Why This Happens
When .docx files show a blank white icon instead of the Word icon, it's almost always a Windows icon cache or file association problem, not something wrong with the document itself or your Office license. The fixes below resolve it in most cases.
Step 1: Rebuild the Icon Cache
A corrupted icon cache is the most common cause. Rebuilding it forces Windows to redraw every file icon:
Open Task Manager (right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart.
Once your desktop reloads, check if the Word icon has returned.
Step 2: Reassociate .docx Files with Word
If the icon is still missing, the file type may no longer be linked to Word:
Right-click any .docx file and choose Open with > Choose another app.
Select WordPad, make sure Always use this app is checked, and open the file.
Repeat the same steps, but this time select Word instead. This resets the file association and usually restores the correct icon.
Step 3: Set Word as the Default App
You can also set the default app directly from Windows Settings:
Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
Search for .docx under "Set default for a file type".
Select Word from the list.
Step 4: Repair Your Office Installation
If the icon still doesn't appear, repair Office itself:
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Find Microsoft Office (or Microsoft 365) and select Modify.
Choose Online Repair and follow the prompts, then restart your computer.
Also make sure Windows itself is up to date (Settings > Windows Update). An outdated Windows build can occasionally cause the same icon issue.