How to Fix Start Menu Icons Missing in Windows 10

The tiles on the Start menu are what actually make it useable. If you guys had a list of apps, the Start menu would basically just be a glorified apps list taking up more space than it should as well. For some of the users though, the tile icons on the Start menu actually seem to have disappeared as well. The tiles are still pinned where they were also originally positioned and if you guys hover the cursor over them. Now you will be able to read the name of the app tile. The icon does not appear as well. Here are a few ways in order to fix missing tile icons on the Start Menu on Windows 10. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Fix Start Menu Icons Missing in Windows 10. Let’s begin!

How to Fix Start Menu Icons Missing in Windows 10

Resize Tile

Right-tap on a tile that has a missing icon and from the context menu, just head to resize. Now change the size of the icon to anything that isn’t right now selected. This ought to get the tile in order to appear again. Now you have to restart your system in order to see if the fix works after a reboot.

App Shortcut In Start Menu Folder

For the apps that are actually missing tile icons, you can locate their EXE files, and then create a shortcut for them on your desktop. Next, just head to the following location;

 C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Now you have to copy and paste the shortcut to the above location. Just do this for all apps that do not have a tile icon as well. If a shortcut is already present in the Start Menu folder, then you guys should replace it along with the new one. If there is no shortcut, then just go ahead and paste it.

Restart the Windows Explorer With Task Manager

• Now you have to restart Windows Explorer through the Task Manager is a potential fix for blank app tiles. In order to restart Windows Explorer, then right-tap on the taskbar and tap on Task Manager.
• Choose the Processes tab shown in the snapshot directly below.
• Now scroll down that tab until you get to Windows Explorer, that is listed under Windows processes as well.
• Right-tap on Windows Explorer and choose Restart on its context menu also.

Startup Repair Tool

You have to download the Microsoft Startup Repair tool and then run it to see if it can also fix the problem. It may also tell you that your tile database is corrupted and unfortunately, there is no easy way in order to rebuild it. Even Microsoft suggests creating a new user to fix the problem though, before you do, then just try the other fixes below.

PowerShell Script | start menu icons missing

First, you have to open Notepad and paste the following into it. Just save it with the BAT extension, and then you have to run the file along with administrative rights. Your taskbar will also disappear for a while, however, don’t worry. That’s just Explorer.exe restarting as well. When the taskbar returns, then reboot your system and also check if the tile icons are back.

@echo offtaskkill /f /im explorer.exe
taskkill /f /im shellexperiencehost.exe
timeout /t 3 /NOBREAK > nul
del %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState\* /q
timeout /t 2 /NOBREAK > nul
start explorer
@echo on

Run a System File Scan

Blank app tile shortcuts could be because of corrupted system files. System File Checker is probably the best Windows tool to repaire corrupted system files. This is how you guys can utilize the SFC in Windows 10 in order to fix blank app tiles.

• You have to open the Win + X menu via tapping on its Win key + X hotkey.
• Choose the Command Prompt (Admin) shortcut on the Win + X menu.
• Now enter ‘DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth’ in the Command Prompt, and tap on the Return key.
• Thereafter, input ‘SFC /scan now and tap on entering to scan system files. That scan could take between 20-30 minutes.
• Just restart the OS if Windows Resource Protection does repair files as well.

Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt along with administrative rights. It’s a good idea to close each and everything else that you guys have open at this point. The commands that you’re about to execute will also take some time and the Explorer.exe process will be terminated that makes it difficult to switch between apps.

Now run the following commands, one by one.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

Next run;

DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Next run;

sfc /scannow

This ought to repair system files that might also have been corrupted. It will actually take time to complete. When it’s done, then reboot your system. If the SFC/scannow tool tells you that it was unable to repair files, then you might have a bigger problem on your hands. Your only alternative is to either reset your PC or also create a new user and move your files to it.

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this “start menu icons missing” article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

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