The Windows 10 Start Menu is a central hub for accessing programs and applications on your computer. However, sometimes you may notice that certain programs have a generic icon instead of their usual icon. This can be confusing and make it difficult to find the program you're looking for. In this article, we will explore why this happens and how to fix it.
Why do programs have generic icons in the Start Menu?
When you install a program on your computer, it usually comes with its own unique icon that represents the program. This icon is used to visually identify the program in various places, including the Start Menu. However, there are situations where the program's icon may not be displayed correctly and a generic icon is shown instead.
One common reason for this issue is when the program's icon cache becomes corrupted. The icon cache is a database that stores icons for all the programs installed on your computer. When the cache is corrupted, Windows may not be able to retrieve the correct icon for a particular program, resulting in the display of a generic icon.
How to fix the issue
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to fix the issue of programs having generic icons in the Start Menu. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Clear the icon cache
The first step is to clear the icon cache, which will force Windows to rebuild the cache and retrieve the correct icons for your programs.
- Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + E.
- In the address bar, type
%localappdata%and press Enter. This will open the Local AppData folder. - Locate the folder named
IconCache.dband delete it. You may need to enable the display of hidden files and folders to see this file. - After deleting the file, restart your computer. Windows will automatically recreate the icon cache.
Step 2: Rebuild the icon cache
If clearing the icon cache didn't resolve the issue, you can try rebuilding the icon cache using the Command Prompt.
- Open the Command Prompt by typing "cmd" in the Windows search bar and selecting "Command Prompt" from the search results.
- Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator" to open the Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
ie4uinit.exe -ClearIconCache - After executing the command, restart your computer to rebuild the icon cache.
Conclusion
The Windows 10 Start Menu is a convenient way to access your programs and applications. However, if you notice that some programs have generic icons instead of their usual icons, it can be frustrating. This issue is usually caused by a corrupted icon cache. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily fix the issue and restore the correct icons to your Start Menu.
| Reference | Link |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Support - Rebuild Icon Cache in Windows 10 | https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/rebuild-the-icon-cache-in-windows-10-8ef02ec0-9e5d-43fe-aa66-5f50c5feebca |