How to change unit icons in Hearts of Iron IV
You change individual unit icons in Hearts of Iron IV by editing the unit's sprite file in your mod folder or by using the game's built-in icon customization through the interface file system. The most direct method is to replace the .dds image file that the game reads for that specific unit type, then reload the game to see the change. You do not need to restart the entire game if you use the mod folder correctly — the game will pick up the new icon on the next load of your save or scenario.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you want to change icons for your own mod, for a single-player save, or for multiplayer. Most players find it easiest to work within the mod system because Hearts of Iron IV automatically scans mod folders for overrides, meaning you can test changes without touching the base game files.
Key Takeaways
- Unit icons are stored as .dds image files in the gfx/interface/unitframes folder, organized by unit type and size.
- The fastest way to change one unit's icon is to copy the relevant .dds file into a mod folder with the same folder structure, then edit that copy.
- You need an image editor that supports .dds format, such as GIMP with the DDS plugin or a dedicated tool like Texconv, to create or modify the icon files.
- After you save your edited .dds file, you must load a new game or reload your save for Hearts of Iron IV to display the new icon.
- Unit icons are tied to unit types (infantry, armor, fighter, etc.) and size variants, so changing one icon may affect all units of that type unless you create a custom unit definition.
Locating the unit icon files in the game directory
Unit icons live in the gfx/interface/unitframes folder inside the Hearts of Iron IV installation directory. Within that folder, you will find subfolders for each unit category: infantry, armor, air, naval, and support units. Each subfolder contains .dds files named by unit type and size — for example, infantry_1.dds for a single-width infantry icon, or armor_2.dds for a two-width armor unit.
The exact path depends on your operating system. On Windows, it is typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Hearts of Iron IV\gfx\interface\unitframes. On Mac or Linux, the path varies by installation method. The easiest way to find it is to right-click Hearts of Iron IV in Steam, select Properties, then Local Files, then Browse. From there, navigate to gfx/interface/unitframes.
Do not edit these files directly in the base game folder. Instead, copy the file you want to change into a mod folder so you can test it without risking corruption of the original game files.
Creating a mod folder and copying the icon file
Open your mod folder, which is usually located at Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV\mod on Windows. Create a new folder with a name for your mod — for example, "custom_unit_icons". Inside that folder, create the same folder structure as the game: gfx/interface/unitframes/infantry (or whichever unit type you are modifying).
Copy the .dds file you want to edit from the base game folder into your new mod folder, keeping the same folder structure. For example, if you want to change the standard infantry icon, copy infantry_1.dds from the base game's gfx/interface/unitframes/infantry folder into your mod's gfx/interface/unitframes/infantry folder.
Next, create a .mod file in your mod folder's root directory. This is a plain text file that tells Hearts of Iron IV how to load your mod. Name it the same as your mod folder — for example, custom_unit_icons.mod — and add these lines:
version="1.0" tags={ "Graphics" } name="Custom Unit Icons" path="mod/custom_unit_icons"
Save the file and close it. Hearts of Iron IV will now recognize your mod folder when you launch the game.
Editing the .dds image file
Open your copied .dds file in an image editor. GIMP is free and widely used; download the DDS plugin from the GIMP website if it is not already installed. Photoshop also supports .dds files natively in recent versions. Alternatively, use a command-line tool like Texconv (part of the DirectXTex library) if you are comfortable with that workflow.
Hearts of Iron IV unit icons are typically small — often 32x32 or 64x64 pixels — and use a specific color palette. Open the file and examine the existing icon to understand the style and dimensions. Make your edits: change colors, replace the image entirely, or adjust details. Keep the image size the same as the original unless you are also modifying the interface file that references the icon dimensions.
When you save, make sure you export it as a .dds file, not as .png or another format. In GIMP, use File > Export As and select DDS as the file type. Use the same compression settings as the original file if possible — usually DXT1 or DXT5 — to avoid visual artifacts or file size bloat.
Loading your mod and testing the icon change
Launch Hearts of Iron IV and open the Mod menu from the main screen. Find your mod in the list and check the box next to it to enable it. Click Play to start the game with your mod active. Load a save file or start a new game to see your new icon in action.
If the icon does not appear or looks wrong, check a few things: verify that the .dds file is in the correct folder path within your mod, confirm that the .mod file is correctly formatted and points to the right path, and make sure you are using the correct image dimensions and compression format. If the game crashes on load, the .dds file may be corrupted — try re-exporting it from your image editor.
You can test multiple icon changes in one mod by copying and editing multiple .dds files into the same mod folder structure. There is no need to create a separate mod for each icon change.
Changing icons for specific unit types or custom units
If you want to change the icon for only one specific unit rather than all units of that type, you need to create a custom unit definition in addition to the new icon file. This requires editing the unit's .txt file in the common/units folder of your mod, which is more complex than simply swapping an icon.
For most players, changing the icon file itself is sufficient because it affects all units of that type uniformly. If you need finer control — for example, changing only the icon for your custom tank unit while leaving the standard tank icon alone — you will need to define a new unit type in your mod's common/units folder and assign it a unique icon reference. This is beyond the scope of a simple icon swap and requires familiarity with Hearts of Iron IV's unit definition syntax.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common error is placing the .dds file in the wrong folder path. Hearts of Iron IV is strict about folder structure: if your mod folder is named custom_unit_icons, the path inside it must be exactly gfx/interface/unitframes/[unit_type]/. A single misplaced folder or typo will cause the game to ignore your icon and use the default instead.
Another frequent issue is editing the .dds file in the base game directory instead of in the mod folder. This can corrupt the original file and cause the game to malfunction. Always work in a mod folder and test with the mod enabled.
Saving the image in the wrong format is also common. Make sure you export as .dds, not .png, .jpg, or any other format. If you are unsure whether your export was successful, open the file again in your image editor to confirm it reads as a .dds file.
Finally, forgetting to reload the game after editing the icon file is a source of confusion. The game caches icons in memory, so you must close and reopen the game or load a new save to see changes. Simply alt-tabbing back to the game will not refresh the icon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to edit the interface file to change an icon?
No, not for a simple icon swap. If you are replacing the .dds file with a new image of the same dimensions and format, the game will use your new icon automatically. You only need to edit interface files if you want to change the icon's size, position, or how it displays in the UI.
What image dimensions should my unit icon be?
Most unit icons in Hearts of Iron IV are 32x32 or 64x64 pixels. Check the original .dds file's dimensions in your image editor to see what size you need. Keeping the same dimensions as the original prevents display issues.
Can I change icons for units in multiplayer games?
Yes, but all players in the multiplayer session must have the same mod enabled. If one player has your custom icon mod and another does not, they will see different icons, which can cause confusion. Make sure everyone in the game loads the same mod.
What happens if I edit the base game files instead of using a mod?
Editing base game files directly can corrupt the game and cause crashes or missing icons. Additionally, Steam may overwrite your changes during updates. Always use the mod folder system instead.
Can I revert to the original icon if I do not like my changes?
Yes. Simply disable your mod in the Mod menu and reload the game. The original icon will reappear. You can also delete your mod folder entirely and the game will return to normal.