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How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10

You may have already tried deleting the Icon Cache file by following our instructions on How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a shot and see if it fixes your problems. Since this article is more...
Method 1 of 2:

Using File Explorer

  1. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 1How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 1
    Press the Start button at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
  2. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 2How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 2
    Type folder options and select the result that matches your search. This will allow you to change file viewing settings so that you can see hidden files like IconCache.
  3. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 3How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 3
    Go to the View tab.
  4. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 4How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 4
    Scroll down under Advanced settings: and click the circle next to Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
  5. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 5How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 5
    Uncheck the box
    How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 6How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 6
    next to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
  6. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 7How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 7
    Click or tap the OK box to save your changes and close folder options.
  7. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 8How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 8
    Open File Explorer. File Explorer lets you see all the files on your computer, including system files like the icon cache.
    1. Note: In Windows 7 and earlier, it is called Windows Explorer.
  8. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 9How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 9
    In the address bar of File Explorer, type %userprofile%/AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer.
  9. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 10How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 10
    Select all of the files (by pressing Ctrl+A simultaneously).
  10. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 11How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 11
    Delete the files (either by right-clicking and selecting Delete) or clicking ✘ Delete in the ribbon.
    1. If prompted by a window, click or tap Yes.
    2. A folder named IconCacheToDelete may appear after deleting all the other files. Leave it alone.
  11. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 12How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 12
    Restart your PC.
Method 2 of 2:

Using Command Prompt

  1. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 13How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 13
    Close all open apps.
  2. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 14How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 14
    Open the Command Prompt. The quickest way to open the Command Prompt in any version of Windows is to:
    1. Press the ⊞ Win+R at the same time.
    2. Type cmd.
    3. Click/tap OK or hit ↵ Enter.
  3. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 15How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 15
    Type the commands in. Type the commands below into the Command Prompt, hitting enter after each line of code is entered. You can also highlight and copy them (either by right-clicking and pressing Copy or by pressing Ctrl+C. Right-click in the Command Prompt and select Paste. Ctrl+V won't work.
    1. cd /d %userprofile%AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
    2. attrib –h iconcache_*.db
    3. del iconcache_*.db
    4. start explorer
  4. How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 16How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10 Picture 16
    Restart your PC.
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