Why do all my desktop icons all have a red X in the lower left
up vote
14
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Upgraded to Windows 10 a couple of weeks and just noticed that almost all of the icons on my desktop have a small red X in the lower-left corner. The recycle bin and some documents seem to be the exceptions.
Don't know if this occurred right after the upgrade or more recently.
Any ideas on what this is supposed to indicate?
windows-10 icons
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
Upgraded to Windows 10 a couple of weeks and just noticed that almost all of the icons on my desktop have a small red X in the lower-left corner. The recycle bin and some documents seem to be the exceptions.
Don't know if this occurred right after the upgrade or more recently.
Any ideas on what this is supposed to indicate?
windows-10 icons
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
Upgraded to Windows 10 a couple of weeks and just noticed that almost all of the icons on my desktop have a small red X in the lower-left corner. The recycle bin and some documents seem to be the exceptions.
Don't know if this occurred right after the upgrade or more recently.
Any ideas on what this is supposed to indicate?
windows-10 icons
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
Upgraded to Windows 10 a couple of weeks and just noticed that almost all of the icons on my desktop have a small red X in the lower-left corner. The recycle bin and some documents seem to be the exceptions.
Don't know if this occurred right after the upgrade or more recently.
Any ideas on what this is supposed to indicate?
windows-10 icons
windows-10 icons
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
asked Sep 10 '15 at 18:42
Brad Patton
9,136123366
9,136123366
add a comment |
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Sounds like the Icon Cache needs to be rebuilt.
According to Windows 10 Forums,
The icon cache can sometimes become corrupted causing the icons of
files to display incorrectly or distorted. When this happens, the icon
cache needs to be deleted to reset and automatically recreate it.
There is also a tutorial there to walk you through it.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
2
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
Right click desktop and choose "refresh". It will redraw all your icons and remove the gray (or red in your case).
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Your Windows Shortcut icon likely got changed.
Try resetting the icon back to its default. In the following key, set the string value 29 to %windir%System32shell32.dll,-16769: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Icons.
Logoff for the change to take effect.
Source: Option 3 of Seven Forums - Shortcut Arrow Change, Remove, Restore
Note: While written for Windows 7 and 8, this should work in Windows 10 as well.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Press F5 while you are on the desktop (this should refresh the desktop and all icons).
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
3
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
add a comment |
protected by Community♦ Jun 27 '16 at 2:50
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Sounds like the Icon Cache needs to be rebuilt.
According to Windows 10 Forums,
The icon cache can sometimes become corrupted causing the icons of
files to display incorrectly or distorted. When this happens, the icon
cache needs to be deleted to reset and automatically recreate it.
There is also a tutorial there to walk you through it.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
2
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Sounds like the Icon Cache needs to be rebuilt.
According to Windows 10 Forums,
The icon cache can sometimes become corrupted causing the icons of
files to display incorrectly or distorted. When this happens, the icon
cache needs to be deleted to reset and automatically recreate it.
There is also a tutorial there to walk you through it.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
2
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Sounds like the Icon Cache needs to be rebuilt.
According to Windows 10 Forums,
The icon cache can sometimes become corrupted causing the icons of
files to display incorrectly or distorted. When this happens, the icon
cache needs to be deleted to reset and automatically recreate it.
There is also a tutorial there to walk you through it.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
Sounds like the Icon Cache needs to be rebuilt.
According to Windows 10 Forums,
The icon cache can sometimes become corrupted causing the icons of
files to display incorrectly or distorted. When this happens, the icon
cache needs to be deleted to reset and automatically recreate it.
There is also a tutorial there to walk you through it.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:59
CharlieRB
20.4k44389
20.4k44389
2
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
add a comment |
2
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
2
2
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
Just deleting C:Users(User Name)AppDataLocalIconCache.db seemed to clear it up. Thanks.
– Brad Patton
Sep 10 '15 at 19:09
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
Right click desktop and choose "refresh". It will redraw all your icons and remove the gray (or red in your case).
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
Right click desktop and choose "refresh". It will redraw all your icons and remove the gray (or red in your case).
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
up vote
16
down vote
Right click desktop and choose "refresh". It will redraw all your icons and remove the gray (or red in your case).
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
Right click desktop and choose "refresh". It will redraw all your icons and remove the gray (or red in your case).
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
answered May 3 '16 at 15:17
JF Gagnon
17113
17113
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
add a comment |
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
This is the correct answer.
– Nick Hodges
Sep 23 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Your Windows Shortcut icon likely got changed.
Try resetting the icon back to its default. In the following key, set the string value 29 to %windir%System32shell32.dll,-16769: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Icons.
Logoff for the change to take effect.
Source: Option 3 of Seven Forums - Shortcut Arrow Change, Remove, Restore
Note: While written for Windows 7 and 8, this should work in Windows 10 as well.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Your Windows Shortcut icon likely got changed.
Try resetting the icon back to its default. In the following key, set the string value 29 to %windir%System32shell32.dll,-16769: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Icons.
Logoff for the change to take effect.
Source: Option 3 of Seven Forums - Shortcut Arrow Change, Remove, Restore
Note: While written for Windows 7 and 8, this should work in Windows 10 as well.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Your Windows Shortcut icon likely got changed.
Try resetting the icon back to its default. In the following key, set the string value 29 to %windir%System32shell32.dll,-16769: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Icons.
Logoff for the change to take effect.
Source: Option 3 of Seven Forums - Shortcut Arrow Change, Remove, Restore
Note: While written for Windows 7 and 8, this should work in Windows 10 as well.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
Your Windows Shortcut icon likely got changed.
Try resetting the icon back to its default. In the following key, set the string value 29 to %windir%System32shell32.dll,-16769: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Icons.
Logoff for the change to take effect.
Source: Option 3 of Seven Forums - Shortcut Arrow Change, Remove, Restore
Note: While written for Windows 7 and 8, this should work in Windows 10 as well.
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
answered Sep 10 '15 at 18:52
Steven
23.2k1076109
23.2k1076109
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Press F5 while you are on the desktop (this should refresh the desktop and all icons).
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
3
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Press F5 while you are on the desktop (this should refresh the desktop and all icons).
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
3
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Press F5 while you are on the desktop (this should refresh the desktop and all icons).
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
Press F5 while you are on the desktop (this should refresh the desktop and all icons).
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
edited 2 days ago
Albin
2,297928
2,297928
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
answered Nov 14 at 1:14
hoggar
1184
1184
3
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
add a comment |
3
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
3
3
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This was previously suggested by another answer, and two additional answers, that was deleted due them being a duplicate of the existing answer.
– Ramhound
Nov 14 at 1:25
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
This is the simpliest way so I really don't see the reason why it is bad.
– hoggar
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Ramhound I don't see the answer this has been suggested?! Is it deleted?
– Albin
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin, I had the same question, but apparently f5 is a shortcut to refreshing the desktop, which JF Gagnon's answer and two deleted ones suggested already via a different route (rt-click menu). So this answer would make more sense as a comment on, or edit to supplement, Gagnon's answer.
– fixer1234
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
@Albin - No, Clicking Refresh and hitting F5 both Refresh the desktop.
– Ramhound
2 days ago
add a comment |
protected by Community♦ Jun 27 '16 at 2:50
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
