How to fix Broken Icons in Windows 11

If you notice blank desktop icons, folders or incorrect images on your Windows 11 device. These are broken icons from Windows 11 itself.

While this can sometimes occur due to a problem with Windows Explorer, there can be other reasons as well. Below we present all the information you need in this regard so that you can fix this error.

How to fix Broken Icons in Windows 11

Functional icons are essential for maintaining a productive user experience, facilitating efficient navigation and application identification.

Potential Causes of Icon Display Issues:

Tablet Mode: When enabled, tablet mode may alter icon sizes or layouts.

Corrupted Icon Cache: A corrupted icon cache, which stores icon information, can lead to improper icon rendering.

Custom Icon Packs: Third-party icon packs may introduce compatibility conflicts.

Incompatible Themes: Themes can modify the appearance of icons, and some might not render them correctly.

Troubleshooting Techniques:

1. Disable Custom Icon Packs (if applicable):

To revert to the standard icons, right-click on an empty desktop area and select Personalize.

Navigate to the Themes section.

If a custom theme is applied (indicated by "Custom"), choose Windows 11 (default) or another default theme.

2. Modify System Theme:

Follow steps 1 and 2 from the previous method.

If you're using a custom theme, try applying a different theme, such as the default Windows 11 theme. Observe if the icons are displayed correctly.

3. System File Checker (SFC) Scan:

The SFC scan can potentially repair corrupted system files that might be affecting icon rendering.

To initiate a scan with administrator privileges, search for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu. Right-click and select "Run as administrator".

Type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

This command will scan your system and attempt to repair any corrupted files. Reboot your computer after the scan is complete.

4. Repair or Rebuild Icon Cache:

Repair:

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Navigate to the following directory, replacing <username> with your actual Windows username:C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Explorer

3. Locate the file named "iconcache.db" and rename it to "iconcache.db.old".

4. Restart your computer. Windows will rebuild the icon cache automatically.Rebuild:

1. Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges (refer to step 3 of the SFC Scan method).

2. Type the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

    ```

    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

    DEL /F %systemroot%\explorer.exe

    DEL /F %systemroot%\System32\Tasks\* /Q

    DEL /F %systemroot%\System32\ThumbnailCache\* /Q

    shutdown /r /t 0

    ```

  - This will terminate the Explorer process, delete potentially corrupted icon cache files, and then restart your computer, forcing Windows to rebuild the icon cache.

5. Deactivate Tablet Mode (if enabled):

Open the Action Center (located on the far right side of the taskbar).

Click on the Tablet mode tile to disable it (if enabled).

6. PC Reset (Last Resort):

If none of the aforementioned solutions resolve the issue, consider resetting your PC. This will restore Windows 11 to its default settings and potentially rectify underlying problems causing the icon corruption.

Important Note: Resetting your PC will erase your personal files. Ensure you back up important data before proceeding.

Additional Considerations:

Maintain up-to-date graphics drivers for compatibility with Windows 11.

If the problem persists after trying these solutions, consult Microsoft support for further assistance.

By following these guidelines you should be able to effectively fix the problem and restore the proper display of icons within your Windows 11 system, ensuring an efficient and smooth user experience.