When someone says they have "blank icons" on their desktop, they tin refer either to the absenteeism of icons or the icons becoming plain white colour. Unfortunately, icons are essential for navigating through applications, so their sudden absence can crusade bug. And while the issue may lie with Windows Explorer, your Windows settings may besides be to blame.Hither are some fixes to help you resolve the problem if yous are experiencing this outcome. Several of these fixes will be surface-level, but others may exist more technical.

1. Restart File Explorer

Navigation in Windows is controlled by the built-in navigation tool, File Explorer. The programme provides a graphical interface for accessing all files throughout your arrangement. Restarting File Explorer may resolve the temporary glitch resulting in blank icons on your desktop. Before nosotros move on to whatsoever major fixes, let us restart File Explorer.

To restart File Explorer, follow these steps:

  1. Correct-click the taskbar and select Chore Manager.
  2. Navigate to the Processes tab and locate Windows Explorer (File Explorer is frequently referred to as Windows Explorer in a few systems).
  3. Tap Restart on the right-bottom side of the Job Managing director window.

Restarting File Explorer usually resolves virtually navigation problems. If not, try other fixes on this list.

2. Disable Tablet Way

Tablet mode replaces icons on your laptop or Windows tablet with navigation tiles. Therefore, you should check if tablet fashion is enabled and turn information technology off if it is. To practise that, follow these steps:

  1. Become to the action center on your taskbar. (It will be located right beside the date and fourth dimension, represented by a message popup symbol)
  2. Expand it if it isn't already expanded, and click on the tablet way tile to turn it off if it'south already on.

If you tin can't locate it in the action center, follow the steps beneath to plough it off.

  1. Go to Windows Settings.
  2. Become to System.
  3. Navigate to Tablet settings on the left sidebar.
  4. Click on Change boosted tablet settings.
  5. Turn off the Tablet mode toggle by turning it to the left if information technology was already on.
    Tablet Mode Settings in Windows 10 Settings

The next step is to run an SFC scan if the Tablet way did non cause the problem.

three. Run an SFC Browse

SFC stands for System File Checker, and an SFC scan helps Windows users locate and restore corrupted files. Corrupt files may interfere with other Windows tools such as File Explorer, which results in blank desktop icons. The SFC browse will hopefully restore the icons later fixing the corrupted files.

To run SFC Scan, follow these steps:

  1. In the Windows search bar, type cmd.
  2. Correct-click on the Command Prompt app and choose Run every bit administrator from the menu.
  3. Enter the following control into the Command Prompt and hit Enter: 
          sfc /scannow

The SFC scan volition inform the user if any corrupt files have been repaired or replaced with new ones as the procedure progresses. The Control Prompt will notify you lot of this at the cease of the process.

4. Update Your Display Commuter

Your icons can besides become plain white due to an outdated brandish driver. When you update your display driver, y'all volition restore the original settings and replace any corrupted files. Therefore, updating your display driver volition probable set up the trouble.

To do that, follow these steps:

  1. On the desktop, right-click on This PC and select Manage.
  2. Click on Device Manager from the left-side menu and expand the Brandish adapters category.
  3. Right-click on the GPU/adapter you lot are currently using and click on Update driver
    Updating Display Driver in Device Manager Settings in Computer Management Settings in Windows 10
  4. Then, click on Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can also reinstall the display drivers if updating the driver does not work.

5. Clear the Icon Enshroud

By clearing your icon cache, you can restore all those desktop icons that take disappeared from your screen. The icon database will be rebuilt from scratch, restoring any icons that have vanished into thin air.

Follow these steps to articulate your icon cache:

  1. Open your File Explorer using This PC.
  2. Click File in the top-left corner, then choose Options from the drop-down list.
    Options Settings in Files Menu of File Explorer
  3. Go to the View tab and check the circumvolve for the Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
    Checking Circle for Hidden files, folders and drives in Folder Options in Windows 10
  4. Now, navigate to your C Drive > Users > %Your in-use account% > AppData > Local.
  5. Find the IconCache file with a DataBase File type and delete information technology.
    Deleting IconCache file in Windows 10

vi. Run a Malware Scan

Running a malware browse volition reveal any hidden malicious third-party software that may interfere with Windows functionality. The scan will detect and remove that threat.

Run a browse through your third-party antivirus application or follow the steps below to run Microsoft's born security scan.

  1. Open up Windows Settings.
  2. Go to Update & Security.
  3. Navigate to Windows Security on the left-sidebar.
  4. Click on the Virus and Threat Protection.
    Windows Security Settings in Windows Settings App
  5. Then, click on Scan Options under the Quick Scan push and select the scan you want to run.
    Choosing a Scan in Windows Security Settings

A Full scan is recommended, simply information technology takes longer every bit information technology goes through all of the files on the computer. If you are pressed for time, you tin can also do a Quick scan.

7. Update Windows

Update your Windows if yours is not up-to-date, as this will automatically resolve any pertinent visible problems by itself. Yous can skip this step if your Windows is already upwards-to-date. Additionally, if yous continually keep the automated update selection on, you will not have to worry nigh updating Windows.

Follow the steps to update your Windows:

  1. Open Windows Settings.
  2. Navigate to Update & Security and then select Windows Update on the left-sidebar.
  3. Click on Check for updates, and Windows will find the most recent update for you.
  4. Once available, you tin click on Download & Install.
    Checking for Windows Updates in Settings App of Windows 10

If updating Windows doesn't fix the consequence, you lot can effort resetting your PC.

8. Reset Your PC

When you reset your computer, all the settings will be reset to the default mill version, including registries, group policies, and any customizations you've made so far. The default setting volition likely solve your icon trouble if no other fix worked, merely you should be aware of the risks involved.

Follow these steps to reset your PC:

  1. Open Windows Settings.
  2. Navigate to Update & Security and and then select Recovery from the left-side menu.
  3. Click on the Go Started push nether Reset this PC.
    Resetting PC in Windows Settings App of Windows 10
  4. In the Reset this PC window, select your preference of keeping or deleting your files on the figurer.
    Two Different Options to Reset this PC Popup To Reset Your PC in Windows 10

Information technology is important to remember that if you choose the remove everything choice, all information and files volition exist deleted, and your drives will be wiped. Don't make your life more hard past wiping your data.

Plow Your Windows Blank Icon Into Normal

Hopefully, the fixes in the list will bring back all the icons that disappeared and normalize the blank ones. If nothing seems to work, you may have no option merely to manually modify the icons one past 1 and create shortcut icons for those that have disappeared. If that doesn't work either, reinstall your OS.

Would you like to give your operating system a unique wait? Consider adding custom icon packs to customize your Windows entirely by choosing from hundreds of styles.

The 10 Best Icon Packs for Windows 10

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About The Author

Shan Abdul (232 Manufactures Published)

Shan's encephalon churns words all day long and this is his breadstuff and butter. Every day he learns something new, teaches it to the MUO audience, and makes a living out of it.

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