Everything in the Windows 11 search bar is now red squares.

Troubleshooting Red Squares in Windows 11 Search Bar Following File Transfer Incident

Introduction

Many Windows 11 users have recently reported unusual visual glitches within their operating system, particularly with the search bar interface displaying red square icons instead of normal graphics. These issues often follow system crashes or unexpected behaviors during file sharing activities. In this article, we will explore a case where an ASUS ROG Strix G16 experienced such problems after attempting a file transfer via Snapdrop or Limewire, highlighting potential causes and steps for resolution.

Case Overview

A user working on a Windows 11 device, specifically an ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LW, encountered system instability and visual anomalies. After initiating a file transfer through peer-to-peer sharing tools, the laptop experienced a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with the error code ‘MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS.’ Following this crash, the search bar’s icons appeared distorted: some became invisible, while others displayed as red squares alongside text. Despite thorough scans using System File Checker, Windows Security, and Malwarebytes—all returning clean results—the issue persisted.

Possible Causes

The incident suggests several potential underlying factors:

1. System Corruption or Driver Issues: The BSOD indicates possible driver conflicts or hardware malfunctions, which may also impact UI rendering.

2. Visual or Font Cache Corruption: Corrupted icon caches or font files can cause icons to display incorrectly.

3. Malware or Unauthorized Downloads: Concerns about hidden downloads or malicious activity are common, especially when file-sharing tools are involved, although scans returned no threats.

4. Software Conflicts: File-sharing applications might conflict with system components, leading to graphical glitches.

Steps for Resolution

1. Restart Your Computer

Begin with a simple reboot to clear temporary glitches. Sometimes, visual anomalies resolve after a restart.

1. Clear Icon and Font Cache

Corrupted caches can cause display issues. To reset them:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

• Clear icon cache with following commands:

bash
taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
del /A iconcache.db /Q
del /A /F /Q "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*"
start explorer.exe

• Restart your device and check if the icons return to normal.

• Run System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)

These tools repair corrupted system files:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

• Execute:

“`