Steam Icon Blank *only* on Desktop

[NoOriginality]

So my problem right now is that every single desktop icon shows the white blank paper icon. The weird thing is, it is only like that when it is on Windows 10 desktop. Click on properties, and the icon is there. Click on local files to find the shortcut, and the icon is there. It is only on desktop alone where the icon is not present. I've already browsed through most of the discussions about this, tried clearing the iconcache, manually setting desktop icon, changing the associated app (which btw actually did not appear on the shortcut properties so I can't even change it), and none of those worked. It's either a Windows 10 problem with the desktop or a Steam Client problem. I already tried using ie4uinit.exe commands as well, and it doesn't seem to help because the icon *does* technically work in windows explorer, just not on desktop. Can anyone solve this problem for me?

[MB Geek]

I *may* have found an alternate solution as I just went through this (probably for like the 3rd time LOL)

I too tried all of the other fixes with the icon cache and manual settings and had no luck. I then realized that it also happened to the games using my Epic account as well, so it was very likely NOT a Steam issue but a Windows problem.

I then stumbled across a very old setting (from back in the XP days). On Windows 10 or 11, hit the Windows key, type "theme" and you will find 'Themes and related settings'. Go there and scroll down to 'Desktop Icon Settings' and click on that. There will be a check box for 'Allow themes to change Desktop icons' and UNCHECK it. As soon as I did that and rebooted, they all came back. YMMV since other fixes brought people success but not all, but let me know if this works for you so we can pass it along.

[NoOriginality]

Oprindeligt skrevet af MB Geek:

I *may* have found an alternate solution has I just went through this (probably for like the 3rd time LOL)

I too tried all of the other fixes with the icon cache and manual settings and had no luck. I then realized that it also happened to the games using my Epic account as well, so it was very likely NOT a Steam issue but a Windows problem.

I then stumbled across a very old setting (from back in the XP days). On Windows 10 or 11, hit the Windows key, type "theme" and you will find 'Themes and related settings'. Go there and scroll down to 'Desktop Icon Settings' and click on that. There will be a check box for 'Allow themes to change Desktop icons' and UNCHECK it. As soon as I did that and rebooted, they all came back. YMMV since other fixes brought people success but not all, but let me know if this works for you so we can pass it along.

Nice solution. It unfortunately didn't work for me but this'll still be good to put on in case anyone else can use it. Haven't seen this one anywhere else.

[Fearagen]

Oprindeligt skrevet af CantComeUpWithAName:

Oprindeligt skrevet af MB Geek:

I *may* have found an alternate solution has I just went through this (probably for like the 3rd time LOL)

I too tried all of the other fixes with the icon cache and manual settings and had no luck. I then realized that it also happened to the games using my Epic account as well, so it was very likely NOT a Steam issue but a Windows problem.

I then stumbled across a very old setting (from back in the XP days). On Windows 10 or 11, hit the Windows key, type "theme" and you will find 'Themes and related settings'. Go there and scroll down to 'Desktop Icon Settings' and click on that. There will be a check box for 'Allow themes to change Desktop icons' and UNCHECK it. As soon as I did that and rebooted, they all came back. YMMV since other fixes brought people success but not all, but let me know if this works for you so we can pass it along.

Nice solution. It unfortunately didn't work for me but this'll still be good to put on in case anyone else can use it. Haven't seen this one anywhere else.

1. Restart your computer:

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix temporary glitches. Try restarting your computer and check if the icons return to their normal appearance.

2. Clear the icon cache:

The icon cache is a database that stores icons for faster retrieval. Clearing the cache can resolve icon-related issues. Here's how to do it:

a.

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

b.

Type "cmd" and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

c.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
ie4uinit.exe -show

d.

Close the Command Prompt window.

e.

Restart your computer and check if the icons are now displaying correctly.

3. Reset file associations:

If the icon cache is not the issue, it's possible that the file associations for the icons have been changed. To reset the file associations, follow these steps:

a.

Right-click on any file with an incorrect icon on your desktop and select "Open with" -> "Choose another app."

b.

In the "How do you want to open this file?" dialog, select the appropriate program for that file type. If you're not sure, choose the default program that is usually associated with that file type.

c.

Check the box that says "Always use this app to open [file extension]."

d.

Repeat these steps for each file type on your desktop with the incorrect icon.

4. Rebuild the icon cache:

If none of the above steps work, you can try rebuilding the icon cache. Here's how:

a.

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

b.

Type "cmd" and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

c.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each one:
taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
attrib -h IconCache.db
del IconCache.db
start explorer.exe

d.

Close the Command Prompt window.

e.

Restart your computer and check if the icons are now displaying correctly.

Conclusion:

If none of these solutions work, it's possible that there might be a more complex issue with your Windows installation. In such cases, you may consider seeking further assistance from Microsoft support or a qualified technician. Or in a worst-case scenario reinstall windows.

[NoOriginality]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Fearagen:

Oprindeligt skrevet af CantComeUpWithAName:

Nice solution. It unfortunately didn't work for me but this'll still be good to put on in case anyone else can use it. Haven't seen this one anywhere else.

1. Restart your computer:

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix temporary glitches. Try restarting your computer and check if the icons return to their normal appearance.

2. Clear the icon cache:

The icon cache is a database that stores icons for faster retrieval. Clearing the cache can resolve icon-related issues. Here's how to do it:

a.

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

b.

Type "cmd" and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

c.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
ie4uinit.exe -show

d.

Close the Command Prompt window.

e.

Restart your computer and check if the icons are now displaying correctly.

3. Reset file associations:

If the icon cache is not the issue, it's possible that the file associations for the icons have been changed. To reset the file associations, follow these steps:

a.

Right-click on any file with an incorrect icon on your desktop and select "Open with" -> "Choose another app."

b.

In the "How do you want to open this file?" dialog, select the appropriate program for that file type. If you're not sure, choose the default program that is usually associated with that file type.

c.

Check the box that says "Always use this app to open [file extension]."

d.

Repeat these steps for each file type on your desktop with the incorrect icon.

4. Rebuild the icon cache:

If none of the above steps work, you can try rebuilding the icon cache. Here's how:

a.

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

b.

Type "cmd" and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

c.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each one:
taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
attrib -h IconCache.db
del IconCache.db
start explorer.exe

d.

Close the Command Prompt window.

e.

Restart your computer and check if the icons are now displaying correctly.

Conclusion:

If none of these solutions work, it's possible that there might be a more complex issue with your Windows installation. In such cases, you may consider seeking further assistance from Microsoft support or a qualified technician. Or in a worst-case scenario reinstall windows.

Yup, tried all of that, didn't work

[Doonce]

Oprindeligt skrevet af NoOriginality:

Yup, tried all of that, didn't work

Did you move the Steam install folder? This worked for me:

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4BD4-4528-6B2E-8327#exist

Maybe try it even if you didn't move it, it seemed to rewrite all my registry values related to Steam directories and it's working now. I had moved the steam install directory to another drive and the icon wouldn't work unless there was a copy of the directory at the old drive location as well until I did this.

[Snacko]

I fixed mine just now..

First, check that the icons actually exist here: C:\Steam\steam\games\

There should be a bunch of .ico files with long alphanumeric names there. If not, then that is the main problem. I don't know how to get Steam to refill that folder... But I had made a backup of that folder and was able to just copy them all over.

Next, I had to right-click each 'installed' game from the Steam App, and select 'Manage' and then 'Add desktop shortcut'.

That fixed it.

[Yzal]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Snacko:

I fixed mine just now..

First, check that the icons actually exist here: C:\Steam\steam\games\

There should be a bunch of .ico files with long alphanumeric names there. If not, then that is the main problem. I don't know how to get Steam to refill that folder... But I had made a backup of that folder and was able to just copy them all over.

Afaik the icons only download when you install the game, if you delete them then the only way is to uninstall and reinstall.
They're not considered part of the game files so verifying game files integrity will do nothing.

An alternative is open the shortcut properties, change icon and search for the game's .exe file, that should have a suitable icon.

[Gronk]

accept the blank, blank is the way

[Treeck]

Oprindeligt skrevet af NoOriginality:

So my problem right now is that every single desktop icon shows the white blank paper icon. The weird thing is, it is only like that when it is on Windows 10 desktop. Click on properties, and the icon is there. Click on local files to find the shortcut, and the icon is there. It is only on desktop alone where the icon is not present. I've already browsed through most of the discussions about this, tried clearing the iconcache, manually setting desktop icon, changing the associated app (which btw actually did not appear on the shortcut properties so I can't even change it), and none of those worked. It's either a Windows 10 problem with the desktop or a Steam Client problem. I already tried using ie4uinit.exe commands as well, and it doesn't seem to help because the icon *does* technically work in windows explorer, just not on desktop. Can anyone solve this problem for me?

Did you ever find a solution for this?

[R4DI0]

Why not just right click the icon, select properties, select change icon, select browse, go to your steam folder, choose the game you want the icon from, look through the folder until you see the default icon that comes with the game for desktop use and then select apply? It worked for me. Doesn't take fifteen minutes either, more like half a minute max per icon.

[MB Geek]

Oprindeligt skrevet af R4DI0:

Why not just right click the icon, select properties, select change icon, select browse, go to your steam folder, choose the game you want the icon from, look through the folder until you see the default icon that comes with the game for desktop use and then select apply? It worked for me. Doesn't take fifteen minutes either, more like half a minute max per icon.

Or, if you have 30+ icons, it DOES take 15 minutes by your math (I actually have 50) ... LMAO

J/K R4DI0 ... I agree that you can do it that way (and I do NOW) and the icons in the game folder/.exe file is usually a higher res icon as well, it's just that it a common occurrence and a nuisance, but baffling how no one solution fixes it en masse. I personally have been doing exactly what you suggested and once it's done, I do it with every new game so it hasn't bothered me since.

[|DG| V|LOT]

Oprindeligt skrevet af MB Geek:

I *may* have found an alternate solution has I just went through this (probably for like the 3rd time LOL)

I too tried all of the other fixes with the icon cache and manual settings and had no luck. I then realized that it also happened to the games using my Epic account as well, so it was very likely NOT a Steam issue but a Windows problem.

I then stumbled across a very old setting (from back in the XP days). On Windows 10 or 11, hit the Windows key, type "theme" and you will find 'Themes and related settings'. Go there and scroll down to 'Desktop Icon Settings' and click on that. There will be a check box for 'Allow themes to change Desktop icons' and UNCHECK it. As soon as I did that and rebooted, they all came back. YMMV since other fixes brought people success but not all, but let me know if this works for you so we can pass it along.

After trying every other "fix" out there, I stumbled upon this one. And it actually made sense. I did it. I rebooted and the damn thing was still a white page. I felt frustrated beyond words. Then a little voice told me to unpin the damn thing. So I did. And once I repinned... Voila! Thanks a million. My OCD wouldn't have had it any other way.

[|DG| V|LOT]

Oprindeligt skrevet af R4DI0:

Why not just right click the icon, select properties, select change icon, select browse, go to your steam folder, choose the game you want the icon from, look through the folder until you see the default icon that comes with the game for desktop use and then select apply? It worked for me. Doesn't take fifteen minutes either, more like half a minute max per icon.

I tried that, many times. I even tried completely random icons, to no avail. I had a feeling this was a windows issue and low and behold, it was. I unchecked the box in themes, that allowed themes to change icons, and after a reboot and unpin/repin, I was back in business.

[MB Geek]

Oprindeligt skrevet af |DG| V|LOT:

Oprindeligt skrevet af MB Geek:

I *may* have found an alternate solution has I just went through this (probably for like the 3rd time LOL)

I too tried all of the other fixes with the icon cache and manual settings and had no luck. I then realized that it also happened to the games using my Epic account as well, so it was very likely NOT a Steam issue but a Windows problem.

I then stumbled across a very old setting (from back in the XP days). On Windows 10 or 11, hit the Windows key, type "theme" and you will find 'Themes and related settings'. Go there and scroll down to 'Desktop Icon Settings' and click on that. There will be a check box for 'Allow themes to change Desktop icons' and UNCHECK it. As soon as I did that and rebooted, they all came back. YMMV since other fixes brought people success but not all, but let me know if this works for you so we can pass it along.

After trying every other "fix" out there, I stumbled upon this one. And it actually made sense. I did it. I rebooted and the damn thing was still a white page. I felt frustrated beyond words. Then a little voice told me to unpin the damn thing. So I did. And once I repinned... Voila! Thanks a million. My OCD wouldn't have had it any other way.

Yeah OCD is the reason ANYONE (including myself) finds this intolerable LMAO

Awesome that it worked for you as it gives people one more thing to try

[TIAstimetostop1999]

Oprindeligt skrevet af R4DI0:

Why not just right click the icon, select properties, select change icon, select browse, go to your steam folder, choose the game you want the icon from, look through the folder until you see the default icon that comes with the game for desktop use and then select apply? It worked for me. Doesn't take fifteen minutes either, more like half a minute max per icon.

Hello Sir!
Thank you so much! It works! The icons are back! Thanks again!