Tips to open ICL file

Can't open the ICL file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ICL files as well as a list of programs that support ICL files.

ICL file extension

File Name Windows Icon Library Format
File Developer Microsoft
File Category System Files

The ICL file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ICL files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ICL file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 6
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ICL file?

The file in the ICL format belongs to the System Files category. The author of this format is Microsoft. System Files consists of 323 similar files. Windows Icon Library Format appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The main program that supports this format is Microsoft Windows. This was created by Microsoft Corporation. There are also 5 alternative programs to handle the ICL file. The IconUtils, IconWorkshop, ActivIcons, Icon Catcher programs will also handle the file when the Microsoft Windows program does not fulfill its role.

How to open ICL file?

An often recurring problem with Windows Icon Library Format is that ICL is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that ICL files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ICL file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Microsoft Windows

The first step is to check if the computer has the Microsoft Windows program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Microsoft Windows in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support ICL files.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Windows with ICL files

If, despite the installed application, the ICL file does not start in the Microsoft Windows application, you must create a file association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Microsoft Windows application as the default for handling the ICL file.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Windows to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Microsoft Windows program with the Windows Icon Library Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Microsoft Corporation website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ICL file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the ICL file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file ICL or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected ICL files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the ICL file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair ICL file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Microsoft, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted ICL files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. Copying the ICL file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the ICL file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.