performed a system integrity check. Solution: Re-apply IconTweaker. If it happens frequently, use the "Persistent Mode" (if available in your version) which creates a scheduled task to re-apply icons at login.