What happened to your PDF icons? Are they see-through now?
That looks weird, right? One second, everything's fine, and the next—your PDF icons turned transparent! The border is white, and the background blends right into your desktop.

So, why does this happen? Sometimes, it's because of a broken setting or a system glitch. But here's something you might not know—your PDF reader could also be the problem! If your default reader isn't set up right or you're using a buggy one, it can make your PDF icon transparent.
But don't worry! We've got easy fixes for all these issues. In this guide, we will show you different ways to bring your PDF icons back to normal. Plus, we'll introduce you to UPDF, a reliable PDF editor that won't give you these problems. Just download UPDF and try it now.
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Let's dive in!
Part 1. 4 Effective Methods to Fix PDF Icon Transparent
In this section, we will explore four simple methods to bring your icons back to normal. Try them one by one, and get your PDF icons back!
Fix 1. Change Default PDF Reader
One big reason for the PDF icon turned transparent could be your default PDF reader! If your computer is set to open PDFs in a browser like Microsoft Edge, it might mess up the icons. The best way to fix this? Switch to a better PDF reader like UPDF!
Why UPDF? UPDF is a free PDF reader packed with amazing features for a better reading experience. You can switch between dark mode and light mode and change the display and view modes. You can also zoom in or out, and even use a slideshow mode to read PDFs like a presentation!
So, download UPDF now and follow the instructions below to make it default!
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- Open your Windows "Settings" and go to "Apps."

- Click "Default apps" and select "Choose default apps by file type."

- Now, find ".pdf" in the file extension list and change the default file opener to UPDF.

So, this is how you can change the default PDF app and it might fix the PDF icon transparent issue.
UPDF is not just a PDF reader—it's also a PDF editor! You can use it to edit text, add annotations, convert files, and more. You can also sign documents and even use its AI assistant to work smarter.
Want to see UPDF in action? Watch this video! Or read this review article to learn more!
Download UPDF now and enjoy the best PDF experience! If you like this software, you can upgrade to pro version at a low price.
Let's move forward to another method!
Fix 2. Reinstall the PDF Reader
If you are someone who likes their default PDF reader and doesn't want to move to any other one, try reinstalling it. Because sometimes, the reader gets bugs and glitches that affect the icon display.
So, reinstall your PDF reader to refresh the settings and remove any glitches.
Let's go step by step to uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Edge as a PDF reader!
(Note: In most Windows computers, Microsoft Edge is a system app and cannot be uninstalled like other apps. So you can repair it. But for other tools, you can uninstall it. )
- Go to Windows "Settings."
- Open "Apps" and click "Apps & features."
- Scroll down and find "Microsoft Edge" in the list. Click it and select Modify. (The uninstall option must be greyed out)

- Next, click "Repair" to reset Edge to its default settings.

- Restart your computer and check if your PDF icons are back to normal.
If you are not able to follow this method or if it didn't fix the PDF icon transparent issue, don't worry! Try the next one.
Fix 3. Restart the Computer
If you are a workaholic and your system keeps running for hours, the possibility is it can glitch, and the common one is the PDF icon turned transparent. Users face this issue very often.
What should you do in that situation? Well, of course, give your system a break. Restart it! System restart basically reboots the device and refreshes everything. It clears temporary bugs and might fix the PDF icon transparent issue instantly.
- Click the "Start menu" (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner.
- Click the "Power" button.
- Click "Restart" and wait for your computer to reboot.

- Once it turns back on, check if your PDF icons are back to normal.
If this method does not work, you can try the last one. We are positive that it will definitely fix the issue.
Fix 4. System Repair
If your system has corrupted or missing files, it can cause weird problems, like PDF icons turned transparent. But don't worry! You can quickly fix the system issues by using the Windows built-in tool.
When you perform System Repair, it will scan your computer, find the problem, and restore your broken files. It is also an easy way to fix glitches; you don't need to reinstall anything.
Here are the steps for system repair:
- Press the "Windows + S" keys and type "Control Panel," then open it.
- Find and open the "Recovery" option.

- Then, click "Configure System Restore."

- In the "System Protection" tab, click "System Restore" and follow the on-screen instructions.

Part 2. Bonus Tip: The Best PDF Reader and Editor
Everyone wants to make their workflow smooth and effective, and we have a perfect solution for that - UPDF. It is one of the most reliable tools to read and edit your PDFs. The best thing about UPDF is that it has everything you may need: a complete solution for PDFs. You can download UPDF via the button below and test it.
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UPDF as a PDF Reader:
- Multiple viewing modes (Single Page, Two-Page, Scrolling).
- Dark mode for comfortable reading.
- Slideshow mode to present PDFs like a presentation.
- Quick zoom in/out for better visibility.
UPDF as a PDF Editor:
- Edit text, images, and links in PDFs easily.
- Add annotations like highlights, underlines, comments, and more.
- Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.
- Fill out and sign PDF forms.
- Use UPDF AI to summarize, translate, and organize the PDF content.
In The End
Wrapping it up! So, now you know what to do if your PDF icons turned transparent.
Sometimes, computers just mess up. But you can easily bring your icons back to normal. We have explored various ways including switching your PDF reader, reinstalling stuff, or restarting your system.
Moreover, if you want an all-in-all PDF reader that won't give you these problems, check out UPDF! It's fun and easy to use and lets you read, edit, and do way more with your PDFs.
So why not give it a try? Download UPDF now!
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