This tutorial will show you how to change the maximum size of the icon cache to fix slow loading icons in File Explorer for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11.
The icons that display for files in Windows are saved in an icon cache so they can be displayed quickly instead of having to manually scan and slowly load them each time.
Sometimes you may notice File Explorer loads icons slowly when you open a folder with lots of files. Increasing the size of the icon cache may help.
By default, the icon cache is 500 KB. Increasing the icon cache size to 4 MB gives the best results, but you can change the size to what works best for you.
Reference:
Icons are changed unexpectedly in Windows - Microsoft Support
Fixes an issue in which icons randomly change to different icons in Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
support.microsoft.com
You must be signed in as an administrator to change the icon cache size.
Contents
- Option One: Change Icon Cache Size using REG file
- Option Two: Change Icon Cache Size in Registry Editor
1 Do step 2 (4 MB) or step 3 (default) below for what you want.
2 Change Icon Cache Size to 4 MB
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Set_icon_cache_size_to_4MB.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"Max Cached Icons"="4096"3 Restore Default Icon Cache Size (500 KB)
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Default_icon_cache_size.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"Max Cached Icons"=-4 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
3 In the right pane of the Explorer key, double click/tap on the Max Cached Icons string value to modify it. (see screenshot above)
If you do not have a Max Cached Icons string value, right click on an empty area in the right pane of the Explorer key, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type Max Cached Icons for the name, and press Enter.
4 Type the icon cache size you want in KB (1 MB = 1024 KB), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
5 Close Registry Editor.
6 Restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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