Member Avatar for mvvette97

It just done this the other day. I can't seem to figure out why it did it and how to fix it. Thanks

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Quick summary and what’s probably happening: this isn’t “every icon is selected” — it’s the icon label backgrounds becoming opaque (the blue/white boxes you see). That usually comes from one of two things: the desktop is being treated as web/Active Desktop content (so icon labels lose transparency), or the display/Visual‑Effects settings that control icon label shadows/transparency are set differently. ’s and ’s suggestions about the Visual‑Effects setting and /’s about removing desktop “web” items are on the right track. (pcreview.co.uk)

Quick, practical checks (fast way to isolate the cause):

  • Test with a plain picture wallpaper saved as a standard JPG (older Windows ties some formats to Active Desktop; converting a PNG to JPG is a common quick test).
  • Try a different user account or Safe Mode to see if the problem follows the user profile or a startup program.
  • If the boxes disappear after those tests, it’s almost always a desktop-item/Active‑Desktop or per‑user setting, not a hardware fault. (learn.microsoft.com)

If adware or “desktop hijack” is suspected: some malware (SpySheriff and similar) changed wallpapers and Active‑Desktop settings back in the XP era and can leave the desktop unchangeable or force HTML/web items onto the desktop. Run up‑to‑date scans with reputable tools (example community‑recommended scanners include Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware), check startup items with an autorun tool, and back up the registry before you edit anything. If you removed malware, some desktop settings may still need manual undoing or a restore. (bleepingcomputer.com)

Notes for newer Windows versions: behavior changed over time — the “drop shadows for icon labels” control can act inconsistently on Windows 10/11 and some updates can make the change require a reboot or interact with transparency settings for Start/Taskbar. If the XP-era fixes don’t apply exactly, try toggling the newer transparency settings and sign out/sign back in. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the above still doesn’t fix it, follow these next steps in order: (1) convert wallpaper to JPG and reapply, (2) check/unlock any desktop web items, (3) test in Safe Mode or a new account, (4) run full malware scans, (5) if comfortable, back up the registry and review Active Desktop/Explorer policy keys or use System Restore.

Recommended Answers

All 24 Replies

Member Avatar for DMR

Can you describe "highlighted" in a bit more detail, please?

Member Avatar for mvvette97

Can you describe "highlighted" in a bit more detail, please?

All of the icons have a blue highlight around every icon. It's like a square blue box covering each icon.

Member Avatar for caperjack

All of the icons have a blue highlight around every icon. It's like a square blue box covering each icon.

If they are highlited in the real meaning of the word ,when reffering to a desktop icon, then when you click on one to open the program , they would all try and open there respected programs , does this happen to you .

Member Avatar for jbennet

IN Windows under display (i think its effects button or so metging) there is a thing where u tell windows how much eye candy you want. One of these, when off makes a box around the icons name the colour of the desktop rather than being transpapernt

Member Avatar for DMR

IN Windows under display (i think its effects button or so metging) there is a thing where u tell windows how much eye candy you want.

I thought the same thing, but I can't find that setting anywhere... :?:

Member Avatar for goldeagle2005

System Properties>Advanced tab, under performance, click settings. In the Performance Options dialog box, check the second last option (Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop). This will get rid of your "Highlighted Icons"

Member Avatar for mvvette97

System Properties>Advanced tab, under performance, click settings. In the Performance Options dialog box, check the second last option (Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop). This will get rid of your "Highlighted Icons"

Thanks , I'll give it a try.

Member Avatar for jbennet

For some really dumb reason in XP Home the menu is under the system applet in control panel -> click on the advanced tab-> click performance button

Member Avatar for goldeagle2005

The system applet is the system properties. The same as right clicking My Computer and choosing Properties fraom the menu

Member Avatar for eds_pro

It sounds like what you are describing is not that icons are highlighted but that the desktop icons lost transparency. Meaning that background behind the text of the icon is different colour than the desktop background (it could be white or blue in colour). Depending on your desktop background colour, it could make it appear that all your desktop icons are highlighted.

Was the icons on your pc working correctly before and have just started looking funny. If so I suspect this is the case. Also did you recently remove the Spy Sherriff virus from your pc?

I had a variant of the Spy Sherriff virus. One of the symptoms was my desktop background changed to an all white background and I was not able to change it. The other symptom was my desktop icons lost transparency (as described above). I found the following link was very helpful in resolving the first symptom.

If the second symptom I described sounds like the problem you are experiencing, I
resolved the second sympton as follows:
1. Go into the registry by starting RegEdit.exe from the start button.
2. Look for this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer and delete this branch.
3. Restart your system and this should resolve your problem.

Member Avatar for redletters

It just done this the other day. I can't seem to figure out why it did it and how to fix it. Thanks

can you help me in finding a solution to my problem with the icons being highlighted, thanks redletters.

Member Avatar for jbennet

do what i said

Member Avatar for jamdorj

can you help me in finding a solution to my problem with the icons being highlighted, thanks redletters.

I had the same problem few days ago and found the solution. Here's what you should do:
Right click desktop and click properties> click desktop>customize desktop>then web, there was a webpage selected that was apparently added by adware and when you delete it the icons should revert back to normal. Hope this helps. :)

Member Avatar for Christina2

I had the same problem few days ago and found the solution. Here's what you should do:
Right click desktop and click properties> click desktop>customize desktop>then web, there was a webpage selected that was apparently added by adware and when you delete it the icons should revert back to normal. Hope this helps. :)

This is how I fixed mine: right-click on the desktop, go to Arrange Icons By and make sure Lock Web Items on Desktop is not checked.

My 1 year old had pushed some buttons on my keyboard and made the icons highlight in blue. It took me three days to figure out how to fix it.

Member Avatar for TapouT

System Properties>Advanced tab, under performance, click settings. In the Performance Options dialog box, check the second last option (Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop). This will get rid of your "Highlighted Icons"

I was just going to say that. Completely works.

Member Avatar for ernestww

Thank you jamdorj! That fixed it.

Member Avatar for Persephone2

this highlight problem happened to me too. I was trying to copy and paste an image from MSWord to my desktop.

It's fixed now thanks to your advice.
I don't really think it was adware..here's what I did:
properties> click desktop>customize desktop> then pick another image, and then go back to the image I was using.

thanks again! :)

I had the same problem few days ago and found the solution. Here's what you should do:
Right click desktop and click properties> click desktop>customize desktop>then web, there was a webpage selected that was apparently added by adware and when you delete it the icons should revert back to normal. Hope this helps. :)

Member Avatar for cryshnon

:$ Wow! That got it done. I had the same problem with my computer. I got that shadows thing checked and it got rid of the blue highlight.

Member Avatar for rayzalloyd

thank you jamdorj that helped me thanks man

Member Avatar for mmkannan

I had the same problem few days ago and found the solution. Here's what you should do:
Right click desktop and click properties> click desktop>customize desktop>then web, there was a webpage selected that was apparently added by adware and when you delete it the icons should revert back to normal. Hope this helps. :)

you rock....... its really working...... thanks a lot

Member Avatar for jal11

my desktop icon text highlighted blue all

Member Avatar for jal11

my desktop item text highlight blue

Member Avatar for jay061285

I have the same problem. technically, i know those tips you've given to this problem. But as i can barely recall, i was in the MS word application, trying to copy a pic in that document, accidentally, i pasted in the desktop (that i know supposed to be, it can't paste it here, but it is done). A warning showed but i can't recall the message, without any knowledge, i just click yes, then all of the sudden all icons turned to blue. that's it...

any help/tips aside from mentioned above? thanks...

Member Avatar for balakrishnanm02

my desktop icons highlited in blue colour, i want to remove it , how ?

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