Fix Application Icon Not Showing Properly in Windows Search

In Windows, the Search feature offers quick access to applications, files, and settings. However, sometimes application icons may appear blank, missing, or incorrect in the search results. This issue can occur due to corrupted system files, improper icon scaling, or cache problems. Fortunately, several solutions can help resolve this glitch. This article provides step-by-step instructions to fix application icons not showing properly in Windows Search.

Method 1: Enable Save Taskbar Thumbnail Previews

Windows uses thumbnail previews for applications, and disabling this feature may affect icon visibility.

Step 1. Open System Properties

Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.

Step 2. Access Performance Settings

Go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under the Performance section.

Step 3. Enable Thumbnail Previews

In the Performance Options window, check Save taskbar thumbnail previews.

Step 4. Apply Changes

Click Apply, then OK, and restart the computer.

Method 2: Change the Icon Scale

Improper scaling can lead to distorted or missing icons in search and other UI elements.

Step 1. Open Display Settings

Right-click on the desktop and choose Display settings.

Step 2. Adjust Scale

Under Scale and layout, select a different scale value such as 100%, 125%, or 150% from the Scale dropdown.

Step 3. Restart to Apply Changes

Log out or restart your PC to ensure the new scale setting takes effect.

Method 3: Rebuild the Icon Cache

Windows stores icons in a cache to load them quickly. If this cache becomes corrupted, icons may not display properly.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt

Type cmd in the search bar and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to open up an elevated Command Prompt.

Step 3. Delete the Icon Cache 

In the Command Prompt, run the following commands:

ie4uinit.exe -show 

taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F 

DEL /A /Q "%localappdata%IconCache.db"

DEL /A /F /Q "%localappdata%MicrosoftWindowsExplorericoncache*"

shutdown /r /f /t 00

Note: The last command will restart your computer. Therefore, make sure to save your data before running the command. You can also delete the icon cache through the File Explorer.

Method 4: Check and Repair Corrupted System Files

Corrupted system files can cause icon display issues. Running SFC and DISM scans can fix them.

Step 1. Open Command Promp

Type cmd in the search bar, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.

Step 2. Run the SFC and DISM

Type the following command and press Enter: 

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Conclusion

Missing or incorrect icons in Windows Search can be frustrating but are typically fixable using the steps above. Start with the easier solutions like enabling thumbnail previews and adjusting scaling, then move on to rebuilding the icon cache or running system file repairs if needed.