New Outlook icon goes blank every few days


Damun

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9:19 PM
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7
OS
Windows 11
I like having icons on the desktop for frequently used apps. I use the built in "New Outlook" as my main mail app and have an icon for it on my desktop. The past couple of months i have experienced that the icon goes blank every few days - i am guessing as the app gets updates. None of the other ~40 icons on the dektop are affected. The quick access and start menu outlook icon is not affected either. It is only the dektop icon that goes blank.
I know that this is a minor issue, but i would like to find a more permanent solution than creating a new icon every other day.

Originally the icon was created by dragging the icon from the start menu to the desktop (creating a link). However, if i delete the blank desktop icon, and drag a new icon to the desktop, all i get is a new blank icon (despite the icon not being blank in the start menu).

My workaround is to go to the new outlook folder (find it using task manager while app is open), copy the path of that folder, and use this path in the
right click>properties>change icon menu on the blank icon, and then replace the blank icon with an outlook icon (either from the olk program file or the Outlook ICO file).

I suspected that cleaning (with Glary utilities) may have caused this but it happens even if i am not doing any cleaning.
Rebooting is also not causing this as it also happens between reboots.
Rebuilding icon cache (using the BAT file) does not help either.

DISM and sfc do not report any problems.

Any suggestions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
"Originally the icon was created by dragging the icon from the start menu to the desktop (creating a link). "

That does not work on mine in the first place, indeed that is the reason it's on the Taskbar. I think the reason is that New Outlook is a Web App and there are security considerations, I have not bothered to look it up.

New Outlook is regularly updated, sometimes with new features.
Icons on my Desktop do go Off and almost instantly back On updating any Store/UWP/Web App.

I use no system mods, or any so-called "cleaning" App/utility.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10, Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Sorry for the late response @Helmut and @Hornblower409 . I just started a new job last week and i've had no time.
Icons on my Desktop do go Off and almost instantly back On updating any Store/UWP/Web App.
It's interesteing that it only happens for New Outlook on my PC - no other app icon goes blank.

You might be looking at a known Win 11 bug. But the write-up seems to imply that the desktop icon goes blank for any Windows App when it updates. I don't see anything specific to New Outlook. Does not look like the fix has been released yet.

See "Accepted answer - Jul 22, 2025, 8:14 AM"
I understand what is causing Windows 11 desktop shortcut icons to turn blank/white but why is it happening? - Microsoft Q&A
Thanks for the link. Indeed it seems to be a known bug, and a fix is maybe allready on it's way :) Incidentally it hasn't gone blank in the past week.

Fingers crossed, but as the OP in that thread writes: "Not the end of the world but certainly a nuisance."

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
It's interesteing that it only happens for New Outlook on my PC - no other app icon goes blank.
New Outlook was deprecated after a few months, it is no longer an app, just a web app, basically an URL shortcut.
In other words, if you clean browser's cache or cookies, it might be affected, it is tight to Microsoft Edge Settings.
 

My Computer

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    Home26H2Can
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    AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (07/24)
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