{"id":700,"date":"2008-10-06T09:32:14","date_gmt":"2008-10-06T04:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=700"},"modified":"2024-07-02T13:27:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T07:57:15","slug":"green-tick-or-blue-arrows-icon-overlay-displayed-for-files-in-windows-explorer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/green-tick-or-blue-arrows-icon-overlay-displayed-for-files-in-windows-explorer\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Tick or Blue Arrows Icon Overlay Displayed for Files and Folders"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re wondering why Explorer shows certain files or folders with some icon sign in the corners, such as a white tick mark in a green box, or chevron in a blue box, or any other symbol such as a white tick in round green background regardless of the file type, then you’ll find this post helpful.<\/p>\n

These are known as icon overlays, added by programs to provide additional information about the files or folders marked with the overlay symbol. For example, a backup program that you use may place an icon overlay for files and folders that are backed up, and a different symbol for files that aren’t included in the backup.<\/p>\n

While icon overlays provide great visual clues, certain icon overlays can be distracting too. Here are some screenshots of Icon Overlays in Windows.<\/p>\n

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(Fig 1: Overlay added by Microsoft OneDrive, previously SkyDrive)<\/p>\n

The following is a screenshot of the overlay added by Norton 360.<\/p>\n

Related article:<\/b> Are you using Windows 10 and seeing the blue double arrow icon for files and folders in Windows 10? See article Mysterious Blue Double Arrow Icon on Files and Folders<\/a>.<\/div>\n

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Mozy Backup adds the overlay that looks like below:<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n

How to Find and Disable the Overlay Icons<\/h2>\n

Option 1: Using ShellExView<\/h3>\n

ShellExView<\/a> from Nirsoft has always been very useful<\/a> in troubleshooting problems in the shell environment all these years, and has proved it time and again. This tool can be used to disable shell extensions, including the Icon Overlay handers.<\/p>\n

\"overlay<\/p>\n

Sort the entries by Type column, check the Icon Overlay Handler entries, select the appropriate item. You can disable them via the right-click menu or toolbar.<\/p>\n

If you’re not able to disable the entries, check the registry permissions<\/a> for the corresponding keys.<\/i><\/p>\n

Option 2: Using Autoruns for Windows<\/h3>\n

Download Autoruns<\/a> from Microsoft Sysinternals. Right-click the Autoruns executable and choose Run as Administrator<\/b>.<\/p>\n

For some reason, the OneDrive extensions aren’t listed by Autoruns (v13.100), although I have the Hide Microsoft Entries<\/b> and Hide Windows Entries<\/b> options unchecked in the Options menu.<\/i><\/p>\n

\"overlay<\/p>\n

You can disable or delete the entries from there.<\/p>\n

Inspecting the Icon Overlay Handlers Manually<\/h2>\n

The Icon Overlay Handlers are registered under the ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers<\/code> registry key at:<\/p>\n

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\explorer\\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers<\/pre>\n
It shows the list of registered Overlay GUIDs.<\/p>\n
Export the branch to a REG file<\/a> to back it up, and then delete the unwanted icon overlay entry.<\/p>\n
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OneDrive GUIDs:<\/h4>\n
OneDrive adds 7 subkeys, and they are mentioned below along with the corresponding data (a GUID):<\/p>\n