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. Picture 1 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Press the Start button at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
  2. Picture 2 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    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. Picture 3 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Go to the View tab.
  4. Picture 4 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Scroll down under Advanced settings: and click the circle next to Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
  5. Picture 5 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Uncheck the box
    Picture 6 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    next to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
  6. Picture 7 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Click or tap the OK box to save your changes and close folder options.
  7. Picture 8 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    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. Picture 9 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    In the address bar of File Explorer, type %userprofile%/AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer.
  9. Picture 10 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Select all of the files (by pressing Ctrl+A simultaneously).
  10. Picture 11 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    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. Picture 12 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Restart your PC.
Method 2 of 2:

Using Command Prompt

  1. Picture 13 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Close all open apps.
  2. Picture 14 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    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. Picture 15 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    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. Picture 16 of How to Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 8.1 and 10
    Restart your PC.
Update 04 March 2020
filesexplorercommandtype

You should read it

Maybe you are interested

Category

System

Mac OS X

Hardware

Game

Tech info

Technology

Science

Life

Application

Electric

Program

Mobile