xlicons.exe is a legitimate Microsoft Excel 2010 executable, but a filename by itself does not prove that a copy is genuine. Microsoft’s Excel 2010 file inventory lists version 14.0.7120.5000, with a size of 1,480,360 bytes. To decide whether the copy on your PC is safe, verify its full path, Microsoft digital signature, version, and relationship to the Office release you installed. If Excel reports an xlicons.exe error, repair Office from Windows before attempting a reinstall or replacing any file.
What is xlicons.exe?
xlicons.exe is an executable component associated with Microsoft Excel 2010. Microsoft’s September 13, 2016 security-update file table lists the file for supported 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) Excel 2010 installations. The inventory records version 14.0.7120.5000, a file size of 1,480,360 bytes, and a dated file attribute of March 5, 2014.
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Microsoft’s November 8, 2016 update inventory also identifies xlicons.exe as part of Excel 2010. Those records establish what a legitimate Excel 2010 component looks like; they do not authenticate every file carrying the same name. A malicious program can use a familiar filename, so the location and signature matter as much as the name.
| Reference attribute | Microsoft Excel 2010 listing | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Filename | xlicons.exe |
Confirms the name, but not authenticity by itself |
| Version | 14.0.7120.5000 |
Supporting evidence for the Excel 2010 build listed by Microsoft |
| Size | 1,480,360 bytes |
Supporting evidence for that same inventory entry |
| Dated file attribute | March 5, 2014 | A historical attribute in Microsoft’s 2016 file table |
| Architectures listed | x86 and x64 Excel 2010 | Shows that Microsoft published the component for both supported architectures |
The version and size above are a reference for the Excel 2010 build documented by Microsoft. They are not a universal current value for every Office release, update channel, or later build.
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Is xlicons.exe safe?
A copy is consistent with the legitimate component when it is inside the Microsoft Office or Excel directory used by your installation, has a valid Microsoft digital signature, and belongs to the Office generation installed on the computer. A copy in a temporary folder, Downloads, a user-profile directory, or another unexpected location should be treated as suspicious until it has been scanned and verified.
Microsoft’s DLL security guidance describes DLL preloading, also called binary planting: when an attacker controls a directory in a search path, Windows can load a malicious file from that directory. Although xlicons.exe is an executable, the same basic safety principle applies here—an expected filename in an unexpected location is not proof of legitimacy.
Check the file’s location
- When the error or process appears, open Task Manager. You can also locate the file in File Explorer if you already know where it is.
- Right-click the
xlicons.exeentry and choose Open file location. In File Explorer, use the address bar to record the complete path. - Compare that path with the Office or Excel directory used by the installed product. Do not assume that a file in a temporary, Downloads, or profile folder is genuine.
Validate the Microsoft signature
- Right-click the file and choose Properties.
- Open the Digital Signatures tab.
- Check that the signer is Microsoft and open the signature details to confirm that Windows reports the signature as valid.
A failed, missing, or invalid signature is a reason to stop launching that copy and investigate it with your security software. It is not a reason to download another executable from a file-sharing site.
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Open the file’s Properties and note its version and size. Compare them with the Excel 2010 reference above only when the computer actually has Excel 2010. Newer Microsoft 365 or Office releases can use different builds and attributes, so a mismatch with the 2010 numbers alone does not prove malware. The comparison is useful evidence alongside the path and signature, not a standalone authentication test.
Architecture matters as well. Microsoft’s table contains entries for both x86 and x64 Excel 2010, but that does not mean a file copied from one architecture is interchangeable with the other. Match the installed Office architecture and edition instead of assuming that any identically named file will work.
Scan before making changes
Scan the file with Microsoft Defender or your organization’s endpoint-security tool. If the scanner flags it, follow the security product’s quarantine or removal process rather than deleting random Office files manually. If the file is outside the Office directory, repeatedly launches, causes high CPU use, or produces unexplained pop-ups, do not keep opening it while you investigate.
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Keep the scan result and the original path. Those details help an administrator determine whether the event was a damaged Office installation or an impersonation attempt. Do not disable antivirus protection to test an unsigned file.
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Why do xlicons.exe errors happen?
Most messages such as “xlicons.exe not found,” “xlicons.exe missing,” or “xlicons.exe application error” indicate that Office cannot use the expected component. A damaged or incomplete Office installation is a common explanation. An update that did not finish cleanly, or a computer with more than one Office version or architecture installed, can also leave the active product with mismatched files.
The same message can have a security explanation when the file is in an unexpected directory or fails its signature check. In that case, treat the event as possible impersonation rather than trying to repair the suspicious file in place.
Match the symptom to the likely path
| Symptom | First interpretation | First action |
|---|---|---|
xlicons.exe not found or a missing-file dialog |
Office files may be damaged or incomplete | Run the Office repair sequence, then reinstall if repair fails |
| An application-start error immediately after an update | Office versions or architectures may be mixed, or an update may be incomplete | Record the active Office product and run its repair; check for other Office installations |
| High CPU, repeated pop-ups, or a file outside the Office directory | Possible impersonation or malware | Stop launching the file and scan it with security software |
| Digital-signature failure | The copy cannot be trusted as a normal Microsoft component | Quarantine or remove it through security tooling, then repair Office from a trusted source |
What to record before repairing Office
Collecting a few details prevents you from repairing the wrong installation and gives you a useful record if the problem returns.
- The exact error text, including whether it says the file is missing, cannot start, or has stopped working.
- The complete file path shown by Open file location.
- The file version, size, and digital-signature result from Properties.
- The Office product name and edition shown in your installed-app list or Office account.
- Whether the installation uses Click-to-Run or MSI technology.
- Whether the error began after an Office or Windows update, or after another Office version was installed.
Keep this information even if the first repair appears to work. It helps distinguish a one-time damaged installation from a recurring installation conflict. If you contact workplace support, provide the recorded path and signature result rather than emailing the executable itself.
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How to fix xlicons.exe errors manually
Use the following sequence from least disruptive to most disruptive. The repair controls differ between Click-to-Run and MSI-based Office, so select the branch that matches your installation.
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1. Run Office Quick Repair first
- In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
- Select the ellipsis button next to the entry and choose Modify.
- For a Click-to-Run installation, select Quick Repair, then choose Repair.
- Allow the process to finish, restart Windows if requested, and test Excel again.
Quick Repair is the appropriate first pass when the installation is present but one or more files may be damaged. Close Office applications before starting and save open documents. Repairing the suite can affect Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other installed Office programs, so close all of them first.
2. Use Online Repair when Quick Repair does not work
- Return to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select the ellipsis beside Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, choose Modify, and select Online Repair.
- Choose Repair and let the more complete repair finish.
- Restart Windows and open the same workbook or action that produced the error.
Microsoft describes Online Repair as the more complete option. It can take longer than Quick Repair and may require Office to be reconfigured, so note any custom Office settings you need before running it. Microsoft’s support wording is explicit: “This will repair the entire Office suite even if it’s just one application you want to repair such as Word or Excel.”
3. Repair an MSI-based Office installation
- Open the installed-app entry for Microsoft Office using the same Windows Settings path.
- Choose Modify. For an MSI-based installation, Microsoft presents Change rather than the Click-to-Run choices.
- Select Repair, continue through the prompts, and restart Windows when the process completes.
Do not select a Click-to-Run option when the entry exposes MSI controls. The installation technology determines which repair workflow Windows can use. If both Microsoft 365 and an older Office entry appear, record both before changing either one.
4. Try Windows’ app-level Repair or Reset when it is offered
Some Windows applications expose their own controls at Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Advanced options. If the entry provides Repair, use it first. If Repair is unavailable or does not solve the problem, Windows may offer Reset.
Office installations commonly expose their own Modify and repair workflow instead. When those controls are present, use the Office-specific Quick Repair, Online Repair, or MSI Repair instructions above rather than forcing a generic app reset.
5. Install pending Windows and Office updates
After recording the error, install pending updates for Windows and Office through the update controls already provided by your installation. An incomplete update or an older MSI/Click-to-Run installation mixed with another Office version can leave components out of sync. Restart after updates and test Excel before moving to a reinstall.
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If more than one Office version or architecture is installed, identify which product is active and repair that product. Multiple installations can make it unclear which copy of xlicons.exe Excel is trying to use. Remove duplicate or obsolete installations only after confirming which license and edition you need to retain.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match6. Uninstall and reinstall Office if repair fails
- Use Microsoft’s Office uninstall troubleshooter to remove the damaged Office installation.
- Restart Windows after the removal completes.
- Reinstall the Microsoft 365 or Office release that matches your license, product key, edition, and intended architecture.
- Use Microsoft’s installation service or licensed installation media. Do not obtain a standalone
xlicons.exereplacement from a file-sharing site. - Open Excel and apply pending Office updates before testing the workflow that originally failed.
For a legacy Excel 2010 license, legitimate Office 2010 or Excel 2010 installation media may be necessary. Verify the edition, x86 or x64 architecture, product-key compatibility, and seller authenticity before using any physical media. A disc that does not match the licensed product can leave you with a different or incomplete installation.
What not to do with a missing xlicons.exe file
- Do not download a similarly named executable from a file-sharing or “DLL fix” website.
- Do not copy a file from another computer unless you can establish that the Office release, edition, architecture, signature, and update level all match—and even then, Microsoft’s repair workflow is safer.
- Do not disable security software simply to make an unsigned or suspicious copy run.
- Do not delete a file from the Office directory before recording its path and checking the signature; removing the wrong component can make repair more difficult.
- Do not rely on a matching filename, date, or byte count as the only proof of authenticity. Microsoft does not publish one universal current hash for every build.
Choosing the right remedy
| Remedy | Best fit | Repair depth | Trusted source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Repair | Click-to-Run Office with a likely damaged component | First Office repair level | Windows’ Microsoft Office Modify workflow |
| Online Repair | Click-to-Run Office that still fails after Quick Repair | More complete Office repair | Windows’ Microsoft Office Modify workflow |
| MSI Repair | Office entries that expose MSI controls | Repair through Change > Repair | Windows’ installed Office entry |
| Windows app Repair | An installed-app entry that exposes Advanced options > Repair | Application-level repair | Windows Settings |
| Uninstall and reinstall | Repair attempts fail or the installation is incomplete | Fresh Office installation | Microsoft installation service or matching licensed media |
| Security response | Unexpected path, invalid signature, or security detection | Quarantine or remove the untrusted copy, then repair Office | Microsoft Defender or your organization’s endpoint-security tooling |
The safest progression is therefore provenance check, security scan, Quick Repair, Online Repair or MSI Repair, updates, and finally uninstall/reinstall. Skipping directly to a downloaded executable reverses that order and introduces an unnecessary security risk.
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A successful repair should let Excel open without the original xlicons.exe message and should place the active component back in the expected Office directory. Recheck the path and signature if the file was previously found somewhere unusual.
If the same error returns, compare the error timing with Office updates, check whether another Office edition or architecture remains installed, and repeat the identification steps before attempting another repair. A recurring error from a file that fails signature validation is a security case, not an ordinary Office-file repair case.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsMicrosoft publishes file attributes for Excel 2010, but it does not provide one universal current hash for every xlicons.exe build. That is why version and size should support—not replace—the path check, signature validation, security scan, and repair from trusted Office media.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is xlicons.exe?
It is a Microsoft Excel 2010 executable listed in Microsoft security-update inventories. The documented Excel 2010 reference is version 14.0.7120.5000 and 1,480,360 bytes, but the filename alone cannot authenticate a copy.
Is xlicons.exe safe?
It is consistent with a legitimate file when it is in the installed Office directory, has a valid Microsoft digital signature, matches the installed Office generation, and passes a security scan. A copy in Downloads, a temporary folder, or a user-profile directory needs investigation.
How do I fix xlicons.exe errors?
Record the error and file details, then use Microsoft Office’s Modify workflow. Run Quick Repair first for Click-to-Run, Online Repair if needed, or Change > Repair for MSI installations. Update Office and Windows, and reinstall only if repair fails.
What should I do when xlicons.exe is missing?
Do not download a replacement executable. Use Office Repair to restore damaged files. If repair fails, remove Office with Microsoft’s uninstall troubleshooter and reinstall the licensed edition from Microsoft or matching installation media.
Why does xlicons.exe show an application error after an update?
An incomplete update or mixed Office versions or architectures can leave components mismatched. Identify the active Office product, check for duplicate installations, install pending updates, and repair the correct entry.
Does the Excel 2010 size prove that my file is genuine?
No. Version and size are supporting evidence only. Microsoft’s 1,480,360-byte listing applies to a documented Excel 2010 build, not every later Office release. Use the path, signature, and security scan as well.
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Stop launching that copy and scan it with Microsoft Defender or your organization’s endpoint-security tool. Quarantine or remove it through security tooling, then repair Office from a trusted Microsoft source.
Can I use Office 2010 installation media to fix this file?
You can use genuine Office 2010 or Excel 2010 media when you have a valid license, but verify the edition, x86 or x64 architecture, product-key compatibility, and seller authenticity. Do not use random discs or standalone executables.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: xlicons.exe is a documented Excel 2010 component, not automatically malware. Verify its path, Microsoft signature, Office version, and security-scan result. For a normal missing-file or startup error, use Quick Repair, then Online Repair or MSI Repair, update Office and Windows, and reinstall only from Microsoft or matching licensed media if those steps fail.
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