Start11 V2: Some program icons replaced by standard icons

Typically this would happen if the target file does not exist at load time.

Are the shortcuts pointing to a file on a network drive and does whatever they point to actually run?

Thank you very much for the quick response! 

Yes, all of the target files exist and are runnable.

If you restart explorer using the button top right in start 11 taskbar settings does the problem continue?

If so does it remain the same if you change the tile size to small from medium on that icon?

Unfortunately, neither of these two fixes worked.

And clicking the links actually works?

That is, clicking the generic items in the start menu? Yes, that starts the respective program.

Are the icons for these apps also generic in the All Apps list?

If you right click one of these apps and select More>Open file location, is the shortcut icon correct or generic?

Now, right click on the resulting shortcut from the above step and select Open file location. Is the program icon correct or generic?

If you right click one of these apps and select More>Pin to taskbar, is the icon correct or generic on the taskbar?

Are the icons correct in the Windows 11 Start menu?

The answers to these questions will help us diagnose your issue.

pelaird

The answer is "no" to all five of your questions: Icons are correct (not generic) in

(1) the Installed-Apps list from settings

(2) the folder with the shortcuts

(3) the folder with the actual executable program (e.g., chrome.exe)

(4) the task bar when I pin it there

(5) in the original (non-Start11) Start menu

Above, I meant the All Apps list in the Start11 menu, not settings.

Try these suggestion in the order listed.

Right click on one of the apps with the generic icon and select Icon>Reset to default.

Right click on one of the apps with the generic icon and select More>Open file location, then drag the shortcut icon from that folder to your Desktop, and now drag the shortcut back into the folder.

Did either of these help?

I see. But in the All Apps list in the Start11 menu, the icons are also wrong (generic).

(1) Icon>Reset to default: the option is gray (non-selectable).

(2) Dragging the shortcuts from and back into their folder helped for the Chrome icon but not for the others (e.g., RStudio, Cisco AnyConnect)

Okay, let's try this with the PDF-XChange Editor.

1) Right click on the PDF-XChange Editor in your Start11 menu and select More>Open file location and leave that folder open.

2) Now open the Start11 menu again and right click the PDF-XChange Editor and select Unpin.

3) In the shortcut folder you opened in step 1, right click the PDF-XChange Editor shortcut and select Delete. Leave this folder open!

4) Open the Start11 menu and look in the All Apps list>Tracker Software folder and see if the PDF-XChange Editor is gone (the "PDF-XChange Editor (No Printer Isolation)" should still be there).

5) Now open a new Explorer window and go to "C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Editor" and right click on PDFXEdit and select Show more options>Create Shortcut.

6) Drag the new shortcut from step 5 into the shortcut folder you opened in step 1. It should be "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Tracker Software"

7) Close all open Explorer menus and restart your computer.

8) After your computer has finished booting, open the Start11 menu and in the All Apps list>Tracker Software folder, right click "PDF-XChange Editor" and select Pin to Start11.

Is the pined PDF-XChange Editor icon correct or still a generic app icon?

Thank you, that worked. Do you suggest I go through the same procedure for all the icons that I am missing? Is it okay if I speed up the process by doing it for all missing icons in one run?

Sure. I'm wasn't sure if just restarting Explorer would work, so that's why I suggested the restart. Yes, you can defiantly make all the changes and then restart your computer.

Good Luck! 

Thank you very much for your help. Meanwhile, I ran into difficulties with the process, particularly wrt. to Start11 itself. After reinstalling it seems to work, at least for now. Hope it persists. Again, thanks a lot.

Glad you got it sorted out.

What issues did you have with Start11v2; was it caused by the process I gave you?

It is also quite possible that uninstalling and reinstalling Start11 might have fixed the icons.   

You should consider updating your Windows 11 to 23H2 - 22631.2506, it's fixed a lot of Explorer issues, and has quite a few new features. If you are not interested, you should at least update to 22H2 - 22631.2506. From there, the update to 23H2 is just an enablement package which simply enables features which are already included in the OS code.

There is also an out-of-band update to Start11v2   Link:   2.01   version 2.0.1.0 if you are interested. Just click the MVP Share icon and then the Download button.

The change log can be found here:  https://forums.stardock.com/523809/get;3909544

pelaird

I don't think it was your suggestion. Rather, I lost track of the file locaction of Start11 and then reinstalled. And yes, in fact, after the reinstall all went well. 

Thanks for the advice regarding the Windows updated. I've just done so and hope that settles the matter for good. I think I'll leave it at that for now.

Again, thank you very much for your guidance.

This began occurring for me with the latest update. SOME program icons change when the apps are opened and it occurs whether the original program icon was changed or not. Neither changing the icon nor restarting Explorer helps: The icon on the task bar changes when the app is opened and reverts back when it is closed. This did not occur with the build before this.

It's damned annoying is what it is. Not your finest hour, Stardock. 

Which mode is your taskbar set to?

Icons may well change as pinned items use the icon from the exe, but depending on taskbar mode it may well use the window icon which could be entirely different (for example This Computer in Windows doesn't use an explorer folder icon)

An example of an impacted app would be very useful too.

This thread is also not to do with Taskbar icons but icons in the menu itself.