Windows 10: Change Icon Cache Size in Windows

How to: Change Icon Cache Size in Windows

How to Change Icon Cache Size in Windows


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.

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, and Windows 10.

*note You must be signed in as an administrator to change the icon cache size.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Change Icon Cache Size using a REG file
• Option Two: Manually Change Icon Cache Size in Registry Editor

OPTION ONE [/i] Change Icon Cache Size using a REG file
*note The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Max Cached Icons string value

(delete) = Default
4096 = 4 MB


1. Do step 2 (4 MB) or step 3 (default) below for what you would like to do.


2. To 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

Download

3. To 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

Download

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.




OPTION TWO [/i] Manually Change Icon Cache Size in Registry Editor
1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow 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)

*note 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. Enter the icon 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


Related Tutorials

• How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Windows 10

:)

 

Font and Icon size

Hi Vickie,

It's possible that some settings were accidentally changed, affecting your icons and font size. We'd like to learn more about your concern so that we could provide the proper resolution. We just have a few questions for you:

• Which build version of Windows 10 is on your computer? To check, click
  Start, type winver, and press Enter. For example, 14393.1066.
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

As initial recommendation, we suggest following these steps to change the icon size:

• Right-click on an empty space on your desktop.
• Select View.
• Choose Medium icons or Small icons, whichever you prefer more.
  

Additionally, you can change the display size of texts and other items by following these steps:

• Right-click on an empty space on your desktop.
• Click Display settings.
• Under Change the size of text, apps, and other items, drag the slider over to 100%.
  
• If the slider is already on 100%, click Advanced display settings.
• Under Resolution, choose the Recommended option from the drop-down choices.

We'll wait for your response to our questions and the results of the initial troubleshooting.

 

Change icon size on vista 64

but it works EVERYWHERE, not just icon size.

MSN, IE, firefox, desktop icons, size of icons in folders... EVERYWHERE MUAHAHAHAHAHA


edit: no actually, it doesnt work on real humans breasts or genitals. it only works on windows PC's.

 

change desk icon size in windows 10

Hi Beth,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern regarding the issue that you are facing.

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps

• Go to system tray and click on all settings
• Select system, click on display
• Go to the right side of the Display segment and use the slider to
  change the size of text, apps and other items on your Windows 10

To resize the desktop icons, select all the icons on the desktop (or only the ones you want to resize), hold down the Control key and rotate the mouse wheel. All of the selected icons will resize.



Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us and we would be happy to help

Thanks and Regards

 

Windows vista x64 computer icon always changing

what icons are you referring to?
In the Windows Explorer list or desktop?

 

change desk icon size in windows 10

This step works once but just for the size of the icon. Then when turned off the size changes again. Even if changing the size of the icon, when opened the application text is the wrong size.