Forum Discussion
What does this icon on the C drive of the Windows system mean?
I would like to ask about an unfamiliar icon that suddenly appeared on my C drive. I am unsure of its purpose. Does anyone know what it is? Could it be a system file, or is there a problem?
3 Replies
That icon typically means the C: drive has been compressed to save space. It's a Windows feature, not an error. Your files are safe, but you can disable it in the drive's Properties if you prefer.
If an unfamiliar icon appears on your C drive, it’s often due to a system status, such as:
- A lock icon: drive is restricted to certain users (permissions issue).
- A blue arrow: folder or drive is compressed.
- A green check: synced with OneDrive or backup.
- A red X: sync error or access issue.
It’s usually harmless, but if the icon is truly unfamiliar or concerning, right-click the drive → Properties → check for encryption, compression, or security settings. Let me know what the icon looks like for a more specific answer.
The blue arrow on the C drive icon indicates that NTFS compression is enabled for this drive. The lock icon indicates that BitLocker encryption is enabled.
