Forum Discussion
Xbox Game Pass - White Desktop icons?
Hi guys,
Anyone having issues with white Windows icon of their Xbox Game Pass games appearing on their desktop?
It appears to happen after a game update through the Xbox app or an Xbox app update via the Store.
https://www.reddit.com/r/XboxGamePass/comments/o1igez/how_to_add_xbox_desktop_app_as_a_desktop_shortcut/ but it's annoying to keep having to do it...
Thanks.
12 Replies
A white icon in Windows typically means the icon cache is corrupted or outdated. The icon cache is a database Windows uses to quickly display program icons without having to read the original file every time.
When you install a game via the Xbox app (or the Microsoft Store), the system creates a link to the game. If the cache doesn't update properly or the link file gets created before the final game assets are in place, it can't find the correct image and defaults to a generic white sheet.
Thanks for the reply. But that doesn't work here. I've cleared the icon cache many times, even reinstalled Windows and this keeps happening. I firmly believe it's a display driver compatibility issue. If I remove the video driver and use the Standard Microsoft VGA driver it's fine. Sometimes if I remove the NVidia driver, reboot, and reinstall the issue is fixed. Very strange, inconsistent, and frustrating.
Edit: As you can see it's a mix of Steam games and WIndows games, as well as EA app.
This is a common Xbox app bug after game or app updates. To fix white desktop icons: 1. **Delete and recreate the shortcut** from the Xbox app (right-click game → Create desktop shortcut). 2. **Clear the Windows icon cache** by running `ie4uinit.exe -ClearIconCache` or restarting Explorer. 3. Make sure the **Xbox app and Gaming Services** are fully updated from the Microsoft Store. If it keeps happening, recreating the shortcut is the only reliable workaround until Microsoft patches the bug.
Thanks both! Any known fixes?
It started happening to me too in the last few weeks. I can recreate the icons thru the xbox app but it's still annoying.
The Reddit link in my original post is still my go to but it gets very tedious... and it has literally only started to happen in the last few months.
The new shortcuts I create from the Xbox are white still.
Corrupted Shortcut Icons: If the shortcut’s icon file is missing or corrupted, it might display as a white square or blank.
Right-click on the desktop → View → uncheck Auto Arrange Icons, then manually adjust the icon positions
This works! It's pretty ridiculous that a default Windows setting causes this. Luckily, I use to Stardock Fences to auto-arrange my icons, so I'm unaffected by disabling the setting. I've been hoping Microsoft would just patch the issue for months but it never happened. I appreciate the assist!
Ok I restarted and they came back. WTF????
