How To Clear Icons On The Taskbar From Deleted Program In Windows 10

On Windows 10, those icons you meet on files and apps are stored in the icon cache database to allow the operating system to brandish them rapidly on the screen. The process of caching icons, instead of retrieving them from the source, helps to forbid your system from getting bogged down by the mere task of "showing icons".

However, as the database grows, the odds of icon cache database getting corrupted besides grows. When this happens, icons on your desktop and throughout the operating arrangement may not render correctly or even announced cleaved.

Although Windows 10 doesn't include an option to reset the database, you can still prepare the problem using a few commands in Control Prompt.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk y'all through the steps to rebuild the icon cache database on your computer when they appear bare or broken.

How to rebuild the icon cache database

To rebuild the icon enshroud database on Windows 10, shut whatsoever awarding that yous may exist running, then do the following:

Open Start and do a search for Command Prompt.
Correct-click the effect and select Run as ambassador.
Type the following command to navigate to the icon cache database location and press Enter:

cd %homepath%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Type the following command to verify the icon cache database files are at the location and press Enter:

dir iconcache*

The output of the dir command should listing these database files:
- iconcache_1280.db
- iconcache_16.db
- iconcache_1920.db
- iconcache_256.db
- iconcache_2560.db
- iconcache_32.db
- iconcache_48.db
- iconcache_768.db
- iconcache_96.db
- iconcache_custom_stream.db
- iconcache_exif.db
- iconcache_idx.db
- iconcache_sr.db
- iconcache_wide.db
- iconcache_wide_alternate.db
Type the following command to stop File Explorer and press Enter:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

Of import: In one case you finish File Explorer, your desktop background and taskbar will disappear, leaving a blackness screen — only it'south OK, information technology's only temporarily. You need to close File Explorer to exist able to delete the icon cache files. Otherwise, you won't exist able to exercise it.
Type the following command to delete the iconcache files and press Enter:

del iconcache*

Quick Tip: If y'all go access denied trying to remove the files, you're probably non running Command Prompt with equally an ambassador. Repeat these steps, but making certain Command Prompt starts with administrative privileges.
Type the following control to verify that you successfully deleted the icon cache files and printing Enter:

dir iconcache*

If you lot nevertheless see some iconcache files, then it'southward likely that some apps are still running, which will forbid you from deleting the database files. Brand sure to close them all, and echo the steps.
Type the following command to get-go File Explorer and printing Enter:

explorer.exe
Shut Command Prompt to complete the task.

Once you lot completed the steps, Windows 10 will automatically recreate the database files with fresh new icons.

Continue in mind that these steps won't delete and recreate the thumbnails. Yet, you can ever follow our guide to rebuild the thumbnails cache on Windows 10, if they're not working correctly on your PC.

While we're focusing this guide on Windows 10, you tin can use the same exact steps on Windows viii.1.

More than Windows x resources

For more assist articles, coverage, and answers on Windows 10, y'all tin can visit the following resource:

Windows x on Windows Central – All you lot need to know
Windows x assistance, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Fundamental

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