Windows 10 clear icon cache

При отображении иконок различных программ или типов файлов в проводнике File Explorer, Windows вместо обращения к исходным файлам с иконками, получает копии картинок значков из специальных файлов с кэшем иконок. За счет того, что операционной системе не нужно каждый раз загружать оригинальные файлы иконок, ускоряется работа и прорисовка объектов в проводнике Windows.

В некоторых случаях, при повреждении файла с кэшем иконок, в проводнике (и на рабочем столе) могут отображаться белые иконки ярлыков и файлов, или вместо иконок приложений отображаются стандартные иконки Windows. В этом случае рекомендуется выполнить сброс системного кэша иконок.

На скриншоте ниже видно, что в макете стартового меню Windows 10 вместо значков некоторых приложений отображаются стандартные иконки папок.

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Примечание. Некоторые пользователи при появлении такого бага пытаются переустановить проблемное приложение, что помогает далеко не всегда.

Кэш иконок в различных версиях Windows представляет собой один или несколько db файлов, хранящихся в профиле пользователя.

• В Windows 7 это файл IconCache.db в каталоге %userprofile%\AppData\Local
• В Windows 10 и Windows 8.1 – это множество файлов, имя которых начинается с iconcache_ (iconcache_16.db, iconcache_32.db, iconcache_48.db и т.д. в соответствии с размерами иконки в пикселях) и хранятся в каталоге %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Не путайте файлы кэша иконок с файлами thumbs.db, которые содержат кэш эскизов изображения и видео в папке.

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Сброс кэша иконок в Windows с помощью утилиты ie4uinit

В Windows есть специальная встроенная утилита ie4uinit (IE Per-User Initialization Utility), которую можно использовать для быстрого сброса кэша иконок.

• В Windows 10:
  ie4uinit.exe -show
• Для Windows 7:
  ie4uinit.exe -ClearIconCache

Эту команду нужно выполнить через меню Win+R -> команда -> Enter.

Команды абсолютно безопасные, но помогают восстановить нормальное состояние кэша иконок далеко не во всех случаях.

Скрипт удаления файлов с кэшем иконок в Windows

Чтобы сбросить кэш иконок, достаточно удалить db файлы с кэшем. Но предварительно нужно завершить процесс проводника File Explorer, чтобы он не блокировал доступ к файлам iconcache. Рассмотрим, как сбросить базу данных кэша иконок без перезагрузки Windows.

1. Закройте все запущенные приложения;
2. Откройте окно командной строки (
   cmd.exe
   или
   powershell.exe
   ) с правами администратора;
3. Запустите диспетчер задач
   taskmgr.exe
4. В окне Task Manager перейдите на вкладку Details, найдите процесс explorer.exe и завершите его (End Task);
   

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5. Также вы можете завершить процесс из командной строки:
   taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
6. Затем последовательно выполните следующие команды для удаления кэша иконок в профиле пользователя (в зависимости от версии ОС):

Для Windows 10/ 8.1 (просто скопируйте этот код в окно командной строки или сохраните как текстовый файл reset_icon_windows.bat).

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer


attrib -h iconcache_*.db
del /f IconCache*
del /f thumbcache*
cd /d  %userprofile%\AppData\Local\
attrib -h IconCache.db
del /f IconCache.db
start C:\Windows\explorer.exe

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В моем случае скрипт не смог удалить только файл
iconcache_idx.db
(Access is denied), но это не повлияло на итоговый результат. Кэш иконок был успешно сброшен.

Для Windows 7:

cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
del /f /a s IconCache.db
start C:\Windows\explorer.exe<

Последняя команда в обоих случаях перезапустит процесс проводника Windows (
explorer.exe
), который при запуске пересоздаст файлы с кэшем иконок (в соответствии с заданными файловыми ассоциациями).

If your icons appear blank or look corrupted or do not refresh correctly, when they should, then it is quite possible that your icon cache database may have become corrupted on your Windows 11/10 PC. The same thing applies to Thumbnails too. If they do not display correctly, then they may have become corrupted. In such a scenario, you may need to delete the cache files to rebuild the Icon cache and clear the Thumbnail cache.

This post will show you the location of these cache files so that you can delete IconCache.db and thumbcache.db files, in order to rebuild the Icon cache and clear the Thumbnail cache in Windows 11/10.

The Icon Cache or IconCache.db is a special database file that Windows utilizes to keep copies of each icon handy. When Windows needs to draw an icon, it uses the copy from the cache instead of retrieving the icon image from the original application file. This helps in making Windows draw the icons faster. Things were different in Windows XP, and they are different in Windows 7/8. Things changed again from Windows 8.1 onwards. In Windows 11/10, you need to do the following.

If you needed to rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 7/8, you needed to do the following:

• Open File Explorer > Folder Options > Views to show Hidden System Files.
• Next, go to C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local folder
• Delete the hidden IconCache.db file. Reboot.
• This action would purge and rebuild the icon cache.

But this is not enough in Windows 11, Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. You will have to navigate to the following folder:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

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Here you will see a lot of files like iconcache_32.db, iconcache_48.db, iconcache_96.db, iconcache_256.db, iconcache_1024.db, iconcache_1280.db, iconcache_1600.db, iconcache_1920.db, iconcache_2560.db, iconcache_exif.db, iconcache_idx.db, iconcache_sr.db, iconcache_wide.dd, iconcache_wide_alternate.db, etc.

Delete them all to purge and rebuild your icon cache in Windows. If you were to be able to delete some of them, you would now be able to see a new folder created named IconcacheToDelete, which will disappear when you reboot your computer or restart Windows File Explorer.

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If you find that you are unable to delete these files, do the following.

First, close all open programs. Next, open Task Manager, look for the process Windows Explorer, right-click on it and select End process. Next, from the File menu > select Run new task. Type cmd.exe, check the Create this task with administrative privileges box and press Enter.

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This will open an elevated command prompt window.

Now type the following commands one after the other and hit Enter:

cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

attrib –h

iconcache_*.db

del iconcache_*.db

start explorer

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This will rebuild your icon cache in Windows 11/10.

If the above does not work, execute the following commands one after the other:

taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F

CD %userprofile%\AppData\Local

del iconcache.db /a

CD %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\

del iconcache* /a /f /q

start explorer.exe

TIP: See how you can stop Windows from deleting the Thumbnail cache on every shutdown, restart or boot.

Clear Thumbnail cache in Windows 11/10

Windows Thumbnail cache or Thumbs.db files are hidden data-files in the Windows operating system, which contain small images, displayed when you view a folder in “thumbnail” view, as opposed to tile, icon, list, or detail view. Windows keeps a copy of all your pictures, video and document thumbnails so that they can be displayed quickly when you open a folder. In Windows XP you see these ‘hidden’ files thumbs.db files scattered all over the place. In Windows Vista and later, the thumbnails ‘thumbcache’ are stored at C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Microsoft Windows\Explorer – which is the same where the icon cache files are stored.

If you want to delete and clear the Thumbnail cache, you will have to follow the same procedure as mentioned above, but finally, use these commands:

cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

attrib –h

thumbcache_*.db

del thumbcache_*.db

start explorer

Please let us know if this worked for you and helped you fix Broken Icons in Windows 11.

TIP: FixWin 11 for Windows 11/10 lets you reset the thumbnail cache. You will find the fix under the System fixes tab.

Windows 10 users may want to use Thumbnail and Icon Cache Rebuilder, which lets you purge and rebuild Thumbnail & Icon Cache in a click.

If your desktop or explorer icons load slowly when they start the Windows PC, you may want to increase Icon Cache size and see if it helps you. See this post if your Desktops icons are slow to load.

Clearing the icon cache in Windows 10 is a simple task that can help resolve issues where icons are not displaying correctly or are missing. By following a few straightforward steps, you can refresh the icon cache and restore your desktop and file icons to their proper state. Here’s how to do it.

Clearing the icon cache in Windows 10 involves deleting the cache file that stores the icon images. This forces Windows to rebuild the cache and can solve many common issues with icons. Follow these steps to clear the icon cache.

Step 1: Close All Open Programs

Before you begin, make sure to close all open programs to avoid any conflicts.

This step is crucial because open programs might interfere with the process of deleting the icon cache file. Closing everything ensures a smooth and error-free operation.

Step 2: Open File Explorer

Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.

File Explorer is your gateway to accessing the necessary folder where the icon cache file is stored. It’s like the map you need to find the treasure.

Step 3: Show Hidden Files and Folders

Click on the ‘View’ tab in File Explorer, then check the box that says ‘Hidden items.’

By showing hidden files and folders, you’ll be able to see the IconCache.db file that is normally hidden from view. Think of it as lifting a veil to reveal what’s underneath.

Step 4: Navigate to the Icon Cache Folder

Go to the following path: C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataLocal.

This path leads you to the folder where the icon cache file resides. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual username to get to the right directory.

Step 5: Delete IconCache.db

Find the file named IconCache.db in the folder and delete it.

Deleting the IconCache.db file is like hitting the refresh button on your browser. It gets rid of the outdated or corrupted cache so that Windows can create a new one.

Step 6: Restart Your Computer

Restart your computer to complete the process.

Restarting your computer finalizes the cache clearing process. It’s like rebooting your brain after a good nap—everything will be fresh and ready to go.

Once you’ve completed these steps, Windows will automatically create a new icon cache file. This should resolve any issues you were having with icons not displaying correctly.

Tips for Clearing Icon Cache Windows 10

• Make sure to back up important files before starting the process.
• If you can’t find the IconCache.db file, double-check that you have enabled ‘Show hidden items.’
• Consider running a system scan to ensure there are no underlying issues causing icon problems.
• Regularly clearing the icon cache can help keep your system running smoothly.
• If problems persist, updating your graphics driver might help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an icon cache?

The icon cache is a special file where Windows stores icon images so that they can be displayed quickly without having to load them each time from scratch.

Why should I clear the icon cache?

Clearing the icon cache can resolve issues where icons are not displaying correctly or are missing. It refreshes the cache and can improve performance.

What happens if I don’t clear the icon cache?

If you don’t clear the icon cache, you might continue to experience problems with icons not displaying correctly, which can be frustrating and affect your productivity.

Can I automate the process of clearing the icon cache?

Yes, you can create a batch file to automate the deletion of the icon cache file. However, you will still need to restart your computer manually.

Will clearing the icon cache delete my files?

No, clearing the icon cache will not delete any of your personal files. It only removes the cache file that stores icon images, which Windows will recreate automatically.

Summary

1. Close all open programs.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Show hidden files and folders.
4. Navigate to the Icon Cache folder.
5. Delete IconCache.db.
6. Restart your computer.

Conclusion

Clearing the icon cache in Windows 10 is an effective way to resolve common issues with icons not displaying correctly. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily refresh the icon cache and improve your computer’s performance. This process doesn’t delete any of your personal files, so you can do it with peace of mind.

If problems persist even after clearing the cache, consider running a system scan or updating your graphics driver. Regular maintenance like this can keep your system running smoothly and prevent minor issues from becoming major headaches.

For more information on maintaining your Windows 10 system, check out our other articles on system optimization and troubleshooting. Remember, taking a few minutes for regular maintenance can save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run. Happy computing!