Missing file type icons in Explorer


  1. Posts : 7
    Win10
       #1

    Missing file type icons in Explorer


    Hi all,

    I'm using Windows 10 ver. 1703. Since the last major update, the file explorer shows a blank icon for many file types instead of the associated application (such as Adobe Acrobat, Excel, Word etc.). The files are still associated correctly and re-associating them didn't solve the problem. I also deleted the icon cache and let Windows rebuild it, but that didn't help either.

    Does anybody have an idea?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 30,117
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #2

    Hi berliner77. Welcome to the TenForums @berliner77

    Could be a wild guess solution. Try going in the Apps box in Settings. Then defaults apps and at the bottom of the Right hand side "Set defaults by app". Try setting one to be the default, say Adobe, allow it to take all the extensions associated to Adobe.

    Now I saw your comment that the defaults are associating correctly. My wild guess is that by using this process it will reassign the proper icon.

    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for the comment, I tried it and it didn't work. Moreover, when I click on Adobe Acrobat and then on "Choose defaults for this program", the new window shows the extensions with blank icons (see attached screenshot).

    Missing file type icons in Explorer-capture.jpg
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 30,117
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #4

    Does this happen in other user ids?

    Could you create a standard user and see if it has the same issue?

    Ken
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    Hi, try this free program and post a screenshot like this
    Missing file type icons in Explorer-1.jpg
    for a couple of different examples.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 7
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Okay, I found out why and how that happened. The defaulticon values in the registry don't point to folders under %ProgramFiles% but, for whatever reasons, to the installer folder in %windir%. I have a small SSD and moved that folder to a different drive and linked it back as a junction. Because of Creators Update, the junction was lost. I restored it and everything works well now.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 30,117
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #7

    Great find. Thanks for sharing. If you wouldn't mind marking thread solved.


    Ken
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    done...
      My Computer


 

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