Google Chrome not Showing on Desktop: How to Fix

Fixing shortcuts or icon cache issues usually restores the Chrome icon

Browsers » Chrome

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by Cesar Cadenas 

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google chrome icon missing windows 11
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Dealing with a Chrome icon missing from the taskbar, desktop, or task manager? You’re not alone.

Despite being the most popular browser, Google Chrome isn’t a perfect app. Many users deal with errors and bugs, and today we’ll show you how to fix the icon gone missing or changing.

How can I restore a missing Google Chrome icon?

1. Clear out the browser cache

  1. Start by clicking the three dots in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. In the menu that appears, hover over More tools and select Clear browsing data.More tools clear browsing data
  3. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data, as well as Cache images and files.
  4. Set the time range to All time.clear all time data chrome
  5. Click Clear data to empty the data cache.

Before doing any of the other solutions, clearing out the browser cache should be the first thing that you do. In some cases, this is all you need to do.

2. Google Chrome icon missing from the desktop

  1. Bring up Chrome in the Windows Search bar. Right-click and select Open file location.file location setting chrome
  2. Right-click Chrome and select Show more options.
  3. In this new menu, choose Create shortcut, which is found near the bottom.create chrome shortcut
  4. A window may appear asking if you want to create a shortcut on the desktop. Select Yes.

3. Update via ChromeSetup.exe

  1. In the Windows Search bar, bring up ChromeSetup.exe.chromesetup.exe
  2. Click it to run it. Your computer will begin downloading and installing any new updates available.
  3. Give Google Chrome enough time to finish up.complete process
  4. After it’s done, the browser will launch automatically. Both the desktop and taskbar icons should work now.

4. Restore the Chrome icon

  1. Sometimes the Google Chrome icon gets replaced with a white sheet of paper. Right-click it and select Properties.
  2. In the new window, go to the Shortcut tab.
  3. Select the Change Icon button at the bottom.change chrome icon
  4. Select a new icon for Chrome, then click OK.Select a new icon
  5. Click Apply on the last page, then OK to close the window.

5. Pin Chrome icon to taskbar

  1. In the Windows 11 Search bar, locate Google Chrome.
  2. Right-click the entry, and in the menu that appears, select Pin to taskbar.pin chrome to taskbar
  3. If Chrome on your taskbar turns into a white page icon, right-click it and select Unpin from taskbar.
  4. Pin it again from the Start menu.

6. Reset Chrome

  1. Open Chrome and click the three dots in the upper right-hand corner.chrome three dots
  2. Go to Settings and select Reset settings.
  3. Click Restore settings to their original defaults.restore settings to their original defaults
  4. Confirm by selecting Reset settings.

Feel free to comment below if you have questions about other Windows 11 errors. And please tell us if there’s a specific guide for any Google Chrome or browser issue you’d like to see.

More about the topics: Chrome, Google Chrome Errors, Windows 11

Cesar Cadenas

Cesar Cadenas Shield

Networking & Security Specialist

Cesar has been writing for and about technology going on for 6 years when he first started writing tech articles for his university paper. Since then, his passion for technology blossomed into a prosperous writing career. He first started writing about tech in the entertainment world and would later move on to write about smart life tech and social media. He was recently a Technical Writer for tech company Extron where he wrote user guides for audio and video equipment. He has since moved on to being a freelance writer looking to have a career in copywriting and hopes to share his love and knowledge of technology with the world. Recently, Cesar has written for the cryptocurrency news site, BTCPro and helping people understand tech.

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