Office Icons are all missing/replaced by generic white icons

Anonymous
2010-08-03T08:01:12+00:00

For some reason all my office products (word, excel, outlook, access etc.) icons in the start menu and desktop task bar have all been replaced by the generic white icons.

I am unable to uninstall or repair this. I believe (from what I've read on the internet) that it is connected to the "C:\windows\installer" folder and the Office installer files.

Can this problem be solved without having to re-install windows ( as that is the only way I think its possible to be albe to reset the office suite).

Cheers,

Jurgens

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-09-24T16:39:18+00:00

I had the same issue as everyone here and I think I've FINALLY figured out a solution!

Go to c:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/Office 14

Right click on each program icon individually and unpin from BOTH your Taskbar and/or Start Menu. (e.g. EXCEL.EXE, MSACCESS.EXE, MSPUB.EXE, OUTLOOK.EXE, POWERPNT.EXE, WINWORD.EXE, etc.)

Then right click and select  "Pin to Start Menu" (not to Taskbar).

Do this for each program you want to eventually make it onto your Taskbar.

Now go to Start and then for each program (that should now show in start menu with the actual Microsoft Office icon), right click and select "Pin to Taskbar".

You can then Remove each one from the Start Menu if you wish by right clicking again and selecting "Remove from this List".

Your icons should now be back to their original format.

I've rebooted my system several times so far and the icons have remained.

Hopefully this will work for everyone else as well!

Good Luck!!!

Was this answer helpful?

600+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

123 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T13:49:14+00:00

    Bravo!!!! 

    A Bright solution!

    Thanks a dozen,

    Shai

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-24T02:39:30+00:00

    Graham,

    I think what bothers me the most about Microsoft is that there is no definitive answers. 

    For example your guess has been repeated hundreds of times and it doesn't work on this problem.   So please, if you don't have the answer, don't guess.

    Microsoft is one of the only vendors that expect you to pay for their product so you can have the privilege of fixing their errors.

    The key difference pointed out by Jurgens is that it is the OFFICE ICONS that show up in white.  He didn't say all icons, nor did he say the third party ones.

    I've got the same problem.  Still waiting for Microsoft to stop guessing or expecting me to pay someone to fix their problem.

    Best to you,

    Ken

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-24T03:12:54+00:00

    J.D.

    I looked in Office 14 and only had two Office programs there!!!!

    I've noticed if click on Start - Default Programs and then Set Your Default Programs that the MS Office Programs don't show up their either.

    I can click on a Word file and MS Words starts ok, but the icons are messed up in a major way.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments