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Windows 11 is one of the best versions of Windows, but it has some bugs. Sometimes, you’ll see something strange, like a ‘Black background behind Folder icons’ issue in Windows 11/10. There are many things that could cause the problem. For example, some people have said that when they copy folders from Windows 7 to Windows 10, they see a black background.
This is a compatibility issue. Even though the black squares behind the folder icons look bad, the problem isn’t that big of a deal. It’s just a graphic error that won’t hurt the files or folders inside.
This problem with the way things look can be caused by corrupted system files or old thumbnail caches. The flaws in the graphics can also happen if the user is using an old graphics driver. In this article, we talk about some ways to fix the black background behind Windows 11/10 folder icons. you can visit Microsoft support center for further help.
Fixed: Black background behind Folder icons in Windows 11/10
Update Windows OS
- Go to PC settings by pressing Windows + I.
- Click on Windows Update on the left-hand panel
- Then click on Check for Updates.
- Finally, click on Download Now if a new build of Windows 11 is available for installation.
Manually Update the Display Driver of your PC
- Press Windows + X > Select Device Manager from the menu
- Click on Display Adapter to expand.
- Right-click on Display driver name > Select Update Driver
- Then select Search Automatically for Drivers.
Refresh the Icon Cache
The icon cache allows an icon to load faster. Over a long time, the cache corrupts, which may cause various glitches. One of that may be the black background behind folder icons. To fix that, you have to rebuild the cache.
- Launch the Command Prompt but make sure to run it as administrator.
- Enter the following command.
- Execute the following command.attrib -h iconcache_*.db
Change to the Default Folder Icon
- Right-click on the folder that is showing a black background.
- Click on Properties from the menu
- In the Properties dialog box, click on the tab Customize.
- Click on the button Change Icon
- Select the primary folder icon and click the OK button to confirm.
Go for a Disk Cleanup on Windows 11
- Press the Windows key to bring up the search console.
- Type Disk Cleanup and let the app show up in the search result. Click Ope
- Select the C drive from the drive selection drop-down menu
- Navigate to the checkbox Thumbnails under the Files to Delete section.
- Click OK.
- Next, click on Delete Files to confirm the action.
FAQ
How do I change the background of a folder to black?
Click on the Personalization tile. Switch to the Colors tab using the menu in the left-side pane. Scroll down until you see the Choose your default Windows mode heading. Here, select Dark to switch into dark mode.
Can folders be in dark mode?
This is easily done by clicking or tapping on the box to open a dropdown menu and then choosing Custom. Next, under the “Choose your default app mode” option below, click or tap on Dark. When you make your selection, the File Explorer Dark Mode is immediately enabled.
Why do some folders have a black background?
If your graphics driver has become outdated or corrupt, it can lead to graphical problems such as the black background behind a folder. You can generally fix the problem by updating the graphics driver. If updating doesn’t work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the graphics driver.
Why is File Explorer background black?
The File Explorer Dark Mode only works with the standard themes that come with Windows. So, you might have trouble with File Explorer Dark Mode not working if you use custom themes. You should return Windows to its default theme by doing the following: Go to Settings > Personalize > Themes.