Some users have posted on Microsoft’s support forum about blank desktop icons. For those users, the Windows 10 desktop displays blank, white icons instead of software icons. Today’s guide will explore this issue and discuss how to fix blank icons in Windows 10.

Check out some easy ways to get your missing icons

  • Some users have been baffled by Windows 10 blank icons shortcuts on their desktops.

  • The blank Windows 10 desktop icons still open their assigned software but it’s still a disturbing problem.

  • A straightforward solution is to manually replace the icons but this can be pretty time-consuming.

  • You can also use some line-command tools as shown below to fix the blank icons in Windows 10.

  • Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).

  • Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.

  • Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer’s security and performance

  • Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Why do my desktop icons have no picture?

Regarding this problem, we have gathered users’ more common causes. These include:

  • Corrupted files – This is a cause of many Windows problems. You may need to redownload or repair the files.
  • Windows Explorer glitch – This error could result from a simple glitch in Windows Explorer. A restart might fix it.
  • System bugs – These may happen more often than you imagine but are usually fixed with new update releases.

In some instances, Windows icons are not showing, but this issue can be quickly resolved by following the instructions from this guide.

Note that these solutions will work if the desktop icons show a blank page, blank squares, and for cases of Steam desktop icons blank, OneDrive desktop icons blank, and more.

How can I fix blank desktop icons?

1. Manually change icons

  • First, try manually changing the blank icons on the desktop by right-clicking their software shortcuts and selecting Properties.
  • Click the Change Icon button on the Shortcut tab.
  • Then you can select an alternative icon on the Change Icon window.
  • Alternatively, click Browse to choose a downloaded icon.
  • Click the OK button.
  • Select the Apply option. and press the OK button to exit the window.

2. Run DISM and System File Checker scans

  • Click the Windows Start menu, input cmd, and select Run as administrator.
  • Type the following command and press Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Then also, input the following command followed by Enter. sfc /scannow
  • Wait for the system scan to finish. Restart Windows if it repairs system files.

Also, you can use a tool to run this scan more thoroughly. Using a specialized tool is faster and will also repair any damaged or corrupted files.

3. Rebuild the icon cache

  • Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E keyboard shortcut.
  • Click the View tab, and select the Hidden items checkbox.
  • Open the following path: C:\Users(your user folder)\AppData\Local folder
  • Click the IconCache.db file and press Shift + Del.
  • Restart Windows 10 after deleting the IconCache.db file.

This process will automatically rebuild the icon cache and restore your icons, so the problem should be solved.

Restoro is a complex Windows system repair solution that scans your PC for various issues and fixes all critical system files and registry errors, as well as the damage left by viruses (not antivirus software). With a few clicks, the program frees up space on your disk and restores all compromised Windows settings to their default value.

Here’s how you can perform this action:

  • Download and install Restoro.
  • Launch Restoro.
  • Wait for it to find any system stability issues and possible malware infections.
  • Press Start Repair.
  • Restart your PC for all the changes to take effect.

Restoro’s technology replaces severely damaged Windows system files with clean, up-to-date ones from its secure online database. You can allow it to perform this action without harming your user data.

This the ideal all-in-one tool for fixing Windows errors, PC crashes, or registry issues. It can boost the performance of your device and make it more secure within a few minutes.

⇒ Get Restoro

Disclaimer: This program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.

Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.Click here to download and start repairing.

Expert tip:

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4. Disable the tablet mode

  • Press Windows + I and select System.
  • Click Tablet mode on the left of the Settings window, and if tablet mode is selected, select Use desktop mode on the When I sign in menu.
  • Restart Windows after selecting Use desktop mode.

5. Restart Windows Explorer

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  • Look for the Windows Explorer process and click on it.
  • Click on the Restart button from the bottom right corner.

This procedure will reload the icon cache from File Explorer and its components. Consequently, your desktop icons should return to their original colors.

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The above resolutions are among the most likely fixes for blank desktop icons. Many users have been able to fix desktop icons with the System File Checker or by rebuilding the icon cache.

If any of your icons are corrupted, check out our detailed guide on the topic.

If these fixes aren’t enough to resolve the problem, we recommend that you try restoring or resetting Windows 10.

  • Windows 10 desktop icons

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