When clicking an app icon in Windows, it opens another next by app

This issue where clicking an app icon in Windows opens a different app could be due to several reasons, such as a corrupted user profile, a problem with the Start menu, or issues with the app shortcuts. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and fix the problem:

1. Restart Your Computer

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve the issue.

2. Check for Windows Updates

Make sure your system is up to date:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security.
2. Click Check for updates.

3. Rebuild the Icon Cache

Rebuilding the icon cache can often fix icon-related issues:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command:bashCopy codeie4uinit.exe -show taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F DEL /A /Q "%localappdata%\IconCache.db" DEL /A /F /Q "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*" shutdown /r /f /t 00

4. Reset the Windows Start Menu

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Run the following command:powershellCopy codeGet-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

5. Recreate the App Shortcuts

Sometimes, the shortcuts themselves may be corrupted. Recreate the shortcuts:

1. Delete the existing shortcut.
2. Navigate to the app’s installation directory.
3. Right-click the app’s executable file and select Create shortcut.
4. Move the new shortcut to the desired location.

6. Check for Malware

Malware can sometimes cause unexpected behavior. Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or your preferred antivirus software.

7. Create a New User Profile

If the issue persists, try creating a new user profile:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click Add someone else to this PC.
3. Follow the prompts to create a new user account.
4. Log in with the new account and see if the issue persists.

8. System Restore

If the problem started recently, performing a system restore might help:

1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System.
2. Click System protection in the left pane.
3. Click System Restore and follow the prompts to restore your system to an earlier point.

9. Reinstall the Problematic Apps

If specific apps are causing the issue, try reinstalling them:

1. Uninstall the problematic apps.
2. Download and install the latest versions from the official websites.