Fixing Strange Appearance of Small Icons in Windows 11 Explorer

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, offering a sleek and modern interface. However, sometimes you may encounter strange appearance issues with small icons in the Windows 11 Explorer. This can be frustrating, but don't worry! In this article, we will guide you through the steps to fix this problem and restore the normal appearance of small icons in Windows 11 Explorer.

Method 1: Change the Icon Size

The first method to fix the strange appearance of small icons in Windows 11 Explorer is by changing the icon size settings. Follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select "Display settings" from the context menu.
2. In the Display settings window, scroll down and click on "Advanced display settings."
3. Under the "Advanced display settings" section, click on "Advanced sizing of text and other items."
4. In the next window, click on "Change only the text size."
5. Now, select "Icons" from the drop-down menu and adjust the size to your preference. Click on "Apply" to save the changes.

After following these steps, check if the small icons in Windows 11 Explorer have returned to their normal appearance. If not, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Reset Folder Views

If changing the icon size didn't resolve the issue, you can try resetting the folder views. Here's how:

1. Open the Windows 11 Explorer by pressing the Win key and E key simultaneously.
2. Click on the "View" tab in the Explorer ribbon.
3. On the right side of the ribbon, click on the "Options" button.
4. In the "Folder Options" window, switch to the "View" tab.
5. Scroll down and click on the "Reset Folders" button.
6. Click on "Yes" to confirm the action and then click on "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes.

Now, close the Windows 11 Explorer and reopen it. Check if the small icons have returned to their normal appearance. If the problem persists, try the next method.

Method 3: Clear Thumbnail Cache

The thumbnail cache stores small images of files and folders to speed up the display of icons in Windows 11 Explorer. Clearing the thumbnail cache can help fix the strange appearance of small icons. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Win key and R key simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cleanmgr in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
3. In the Disk Cleanup window, select the drive where Windows is installed (usually the C: drive) and click on "OK."
4. Wait for Disk Cleanup to calculate the amount of space you can free up.
5. In the Disk Cleanup window, scroll down and check the box next to "Thumbnails."
6. Click on "OK" and then click on "Delete Files" to confirm.

After clearing the thumbnail cache, restart your computer and check if the small icons in Windows 11 Explorer are back to normal. If not, proceed to the next method.

Method 4: Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can sometimes cause display issues in Windows 11. Updating your graphics drivers can potentially fix the strange appearance of small icons. Here's how:

1. Right-click on the Start button and select "Device Manager" from the context menu.
2. In the Device Manager window, expand the "Display adapters" category.
3. Right-click on your graphics card and select "Update driver" from the context menu.
4. Choose the option to automatically search for updated driver software.
5. Wait for Windows to search and install the latest driver updates for your graphics card.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

After updating your graphics drivers, check if the small icons in Windows 11 Explorer have returned to their normal appearance. If the issue persists, try the final method.

Method 5: Perform a System File Check

Corrupted system files can sometimes cause display issues in Windows 11. Performing a system file check can help identify and repair these files. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Win key and R key simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd in the Run dialog box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
4. Wait for the system file check to complete. This may take some time.
5. If any corrupted files are found, the system file checker will attempt to repair them automatically.
6. Once the process is complete, restart your computer.

After performing a system file check and restarting your computer, check if the small icons in Windows 11 Explorer have returned to their normal appearance.

We hope that one of these methods helped you fix the strange appearance of small icons in Windows 11 Explorer. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out to our tech support team.