Change the Icon Cache Size (All Windows)

Registry Guide for Windows
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Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows.

Change the Icon Cache Size (All Windows)
Category: Home > Windows > Troubleshooting

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If you desktop icons are redrawing too frequently or are corrupt, it could be because the icon cache is full. Try increasing the size by changing this setting.

Open your registry and find the key below.

Create a new string value, or modify the existing value, called "Max Cached Icons" and set it to "2000". This will increase the maximum icon cache to 2MB.

Restart Windows for the change to take effect.


(Default)	REG_SZ	(value not set)
Max Cached Icons	REG_SZ	"4096"


	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
Name: Max Cached Icons
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value: 100 - 4096 (default = 500)

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Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

Last Modified: August 9, 2002

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