diff --git a/electrum/gui/qt/util.py b/electrum/gui/qt/util.py
index 4817855be..4a06f6a29 100644
--- a/electrum/gui/qt/util.py
+++ b/electrum/gui/qt/util.py
@@ -1242,14 +1242,21 @@ def getSaveFileName(
 def icon_path(icon_basename: str):
     return resource_path('gui', 'icons', icon_basename)
 
+def internal_plugin_icon_path(plugin_name, icon_basename: str):
+    return resource_path('plugins', plugin_name, icon_basename)
+
 
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1000)
 def read_QIcon(icon_basename: str) -> QIcon:
     return QIcon(icon_path(icon_basename))
 
-def read_QIcon_from_bytes(b: bytes) -> QIcon:
+def read_QPixmap_from_bytes(b: bytes) -> QPixmap:
     qp = QPixmap()
     qp.loadFromData(b)
+    return qp
+
+def read_QIcon_from_bytes(b: bytes) -> QIcon:
+    qp = read_QPixmap_from_bytes(b)
     return QIcon(qp)
 
 class IconLabel(QWidget):
diff --git a/electrum/plugin.py b/electrum/plugin.py
index 33294be34..eb7a8f49d 100644
--- a/electrum/plugin.py
+++ b/electrum/plugin.py
@@ -441,13 +441,16 @@ class BasePlugin(Logger):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     def read_file(self, filename: str) -> bytes:
-        """ note: only for external plugins """
         import zipfile
-        plugin_filename = self.parent.external_plugin_path(self.name)
-        with zipfile.ZipFile(plugin_filename) as myzip:
-            with myzip.open(os.path.join(self.name, filename)) as myfile:
-                s = myfile.read()
-                return s
+        if self.name in self.parent.external_plugin_metadata:
+            plugin_filename = self.parent.external_plugin_path(self.name)
+            with zipfile.ZipFile(plugin_filename) as myzip:
+                with myzip.open(os.path.join(self.name, filename)) as myfile:
+                    return myfile.read()
+        else:
+            path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'plugins', self.name, filename)
+            with open(path, 'rb') as myfile:
+                return myfile.read()
 
 
 class DeviceUnpairableError(UserFacingException): pass
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/bitbox02.png b/electrum/plugins/bitbox02/bitbox02.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/bitbox02.png
rename to electrum/plugins/bitbox02/bitbox02.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/bitbox02_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/bitbox02/bitbox02_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/bitbox02_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/bitbox02/bitbox02_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/coldcard.png b/electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/coldcard.png
rename to electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/coldcard.svg b/electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/coldcard.svg
rename to electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard.svg
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/coldcard_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/coldcard_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/coldcard_unpaired.svg b/electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard_unpaired.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/coldcard_unpaired.svg
rename to electrum/plugins/coldcard/coldcard_unpaired.svg
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/digitalbitbox.png b/electrum/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/digitalbitbox.png
rename to electrum/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/digitalbitbox_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/digitalbitbox_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/digitalbitbox/digitalbitbox_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/plugins/hw_wallet/qt.py b/electrum/plugins/hw_wallet/qt.py
index c75d1be04..99a58ec9b 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/hw_wallet/qt.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/hw_wallet/qt.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from electrum.gui.qt.util import (read_QIcon, WWLabel, OkButton, WindowModalDial
                                   Buttons, CancelButton, TaskThread, char_width_in_lineedit,
                                   PasswordLineEdit)
 from electrum.gui.qt.main_window import StatusBarButton
+from electrum.gui.qt.util import read_QIcon_from_bytes
 
 from electrum.i18n import _
 from electrum.logging import Logger
@@ -92,8 +93,9 @@ class QtHandlerBase(HardwareHandlerBase, QObject, Logger):
     def _update_status(self, paired):
         if hasattr(self, 'button'):
             button = self.button
-            icon_name = button.icon_paired if paired else button.icon_unpaired
-            button.setIcon(read_QIcon(icon_name))
+            icon_bytes = button.icon_paired if paired else button.icon_unpaired
+            icon = read_QIcon_from_bytes(icon_bytes)
+            button.setIcon(icon)
 
     def query_choice(self, msg: str, labels: Sequence[Tuple]):
         self.done.clear()
@@ -222,9 +224,10 @@ class QtPluginBase(object):
             tooltip = self.device + '\n' + (keystore.label or 'unnamed')
             cb = partial(self._on_status_bar_button_click, window=window, keystore=keystore)
             sb = window.statusBar()
-            button = StatusBarButton(read_QIcon(self.icon_unpaired), tooltip, cb, sb.height())
-            button.icon_paired = self.icon_paired
-            button.icon_unpaired = self.icon_unpaired
+            icon = read_QIcon_from_bytes(self.read_file(self.icon_unpaired))
+            button = StatusBarButton(icon, tooltip, cb, sb.height())
+            button.icon_paired = self.read_file(self.icon_paired)
+            button.icon_unpaired = self.read_file(self.icon_unpaired)
             sb.addPermanentWidget(button)
             handler = self.create_handler(window)
             handler.button = button
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/jade.png b/electrum/plugins/jade/jade.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/jade.png
rename to electrum/plugins/jade/jade.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/jade_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/jade/jade_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/jade_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/jade/jade_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/keepkey.png b/electrum/plugins/keepkey/keepkey.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/keepkey.png
rename to electrum/plugins/keepkey/keepkey.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/keepkey_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/keepkey/keepkey_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/keepkey_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/keepkey/keepkey_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/ledger.png b/electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/ledger.png
rename to electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/ledger_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/ledger_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/plugins/revealer/qt.py b/electrum/plugins/revealer/qt.py
index 3e82b07b2..077d5a512 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/revealer/qt.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/revealer/qt.py
@@ -32,10 +32,11 @@ from PyQt6.QtWidgets import (QGridLayout, QVBoxLayout, QHBoxLayout, QLabel,
 from electrum.plugin import hook
 from electrum.i18n import _
 from electrum.util import make_dir, InvalidPassword, UserCancelled
-from electrum.gui.qt.util import (read_QIcon, EnterButton, WWLabel, icon_path,
+from electrum.gui.qt.util import (read_QIcon, EnterButton, WWLabel, icon_path, internal_plugin_icon_path,
                                   WindowModalDialog, Buttons, CloseButton, OkButton)
 from electrum.gui.qt.qrtextedit import ScanQRTextEdit
 from electrum.gui.qt.main_window import StatusBarButton
+from electrum.gui.qt.util import read_QIcon_from_bytes, read_QPixmap_from_bytes
 
 from .revealer import RevealerPlugin
 
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ class Plugin(RevealerPlugin):
 
         self.extension = False
         self._init_qt_received = False
+        self.icon_bytes = self.read_file("revealer.png")
 
     @hook
     def init_qt(self, gui: 'ElectrumGui'):
@@ -81,8 +83,10 @@ class Plugin(RevealerPlugin):
 
     @hook
     def create_status_bar(self, sb):
-        b = StatusBarButton(read_QIcon('revealer.png'), "Revealer "+_("Visual Cryptography Plugin"),
-                            partial(self.setup_dialog, sb), sb.height())
+        b = StatusBarButton(
+            read_QIcon_from_bytes(self.icon_bytes),
+            "Revealer "+_("Visual Cryptography Plugin"),
+            partial(self.setup_dialog, sb), sb.height())
         sb.addPermanentWidget(b)
 
     def requires_settings(self):
@@ -125,7 +129,7 @@ class Plugin(RevealerPlugin):
         logo_label = QLabel()
 
         # Set the logo label pixmap.
-        logo_label.setPixmap(QPixmap(icon_path('revealer.png')))
+        logo_label.setPixmap(read_QPixmap_from_bytes(self.icon_bytes))
 
         # Align the logo label to the top left.
         logo_label.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignLeft)
@@ -308,7 +312,7 @@ class Plugin(RevealerPlugin):
         logo_label = QLabel()
 
         # Set the logo label pixmap.
-        logo_label.setPixmap(QPixmap(icon_path('revealer.png')))
+        logo_label.setPixmap(read_QPixmap_from_bytes(self.icon_bytes))
 
         # Align the logo label to the top left.
         logo_label.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignLeft)
@@ -670,7 +674,7 @@ class Plugin(RevealerPlugin):
                 painter.drawLine(base_img.width()-(dist_h), 0,  base_img.width()-(dist_h), base_img.height())
 
                 painter.drawImage(((total_distance_h))+11, ((total_distance_h))+11,
-                                  QImage(icon_path('electrumb.png')).scaledToWidth(round(2.1*total_distance_h), Qt.TransformationMode.SmoothTransformation))
+                                  QImage(internal_icon_path('electrumb.png')).scaledToWidth(round(2.1*total_distance_h), Qt.TransformationMode.SmoothTransformation))
 
                 painter.setPen(QPen(Qt.GlobalColor.white, border_thick*8))
                 painter.drawLine(int(base_img.width()-total_distance_h-(border_thick*8)/2-(border_thick/2)-2),
@@ -696,7 +700,7 @@ class Plugin(RevealerPlugin):
                 painter.drawLine(dist_h, 0,  dist_h, base_img.height())
                 painter.drawLine(0, base_img.height()-dist_v, base_img.width(), base_img.height()-(dist_v))
                 painter.drawLine(base_img.width()-(dist_h), 0,  base_img.width()-(dist_h), base_img.height())
-                logo = QImage(icon_path('revealer_c.png')).scaledToWidth(round(1.3*(total_distance_h)))
+                logo = QImage(internal_plugin_icon_path(self.name, 'revealer_c.png')).scaledToWidth(round(1.3*(total_distance_h)))
                 painter.drawImage(int(total_distance_h+border_thick), int(total_distance_h+border_thick), logo, Qt.TransformationMode.SmoothTransformation)
 
                 #frame around logo
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/revealer.png b/electrum/plugins/revealer/revealer.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/revealer.png
rename to electrum/plugins/revealer/revealer.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/safe-t.png b/electrum/plugins/safe_t/safe-t.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/safe-t.png
rename to electrum/plugins/safe_t/safe-t.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/safe-t_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/safe_t/safe-t_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/safe-t_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/safe_t/safe-t_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/trezor.png b/electrum/plugins/trezor/trezor.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/trezor.png
rename to electrum/plugins/trezor/trezor.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/trezor_unpaired.png b/electrum/plugins/trezor/trezor_unpaired.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/trezor_unpaired.png
rename to electrum/plugins/trezor/trezor_unpaired.png
diff --git a/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/qt.py b/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/qt.py
index 0f98f6c8f..703161904 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/qt.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/qt.py
@@ -40,13 +40,14 @@ from electrum.logging import Logger, get_logger
 from electrum import keystore
 
 from electrum.gui.qt.util import (read_QIcon, WindowModalDialog, WaitingDialog, OkButton,
-                                  CancelButton, Buttons, icon_path, WWLabel, CloseButton, ColorScheme,
+                                  CancelButton, Buttons, icon_path, internal_plugin_icon_path, WWLabel, CloseButton, ColorScheme,
                                   ChoiceWidget, PasswordLineEdit, char_width_in_lineedit)
 from electrum.gui.qt.qrcodewidget import QRCodeWidget
 from electrum.gui.qt.amountedit import AmountEdit
 from electrum.gui.qt.main_window import StatusBarButton
 from electrum.gui.qt.wizard.wallet import WCCreateSeed, WCConfirmSeed, WCHaveSeed, WCEnterExt, WCConfirmExt
 from electrum.gui.qt.wizard.wizard import WizardComponent
+from electrum.gui.qt.util import read_QIcon_from_bytes
 
 from .common_qt import TrustedcoinPluginQObject
 from .trustedcoin import TrustedCoinPlugin, server, DISCLAIMER
@@ -103,10 +104,10 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
                 _('Therefore, two-factor authentication is disabled.')
             ])
             action = lambda: window.show_message(msg)
-            icon = read_QIcon("trustedcoin-status-disabled.png")
+            icon = read_QIcon_from_bytes(self.read_file("trustedcoin-status-disabled.png"))
         else:
             action = partial(self.settings_dialog, window)
-            icon = read_QIcon("trustedcoin-status.png")
+            icon = read_QIcon_from_bytes(self.read_file("trustedcoin-status.png"))
         sb = window.statusBar()
         button = StatusBarButton(icon, _("TrustedCoin"), action, sb.height())
         sb.addPermanentWidget(button)
@@ -166,6 +167,9 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
         self.waiting_dialog_for_billing_info(window,
                                              on_finished=partial(self.show_settings_dialog, window))
 
+    def icon_path(self, name):
+        return internal_plugin_icon_path(self.name, name)
+
     def show_settings_dialog(self, window, success):
         if not success:
             window.show_message(_('Server not reachable.'))
@@ -178,7 +182,7 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
         hbox = QHBoxLayout()
 
         logo = QLabel()
-        logo.setPixmap(QPixmap(icon_path("trustedcoin-status.png")))
+        logo.setPixmap(QPixmap(self.icon_path("trustedcoin-status.png")))
         msg = _('This wallet is protected by TrustedCoin\'s two-factor authentication.') + '<br/>'\
               + _("For more information, visit") + " <a href=\"https://api.trustedcoin.com/#/electrum-help\">https://api.trustedcoin.com/#/electrum-help</a>"
         label = QLabel(msg)
@@ -228,46 +232,46 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
         wizard.trustedcoin_qhelper = TrustedcoinPluginQObject(self, wizard, None)
         self.extend_wizard(wizard)
         if wizard.start_viewstate and wizard.start_viewstate.view.startswith('trustedcoin_'):
-            wizard.start_viewstate.params.update({'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')})
+            wizard.start_viewstate.params.update({'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')})
 
     def extend_wizard(self, wizard: 'QENewWalletWizard'):
         super().extend_wizard(wizard)
         views = {
             'trustedcoin_start': {
                 'gui': WCDisclaimer,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_choose_seed': {
                 'gui': WCChooseSeed,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_create_seed': {
                 'gui': WCCreateSeed,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_confirm_seed': {
                 'gui': WCConfirmSeed,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_have_seed': {
                 'gui': WCHaveSeed,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_keep_disable': {
                 'gui': WCKeepDisable,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_tos': {
                 'gui': WCTerms,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_keystore_unlock': {
                 'gui': WCKeystorePassword,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             },
             'trustedcoin_show_confirm_otp': {
                 'gui': WCShowConfirmOTP,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
             }
         }
         wizard.navmap_merge(views)
@@ -279,7 +283,7 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
             },
             'trustedcoin_create_ext': {
                 'gui': WCEnterExt,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
                 'next': 'trustedcoin_confirm_seed',
             },
             'trustedcoin_confirm_seed': {
@@ -287,7 +291,7 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
             },
             'trustedcoin_confirm_ext': {
                 'gui': WCConfirmExt,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
                 'next': 'trustedcoin_tos',
             },
             'trustedcoin_have_seed': {
@@ -295,7 +299,7 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
             },
             'trustedcoin_have_ext': {
                 'gui': WCEnterExt,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
                 'next': 'trustedcoin_keep_disable',
             },
         }
@@ -305,7 +309,7 @@ class Plugin(TrustedCoinPlugin):
         ext_online = {
             'trustedcoin_continue_online': {
                 'gui': WCContinueOnline,
-                'params': {'icon': icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
+                'params': {'icon': self.icon_path('trustedcoin-wizard.png')},
                 'next': lambda d: 'trustedcoin_tos' if d['trustedcoin_go_online'] else 'wallet_password',
                 'accept': self.on_continue_online,
                 'last': lambda d: not d['trustedcoin_go_online'] and wizard.is_single_password()
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/trustedcoin-status-disabled.png b/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/trustedcoin-status-disabled.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/trustedcoin-status-disabled.png
rename to electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/trustedcoin-status-disabled.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/trustedcoin-status.png b/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/trustedcoin-status.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/trustedcoin-status.png
rename to electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/trustedcoin-status.png
diff --git a/electrum/gui/icons/trustedcoin-wizard.png b/electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/trustedcoin-wizard.png
similarity index 100%
rename from electrum/gui/icons/trustedcoin-wizard.png
rename to electrum/plugins/trustedcoin/trustedcoin-wizard.png