diff --git a/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel b/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel
index bf9c8a20d..e4bac550a 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/aqt/BUILD.bazel
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ _py_srcs = glob(
 
 _py_srcs_and_forms = _py_srcs + [
     "//qt/aqt/forms:forms",
-    "//qt/aqt/forms:icons",
 ]
 
 aqt_core_data = [
diff --git a/qt/aqt/__init__.py b/qt/aqt/__init__.py
index c74149823..566250522 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/__init__.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/__init__.py
@@ -587,6 +587,11 @@ def _run(argv: Optional[list[str]] = None, exec: bool = True) -> Optional[AnkiAp
         )
         return None
 
+    # make image resources available
+    from aqt.utils import aqt_data_folder
+
+    QDir.addSearchPath("icons", os.path.join(aqt_data_folder(), "qt", "icons"))
+
     if pmLoadResult.firstTime:
         pm.setDefaultLang(lang[0])
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/previewer.py b/qt/aqt/browser/previewer.py
index d3a4c882d..35314208a 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/previewer.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/previewer.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class Previewer(QDialog):
         self._close_callback = on_close
         self.mw = mw
         icon = QIcon()
-        icon.addPixmap(QPixmap(":/icons/anki.png"), QIcon.Normal, QIcon.Off)
+        icon.addPixmap(QPixmap("icons:anki.png"), QIcon.Normal, QIcon.Off)
         disable_help_button(self)
         self.setWindowIcon(icon)
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/toolbar.py b/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/toolbar.py
index 0f9c53fc3..61a0b0b5e 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/toolbar.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/toolbar.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ class SidebarTool(Enum):
 
 class SidebarToolbar(QToolBar):
     _tools: tuple[tuple[SidebarTool, str, Callable[[], str]], ...] = (
-        (SidebarTool.SEARCH, ":/icons/magnifying_glass.svg", tr.actions_search),
-        (SidebarTool.SELECT, ":/icons/select.svg", tr.actions_select),
+        (SidebarTool.SEARCH, "icons:magnifying_glass.svg", tr.actions_search),
+        (SidebarTool.SELECT, "icons:select.svg", tr.actions_select),
     )
 
     def __init__(self, sidebar: aqt.browser.sidebar.SidebarTreeView) -> None:
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py b/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py
index 28da752b8..d3b1e9245 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _saved_searches_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        icon = ":/icons/heart-outline.svg"
+        icon = "icons:heart-outline.svg"
         saved = self._get_saved_searches()
 
         root = self._section_root(
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _today_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        icon = ":/icons/clock-outline.svg"
+        icon = "icons:clock-outline.svg"
         root = self._section_root(
             root=root,
             name=tr.browsing_today(),
@@ -621,8 +621,8 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _card_state_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        icon = ":/icons/circle.svg"
-        icon_outline = ":/icons/circle-outline.svg"
+        icon = "icons:circle.svg"
+        icon_outline = "icons:circle-outline.svg"
 
         root = self._section_root(
             root=root,
@@ -670,8 +670,8 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _flags_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        icon = ":/icons/flag.svg"
-        icon_outline = ":/icons/flag-outline.svg"
+        icon = "icons:flag.svg"
+        icon_outline = "icons:flag-outline.svg"
 
         root = self._section_root(
             root=root,
@@ -704,8 +704,8 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _tag_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        icon = ":/icons/tag-outline.svg"
-        icon_off = ":/icons/tag-off-outline.svg"
+        icon = "icons:tag-outline.svg"
+        icon_off = "icons:tag-off-outline.svg"
 
         def render(
             root: SidebarItem, nodes: Iterable[TagTreeNode], head: str = ""
@@ -752,9 +752,9 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _deck_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        icon = ":/icons/book-outline.svg"
-        icon_current = ":/icons/book-clock-outline.svg"
-        icon_filtered = ":/icons/book-cog-outline.svg"
+        icon = "icons:book-outline.svg"
+        icon_current = "icons:book-clock-outline.svg"
+        icon_filtered = "icons:book-cog-outline.svg"
 
         def render(
             root: SidebarItem, nodes: Iterable[DeckTreeNode], head: str = ""
@@ -807,9 +807,9 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
     ###########################
 
     def _notetype_tree(self, root: SidebarItem) -> None:
-        notetype_icon = ":/icons/newspaper.svg"
-        template_icon = ":/icons/iframe-braces-outline.svg"
-        field_icon = ":/icons/form-textbox.svg"
+        notetype_icon = "icons:newspaper.svg"
+        template_icon = "icons:iframe-braces-outline.svg"
+        field_icon = "icons:form-textbox.svg"
 
         root = self._section_root(
             root=root,
diff --git a/qt/aqt/data/BUILD.bazel b/qt/aqt/data/BUILD.bazel
index efd53c8ca..f8745bed2 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/data/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/aqt/data/BUILD.bazel
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ filegroup(
     name = "data",
     srcs = [
         "//qt/aqt/data/lib",
+        "//qt/aqt/data/qt",
         "//qt/aqt/data/web",
     ],
     visibility = ["//qt:__subpackages__"],
diff --git a/qt/aqt/data/qt/BUILD.bazel b/qt/aqt/data/qt/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a98b579a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qt/aqt/data/qt/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_binary")
+
+py_binary(
+    name = "build_qrc",
+    srcs = ["build_qrc.py"],
+    legacy_create_init = False,
+)
+
+genrule(
+    name = "icons_qrc",
+    srcs = ["//qt/aqt/data/qt/icons"],
+    outs = ["icons.qrc"],
+    cmd = "$(location build_qrc) $(location icons.qrc) $(SRCS)",
+    tools = ["build_qrc"],
+    visibility = ["//qt/aqt:__pkg__"],
+)
+
+filegroup(
+    name = "qt",
+    srcs = [
+        "//qt/aqt/data/qt/icons",
+        # not needed at runtime, but including it here ensures
+        # it's up to date when a dev opens Qt Designer after a ./run
+        ":icons_qrc",
+    ],
+    visibility = ["//qt:__subpackages__"],
+)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/build_qrc.py b/qt/aqt/data/qt/build_qrc.py
similarity index 52%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/build_qrc.py
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/build_qrc.py
index 6d385b402..18afceae5 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/build_qrc.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/data/qt/build_qrc.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-import sys
+# Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+# License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
 import os
+import sys
 
 qrc_file = os.path.abspath(sys.argv[1])
 icons = sys.argv[2:]
@@ -15,10 +18,13 @@ FILES
 indent = " " * 8
 lines = []
 for icon in icons:
-    alias = ""
+    base = os.path.basename(icon)
     path = os.path.relpath(icon, start=os.path.dirname(qrc_file))
-    alias = "" if os.path.dirname(path) == "icons" else f' alias="icons/{os.path.basename(path)}"'
-    line = f"{indent}<file{alias}>{path}</file>"
+    if not path.startswith("icons/"):
+        path = f"../data/qt/icons/{base}"
+    else:
+        path = f"../../../bazel-bin/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/{base}"
+    line = f'{indent}<file alias="icons/{base}">{path}</file>'
     lines.append(line)
 
 with open(qrc_file, "w") as file:
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/BUILD.bazel b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/BUILD.bazel
similarity index 80%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/BUILD.bazel
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/BUILD.bazel
index db492a4dc..f991a4220 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-load("//ts:vendor.bzl", "copy_mdi_icons", "copy_bootstrap_icons")
+load("//ts:vendor.bzl", "copy_mdi_icons")
+load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_binary")
 
 copy_mdi_icons(
     name = "mdi-icons",
@@ -37,6 +38,9 @@ copy_mdi_icons(
 
 filegroup(
     name = "icons",
-    srcs = ["mdi-icons"] + glob(["*.svg", "*.png"]),
+    srcs = ["mdi-icons"] + glob([
+        "*.svg",
+        "*.png",
+    ]),
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
 )
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/anki.png b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/anki.png
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/anki.png
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/anki.png
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/card-state.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/card-state.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/card-state.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/card-state.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/clock.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/clock.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/clock.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/clock.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/collection.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/collection.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/collection.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/collection.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/deck.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/deck.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/deck.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/deck.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/flag.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/flag.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/flag.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/flag.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/heart.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/heart.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/heart.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/heart.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/magnifying_glass.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/magnifying_glass.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/magnifying_glass.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/magnifying_glass.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/media-record.png b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/media-record.png
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/media-record.png
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/media-record.png
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/notetype.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/notetype.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/notetype.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/notetype.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/select.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/select.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/select.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/select.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons/tag.svg b/qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/tag.svg
similarity index 100%
rename from qt/aqt/forms/icons/tag.svg
rename to qt/aqt/data/qt/icons/tag.svg
diff --git a/qt/aqt/flags.py b/qt/aqt/flags.py
index e1e209aeb..64ee04524 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/flags.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/flags.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class FlagManager:
 
     def _load_flags(self) -> None:
         labels = cast(dict[str, str], self.mw.col.get_config("flagLabels", {}))
-        icon = ColoredIcon(path=":/icons/flag.svg", color=colors.DISABLED)
+        icon = ColoredIcon(path="icons:flag.svg", color=colors.DISABLED)
 
         self._flags = [
             Flag(
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/BUILD.bazel b/qt/aqt/forms/BUILD.bazel
index 0bdf3afbc..931df6037 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/aqt/forms/BUILD.bazel
@@ -15,35 +15,3 @@ py_binary(
     legacy_create_init = False,
     deps = ["@pyqt5//:pkg"],
 )
-
-py_binary(
-    name = "build_qrc",
-    srcs = ["build_qrc.py"],
-    legacy_create_init = False,
-    deps = ["@pyqt5//:pkg"],
-)
-
-py_binary(
-    name = "build_rcc",
-    srcs = ["build_rcc.py"],
-    legacy_create_init = False,
-    deps = ["@pyqt5//:pkg"],
-)
-
-genrule(
-    name = "icons_qrc",
-    srcs = ["//qt/aqt/forms/icons"],
-    outs = ["icons.qrc"],
-    cmd = "$(location build_qrc) $(location icons.qrc) $(SRCS)",
-    tools = ["build_qrc"],
-    visibility = ["//qt/aqt:__pkg__"],
-)
-
-genrule(
-    name = "icons",
-    srcs = ["icons_qrc", "//qt/aqt/forms/icons"],
-    outs = ["icons_rc.py"],
-    cmd = "$(location build_rcc) $(location icons_qrc) $(location icons_rc.py)",
-    tools = ["build_rcc"],
-    visibility = ["//qt/aqt:__pkg__"],
-)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/build_rcc.py b/qt/aqt/forms/build_rcc.py
deleted file mode 100644
index b2dd530a8..000000000
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/build_rcc.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-import sys
-import os
-from PyQt5.pyrcc_main import processResourceFile
-
-icons_qrc = sys.argv[1]
-py_file = os.path.abspath(sys.argv[2])
-
-# make paths relative for pyrcc
-os.chdir(os.path.dirname(icons_qrc))
-icons_qrc = os.path.basename(icons_qrc)
-
-processResourceFile([icons_qrc], py_file, False)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/build_ui.py b/qt/aqt/forms/build_ui.py
index a36857ff0..d45d4f8ac 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/build_ui.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/forms/build_ui.py
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ for line in outdata.splitlines():
         if substr in line:
             line = line + "  # type: ignore"
             break
+    if line == "from . import icons_rc":
+        continue
+    line = line.replace(":/icons/", "icons:")
     outlines.append(line)
 
 with open(py_file, "w") as file:
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/icons.qrc b/qt/aqt/forms/icons.qrc
index e2b267b80..d17297082 120000
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/icons.qrc
+++ b/qt/aqt/forms/icons.qrc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-../../../bazel-bin/qt/aqt/forms/icons.qrc
\ No newline at end of file
+../../../bazel-bin/qt/aqt/data/qrc/icons.qrc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/qt/aqt/profiles.py b/qt/aqt/profiles.py
index 8154778ca..38042621e 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/profiles.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/profiles.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class ProfileManager:
         app = QtWidgets.QApplication([])
         icon = QtGui.QIcon()
         icon.addPixmap(
-            QtGui.QPixmap(":/icons/anki.png"),
+            QtGui.QPixmap("icons:anki.png"),
             QtGui.QIcon.Normal,
             QtGui.QIcon.Off,
         )
diff --git a/qt/aqt/sound.py b/qt/aqt/sound.py
index f00568fc7..d0d088889 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/sound.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/sound.py
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ class RecordDialog(QDialog):
     def _setup_dialog(self) -> None:
         self.setWindowTitle("Anki")
         icon = QLabel()
-        icon.setPixmap(QPixmap(":/icons/media-record.png"))
+        icon.setPixmap(QPixmap("icons:media-record.png"))
         self.label = QLabel("...")
         hbox = QHBoxLayout()
         hbox.addWidget(icon)