What are these brown box icons in left bottom corner of my files??

Anonymous
2022-03-07T21:29:56+00:00

Does anyone know where these small brown box icons came from and what they mean?? I suddenly have these little brown icons (looks like a small file box) on most of my files, Word, pdf, photos, etc. I've googled the daylights out of this and apparently lots of folks have the same question but no one has an answer. I hasn't affected my ability to open files but it's really annoying! (see pic below) Does it have something to do with my upgrade to Windows 11?

Thanks!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2022-04-23T00:35:08+00:00

Had this exact same issue today. The resolution was quick no reinstall. I'm on Win11, so perhaps that was a plus in this scenario. Here's the fix that worked for me:

  1. Open windows explorer <windows-key + e>
  2. If you're using OneDrive you should see something like "OneDrive - Personal" within the left-hand pane. If so, Right-Click to access the context-menu.
  3. You should see the menu-item: "Always keep on this device", select this.
  4. Recheck your desktop; no more brown boxes, yay!

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-07-11T02:10:48+00:00

    There's two different One Drives though. At least I have two. One says personal but I can't go in it as an administrator. It says only a user which I can't understand. Then there is another One Drive. 🤔

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-07-11T02:13:26+00:00

    I only wish I would have never upgraded to Windows 11. That's exactly when I've been having problems with it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-07-11T05:11:44+00:00

    There was no option but windows 11 on my new laptop. I agree that I have had a lot more problem since dealing with the windows 11 that I ever did with windows 10.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-07-11T05:13:57+00:00

    that seemed to work. However, 24 hours later the boxes were back and then the fix didn't work. I have returned that computer. Our computer repair store in town was able to open some of the picture folders, but mostly not.

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