Create Desktop Shortcut Missing Icons

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Recently I've reformat my PC. But I kept my games on another drives.
So now after I re-installed STEAM, it automatically detected my games again but when I create a Desktop Shortcut, all of the shortcuts are missing their logo....

Any way to fix this like a quick way instead of manually finding logo for every one of the shortcuts ?
I have quite a lot of games installed....

[kimura哥]

...)

[xarvn]

First look for the icon store. For Windows it is usually in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam\games." If the folder has a large number of ".ico" files then do the following:

1. In the Windows search box type "default apps." This should bring up a "Settings" window.
   
2. Scroll down and select "Choose default apps by file type."
   
3. Scroll down the list to ".URL" and select "Internet Browser."

If the "games" folder is empty or has only a few items or if the above method does not work, then continue below:

This method may take some time and requires downloading, so do not use if you have data caps.

1. Completely exit out of Steam.
   
2. Go to the "steamapps" folder in your Steam installation and delete all "appmanifest_XXX.acf" files. Leave ".gcf" and ".vdf" files alone as they are not relevant.
   
3. Delete the blank icons on Desktop.
   
4. Restart Steam. Your library should show that all the games that were in the drive where Steam was installed, are now not installed.
   
5. Go to your Steam Library list and select the games that are not installed and attempt to install them. Make sure you specify the correct library location where they were before, in this case where you had your main Steam Library. Note you can try to install all of them at once; if you get some error or if Steam seems to be inactive for a long period of time, then cancel the installation and select fewer games. You may need to be present to agree to game-specific EULAs. Steam will usually verify existing files and minimize downloading. The icons should one-by-one appear in the desktop.
   
6. Repeat for games in other locations by deleting the ".acf" files in the corresponding "steamapps" folders and then by "installing" the games. I suggest you do this for each drive location one location at-a-time to avoid confusion. Specifying the wrong library will cause Steam to download the entire game ignoring the existing game files.

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Originally posted by xarvn:

First look for the icon store. For Windows it is usually in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam\games." If the folder has a large number of ".ico" files then do the following:

1. In the Windows search box type "default apps." This should bring up a "Settings" window.
   
2. Scroll down and select "Choose default apps by file type."
   
3. Scroll down the list to ".URL" and select "Internet Browser."

If the "games" folder is empty or has only a few items or if the above method does not work, then continue below:

This method may take some time and requires downloading, so do not use if you have data caps.

1. Completely exit out of Steam.
   
2. Go to the "steamapps" folder in your Steam installation and delete all "appmanifest_XXX.acf" files. Leave ".gcf" and ".vdf" files alone as they are not relevant.
   
3. Delete the blank icons on Desktop.
   
4. Restart Steam. Your library should show that all the games that were in the drive where Steam was installed, are now not installed.
   
5. Go to your Steam Library list and select the games that are not installed and attempt to install them. Make sure you specify the correct library location where they were before, in this case where you had your main Steam Library. Note you can try to install all of them at once; if you get some error or if Steam seems to be inactive for a long period of time, then cancel the installation and select fewer games. You may need to be present to agree to game-specific EULAs. Steam will usually verify existing files and minimize downloading. The icons should one-by-one appear in the desktop.
   
6. Repeat for games in other locations by deleting the ".acf" files in the corresponding "steamapps" folders and then by "installing" the games. I suggest you do this for each drive location one location at-a-time to avoid confusion. Specifying the wrong library will cause Steam to download the entire game ignoring the existing game files.

Yikes...I will need time to digest this and try....
Will get back to you if it's successful or failure lol, Tks in advance.

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Originally posted by xarvn:

First look for the icon store. For Windows it is usually in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam\games." If the folder has a large number of ".ico" files then do the following:

1. In the Windows search box type "default apps." This should bring up a "Settings" window.
   
2. Scroll down and select "Choose default apps by file type."
   
3. Scroll down the list to ".URL" and select "Internet Browser."

If the "games" folder is empty or has only a few items or if the above method does not work, then continue below:

This method may take some time and requires downloading, so do not use if you have data caps.

1. Completely exit out of Steam.
   
2. Go to the "steamapps" folder in your Steam installation and delete all "appmanifest_XXX.acf" files. Leave ".gcf" and ".vdf" files alone as they are not relevant.
   
3. Delete the blank icons on Desktop.
   
4. Restart Steam. Your library should show that all the games that were in the drive where Steam was installed, are now not installed.
   
5. Go to your Steam Library list and select the games that are not installed and attempt to install them. Make sure you specify the correct library location where they were before, in this case where you had your main Steam Library. Note you can try to install all of them at once; if you get some error or if Steam seems to be inactive for a long period of time, then cancel the installation and select fewer games. You may need to be present to agree to game-specific EULAs. Steam will usually verify existing files and minimize downloading. The icons should one-by-one appear in the desktop.
   
6. Repeat for games in other locations by deleting the ".acf" files in the corresponding "steamapps" folders and then by "installing" the games. I suggest you do this for each drive location one location at-a-time to avoid confusion. Specifying the wrong library will cause Steam to download the entire game ignoring the existing game files.

OK It works and I'm able to understand it bit better now.
Just go to every individual drives I've games installed into look for the appmanifest file, the numbers on the file represent the game as well which I can look up at steamDB.

Just delete that and then STEAM will think my game isn't installed, just have to verify the game again and done.
Honestly back then, when you re-install STEAM and if you did back up your games.
You have to verify your games again, which is quite a long process too ( least 1 - 2 mins ).
But now STEAM just automatically detect your game instantly and you're good to go.

But Desktop icons be missing....

[xarvn]

Usually the recommended prerequisite prior to reinstalling Steam is to have backed up the "steamapps" and "userdata" folders. I've found that backing up Steam\steam\games is also a good idea as that folder contains all the .ico files. If the .icon files are absent, the desktop shortcuts will be blank. Steam tends to only re-populate the "games" folder when the game is being installed. Adding a desktop shortcut or verifying files will not re-create the necessary .ico file. Anyway, glad you resolved your problem!

[Zorgon]

I didnt have that .URL in the default apps settings. You can just right click the shortcut without icon, go into properties and press change icon and then just choose the .exe in the game folder.

[xarvn]

Originally posted by Zorgon:

I didnt have that .URL in the default apps settings. You can just right click the shortcut without icon, go into properties and press change icon and then just choose the .exe in the game folder.

Windows 11 does not have the option to associate default programs to .URL files. You can of course manually assign an image to desktop shortcuts by selecting a .ico or .exe file with the desired image. This method is in fact necessary in situations where there is no image assigned to the shortcut. However, when you have many games, assigning each icon image individually can be quite tedious.