Blurry/pixelated icons at random in Finder windows

when copying from this board, a space is introduced:

".fram ework/Support/lsregister -kill"

delete the space in the work 'framework' before running the command

You are wasting your time.

This problem will not go away until Apple fixes it, hopefully with Mavericks. I had the same problem and I tried all fixes ever suggested, nothing works permanently. I used to be able just to log out and in to get a temporary fix, even this no longer works.

In order to get proper icons I have to shut down, wait 10 seconds to make sure the hard disk stops spinning and then start up again, a simple restart does not work anymore either. When I use this procedure I’m free of blurry icons for a while or until I copy or install new items/program from a CD or internet.

So, try the full shut down and then upgrade to Mavericks, it should be available soon and let’s hope for the best that Apple finally fixed the problem.

For me nothing works, I tried all of the solutions but they didn't go away. Then I simply duplicated the apps and the duplicates were blur free. I deleted the originals and renamed the copies to the original name. They are blur free now, not sure how long it will last.

As custom icon freak, I also tried all possible fixes to this annoying problem. Apple used to be famous for the sleek and beautiful look of Mac OS interface and this blurry icon bug is just one more thorn in the side of long time Mac users. A shame. A pity.

The icon cache flush is more or less the only fix showing instant, yet temporary, result and since the problem only reappears after displaying a couple hundred custom icons, it makes me wonder: Is there a way to increase the size of this f****** icon cache? My numerous coverflow displaying folders would be eternally grateful!

126280 Views 451 Replies so far...Hey Apple! Ears and eyes are like the a**. You can wipe them sometimes!

10.8.5 and ans still pixelated.

Thanks Mikaël this did the trick for me..

Ah thank you! Hadn't caught that before!

Glad someone posted an edit because this totally worked for me! Thank you so much!

I must correct my previous post, apparently there is a permanent fix (I hope).

I have checked and rechecked numerous folders for blurry icons, a lot of my picture folders, System folder, Utility folder and many more, I can’t find any blurry icons, my icons have not looked this good in years. I have logged out and restarted a number of times which usually screwed up many icons, the only way for a temporary fix was to shut down completely and restart and it would clean up most but never all.

This terminal command has fixed the pixelated icon problem for me, hopefully it is permanent.

Kudos to you Mikaël Barbero and many thanks.

Not finding file:

MacPro:~ Kenny$ .framework/Support/lsregister -kill

-bash: .framework/Support/lsregister: No such file or directory

MacPro:~ Kenny$ .framework/Support/lsregister -kill

-bash: .framework/Support/lsregister: No such file or directory

MacPro:~ Kenny$ /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.fra m ework/Support/lsregister -kill

-bash: /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.fra m: No such file or directory

MacPro:~ Kenny$

I dragged and dropped the lsregister file into terminal and added -kill

and it accepted it. Now to see if it works.

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchSe rvices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill

It doesn't.

Why wouldn't this file automaticaly quit on restart?

Thanks ... Ken

You have to write the whole line at once. When you copy/paste from this forum, a space is introduced between "fra" and "mework" in the middle. You have to remove this space.

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.fram ework/Support/lsregister -kill

Hope this helps!

BTW, thank you everyone for your kudos. I'm glad it helps you!

You're correct.

But not working for me.

Thanks again!!!

Neither for me. Awful icons since Mountain Lion. Never happened under Snow Leopard.

I can cause the blurry/missing/noisy icon problem pretty reliably by setting my folder of Desktop Backgrounds to icon view and scrolling down. After watching the Finder generate icon views for about 800 1920x1200 and 1680x1050 images the creation time starts to slow down - generic jpeg or png icons appear for a second or two before being replaced by the peview icon. Scroll down further and icons never appear at all until after I pass the 1,000 images mark (the halfway point in that folder) then the Finder freezes and restarts. The folders obediantly reopen and the Desktops are at the same spot with clear and correct icons. If I begin scrolling again I get past another hundred or so and then all the newly generated icons are blurry. The occasional icon is completely missing, and several have been replaced by a block of digital noise.

I ran the terminal command to kill the lsregister and nothing changed. I restarted (my usual solution) and the Desktop Backgrounds folder's icons are clear again...until I scroll through them all over again and the same pattern occurs. The blurring starts at a slightly different point, different icons may be missing or noisy, but it's the same pattern. Same thing happens in any folder with lots of decent size images.

I've pretty much given up on using Snow Leopard's Finder for perusing images. If I want to check out a folder I drag it to Graphic Converter - and it gives me much more information and lots more options.

[This has happened on both our SL MacBook Pros since we got them - they came with SL and currently have it fully updated. They both were recently upgraded to 16Gb of RAM with no change in the blyrry icon issue.]

The only fix I've used for blurry icons on Mountain Lion was Mikaël Barbero's terminal command, shown a page or two back on this thread. Some icons cleaned up right after with Finder relaunch, others required a reboot a few days later. I'm not sure it's a permanent fix, but it does do the job (slowly but surely). Maybe others need to also flush the cache file that was noted back in the middle of this thread. Right now, I have sharp icons... maybe only until I upgrade to Mavericks when that comes out... 😀