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Custom icons for Endpoint Policy Manager Start Screen & Taskbar Manager aren't working as expected. What can I do?

There are a few reasons that custom icons might not work in Netwrix Endpoint Policy Manager (formerly PolicyPak) Start Screen & Taskbar Manager. Please work through this list to determine why you are not seeing custom icons as expected.

Problem 1: Underlying application has a manifest file​

The most common reason is that the underlying application (Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge) have a manifest file which overrides the ability for Endpoint Policy Manager Start Screen & Taskbar Manager to deliver the icon as expected.

Watch this video first: Endpoint Policy Manager Start Screen Manager and Special Custom Icons.

Problem 2: You are attempting to use UNC paths for icons​

Do not attempt to use UNC paths (\\server\share\app.exe ) when pointing to an item containing your alternate icons.

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The application must reside locally on the machine (c:\temp\app1.exe) for the icons to appear as expected.

Problem 3: The application's installation placed a shortcut file in Program Files or AppData​

Endpoint Policy Manager Start Screen & Taskbar MUST and can ONLY use the shortcuts placed by the application itself when it does so to

%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu and sub folders.
        %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and sub folders.

For instance, you cannot use alternate icon for anything listed here…. (%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu)

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Or here…

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Or here… (%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs)

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or

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If you attempt to make a Endpoint Policy Manager Start Screen & Taskbar item and attempt to use an alternate shortcut… it will not work.

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You will only get the Chrome's default icon, because it already exists as a shortcut in Start menu | Programs.

To overcome this, you must delete (manually or using Group Policy Prefs, etc.) the file which is being used by the application. Here's an example using Chrome.

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The final result AFTER you delete the shortcut within %programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu or %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs will get you the results you are seeking like this.

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