diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index da37574..d16dbc8 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 	WorkspaceLeaf,
 	TAbstractFile,
 	TFolder,
+	setIcon,
 } from "obsidian";
 
 import { NoteLockerSettings, DEFAULT_SETTINGS } from "./models/types";
@@ -549,12 +550,13 @@ export default class NoteLockerPlugin extends Plugin {
 
 	private addStrictLockButton(view: MarkdownView, path: string) {
 		const container = view.containerEl;
-		let lockBtn = container.querySelector('.note-locker-strict-btn');
+		let lockBtn = container.querySelector('.note-locker-strict-btn') as HTMLElement;
 		if (!lockBtn) {
 			lockBtn = document.createElement('div');
 			lockBtn.addClass('view-action', 'clickable-icon', 'note-locker-strict-btn');
+			lockBtn.addClass('view-action', 'clickable-icon', 'note-locker-strict-btn');
 			lockBtn.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Strictly locked');
-			lockBtn.innerHTML = '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="svg-icon lucide-lock"><rect x="3" y="11" width="18" height="11" rx="2" ry="2"></rect><path d="M7 11V7a5 5 0 0 1 10 0v4"></path></svg>';
+			setIcon(lockBtn, 'lock-keyhole');
 
 			lockBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
 				new StrictUnlockModal(this.app, () => {
diff --git a/src/ui/fileExplorer.ts b/src/ui/fileExplorer.ts
index 9b197e4..7b55d01 100644
--- a/src/ui/fileExplorer.ts
+++ b/src/ui/fileExplorer.ts
@@ -141,14 +141,20 @@ export class FileExplorerUI {
 		const path = titleEl.getAttribute('data-path');
 		if (!path) return;
 
-		let shouldHaveIcon = false;
+		let iconName: string | null = null;
 		if (item.classList.contains('nav-file')) {
-			shouldHaveIcon = this.plugin.settings.lockedNotes.has(path) || this.plugin.settings.strictLockedNotes.has(path);
+			if (this.plugin.settings.strictLockedNotes.has(path)) {
+				iconName = 'lock-keyhole';
+			} else if (this.plugin.settings.lockedNotes.has(path)) {
+				iconName = 'lock';
+			}
 		} else if (item.classList.contains('nav-folder')) {
-			shouldHaveIcon = this.plugin.settings.lockedFolders.has(path);
+			if (this.plugin.settings.lockedFolders.has(path)) {
+				iconName = 'lock';
+			}
 		}
 
-		this.updateIconState(titleEl, shouldHaveIcon);
+		this.updateIconState(titleEl, iconName);
 	}
 
 	public updateFileExplorerIcons(): void {
@@ -166,8 +172,13 @@ export class FileExplorerUI {
 			const filePath = titleEl.getAttribute('data-path');
 			if (!filePath) return;
 
-			const shouldHaveIcon = this.plugin.settings.lockedNotes.has(filePath) || this.plugin.settings.strictLockedNotes.has(filePath);
-			this.updateIconState(titleEl, shouldHaveIcon);
+			let iconName: string | null = null;
+			if (this.plugin.settings.strictLockedNotes.has(filePath)) {
+				iconName = 'lock-keyhole';
+			} else if (this.plugin.settings.lockedNotes.has(filePath)) {
+				iconName = 'lock';
+			}
+			this.updateIconState(titleEl, iconName);
 		});
 
 		// Handle folders
@@ -179,20 +190,25 @@ export class FileExplorerUI {
 			const folderPath = titleEl.getAttribute('data-path');
 			if (!folderPath) return;
 
-			const shouldHaveIcon = this.plugin.settings.lockedFolders.has(folderPath);
-			this.updateIconState(titleEl, shouldHaveIcon);
+			let iconName: string | null = null;
+			if (this.plugin.settings.lockedFolders.has(folderPath)) {
+				iconName = 'lock';
+			}
+			this.updateIconState(titleEl, iconName);
 		});
 	}
 
-	private updateIconState(targetEl: Element, shouldHaveIcon: boolean): void {
+	private updateIconState(targetEl: Element, iconName: string | null): void {
 		const existingIcon = targetEl.querySelector('.note-locker-icon');
 
-		if (shouldHaveIcon) {
+		if (iconName) {
 			if (!existingIcon) {
 				const iconEl = document.createElement('div');
 				iconEl.addClass('note-locker-icon');
-				setIcon(iconEl, 'lock');
+				setIcon(iconEl, iconName);
 				targetEl.appendChild(iconEl);
+			} else {
+				setIcon(existingIcon as HTMLElement, iconName);
 			}
 		} else {
 			if (existingIcon) {
diff --git a/src/ui/statusBar.ts b/src/ui/statusBar.ts
index 422097c..76fd426 100644
--- a/src/ui/statusBar.ts
+++ b/src/ui/statusBar.ts
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ export class StatusBarUI {
 			const iconSpan = this.statusBarItemEl.createSpan({ cls: 'locker-icon' });
 
 			if (isStrictLocked) {
-				setIcon(iconSpan, 'lock');
-				iconSpan.setText('🔓');
+				setIcon(iconSpan, 'lock-keyhole');
 				this.statusBarItemEl.createSpan({ text: ' Strictly locked' });
 				this.statusBarItemEl.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Strictly locked. Click to unlock.');
 			} else {