{"id":1192,"date":"2012-10-26T11:33:49","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T06:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=1192"},"modified":"2021-06-04T11:42:39","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T06:12:39","slug":"refresh-icon-cache-windows-7-quickly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/refresh-icon-cache-windows-7-quickly\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrong icon for file type; how to refresh the icons quickly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: Incorrect icon shown for a file type, desktop shortcut, or taskbar icons in Windows. This article tells you how to fix it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Recently I received a query wherein the user has installed Foxit Reader. Later, he set accidentally associated the .zip file type with Foxit Reader via the Open with dialog. They got the association problem straightened out by running the .zip association fix from the File association fixes<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

However, the .zip file type was still showing the Foxit Reader icon, although the association settings were correct.<\/p>\n

\"incorrect<\/p>\n

Whenever the file association settings are changed or a new association is created via the registry or script, the system might not be aware of the change. Programs use the SHChangeNotify<\/code> API call specifying the SHCNE_ASSOCCHANGED<\/code> event, in order to refresh the icons without requiring a reboot.<\/p>\n

This article explains the different ways to quickly refresh the icons in Windows 7, 8, and 10 without rebuilding the Windows icon cache<\/a> or restarting Windows.<\/p>\n

\nRefresh shell icons in Windows<\/strong><\/p>\n
    \n
  1. Using IE4UINIT.EXE<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Using Default Apps<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Using NirCmd.exe<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Using VBScript and ASSOC command<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    How to Refresh the Icons<\/h2>\n

    After a file association change or shortcut icon modification, the icon should refresh immediately or after a restart. If that does not happen, you can force a shell icon refresh by performing a task that triggers the SHChangeNotify<\/code> API.<\/p>\n

    Follow one of these methods:<\/p>\n

    <\/a>1) Using IE4UINIT<\/h3>\n

    Using IE4Uinit.exe (Internet Explorer Per-User Initialization Utility), you can quickly refresh the shell icons.<\/p>\n

    Press WinKey<\/kbd> + R<\/kbd> to bring up the Run dialog.<\/p>\n

    Run the following command (for Windows 10) and hit Enter:<\/kbd><\/p>\n

    ie4uinit.exe -show<\/pre>\n
    For Windows 8 and earlier, run this command instead:<\/p>\n
    ie4uinit.exe -ClearIconCache<\/pre>\n
    Here is a small video clip to demonstrate this.<\/p>\n