When you add a Quick Links web part to a SharePoint page, you can assign icons to each link. Some site owners report that these icons disappear after editing the page or after a site migration. This problem typically occurs because the icon source is not stored in a way that survives page republishing or because the icon file itself becomes inaccessible. This article explains why icons vanish from the Quick Links web part and shows you the settings and workarounds that prevent icon loss.
Key Takeaways: Quick Links Icon Loss Prevention
- Quick Links web part > Edit web part > Icon picker: Use the built-in icon picker instead of custom image URLs to keep icons after republishing.
- SharePoint admin center > Site collections > Site collection storage limits: Check that the icon image file is stored in a SharePoint library that is not deleted or moved.
- Page republishing workflow: Always republish the page after adding or changing icons to commit the metadata that links the icon to the link.
Why Quick Links Icons Disappear After Editing or Migration
The Quick Links web part stores each link as a JSON object inside the page content. The icon property can reference either a built-in icon from SharePoint’s icon library or a custom image URL. When you edit the page and save it, SharePoint serializes the web part data again. If the icon source is a relative URL that points to a file in a document library, and that file is moved, renamed, or deleted, the icon breaks.
During site migration or site copy operations, the page content is copied, but the associated image files may not be copied if they reside in a library that is excluded from the migration scope. The Quick Links web part does not warn you that the icon file is missing. It simply shows the link without an icon.
Another common cause is using the classic icon picker, which stores a reference to a file in the Site Assets library. When the page is republished by a different user or through a script, the relative path can change. The icon then appears blank.
Steps to Check Quick Links Icon Settings and Prevent Icon Loss
Follow these steps to verify the current icon configuration and to apply a stable icon source that survives page edits and migrations.
- Open the page in edit mode
Go to the SharePoint site that contains the Quick Links web part. Select Edit at the top right of the page to enter editing mode. - Edit the Quick Links web part
Click the pencil icon on the Quick Links web part to open the property pane on the right side of the screen. - Select a link and check the icon source
Click the pencil icon next to one of the links in the list. In the link editing dialog, look at the Icon field. If it shows a URL that starts with /sites/ or /SiteAssets/, the icon is pointing to a file. This is the most fragile configuration. - Replace a file-based icon with a built-in icon
Click the icon selector button next to the Icon field. Choose an icon from the built-in library. Built-in icons are stored in SharePoint’s system assets and never break. Click Select. - Save the link and republish the page
Click Save in the link dialog. Then click Republish in the top toolbar of the page editor. This step commits the icon reference to the page content.
If You Must Use a Custom Image as an Icon
Some site owners prefer to use a company logo or a custom graphic as the Quick Links icon. To minimize the risk of icon loss, store the image file in the same document library that holds the page. Use a relative URL that starts with /sites/sitename/libraryname/filename.png. Do not use a URL that includes personal folders like /personal/ or /userphoto/.
- Upload the icon file to the Site Assets library
Go to Site Contents > Site Assets. Upload the image file. Note the file name exactly as it appears, including the extension. - Copy the relative URL of the file
Select the file, click the ellipsis (…), then choose Details. In the details pane, copy the Path field. It should start with /sites/. - Paste the relative URL into the Icon field
In the Quick Links link editor, paste the relative URL into the Icon field. Do not use a full https:// URL unless the file is in a public location. A full URL can break if the site URL changes. - Test the icon by previewing the page
Select Preview from the page editor toolbar. Verify that the icon displays correctly. Then republish the page.
If Quick Links Icons Still Disappear After the Main Fix
Quick Links web part shows blank icons after a site migration
When a site is migrated from SharePoint Server to SharePoint Online or between tenants, the Quick Links web part may lose icons because the relative paths change. After migration, open each page that contains Quick Links, edit the web part, and reapply the icons using the built-in icon picker. Do not rely on the migrated icon URLs.
Icons vanish when a page is copied to another site
Copying a page from one SharePoint site to another does not copy the files in the Site Assets library. The Quick Links web part on the copied page still references the original library path. After copying, edit each link and change the icon to a built-in icon or to a file that exists in the destination site’s Site Assets library.
Icons disappear after a user edits the page and saves without republishing
If a user with edit permissions changes the page layout or adds other web parts and saves the page as a draft, the Quick Links icons remain. But if that user publishes the page again through a different publishing workflow, the icon metadata may be stripped. Train your content editors to always republish from the page editor toolbar after any change to the Quick Links web part.
Quick Links Icon Storage Methods: Built-In vs Custom Image
| Item | Built-In Icon | Custom Image |
|---|---|---|
| Icon source | SharePoint system icon library | File in a SharePoint document library |
| Persistence after page edit | Always persists | May break if file is moved or deleted |
| Persistence after site migration | Always persists | Breaks unless the file is migrated and path is updated |
| Effort to set up | One click in the icon picker | Upload file, copy URL, paste into icon field |
| Risk of icon loss | None | High without careful file management |
Built-in icons are the recommended choice for most Quick Links scenarios. They require no file management and survive any SharePoint operation that preserves the page content. Custom images give you more branding flexibility but demand strict file governance.
You can now check the icon source for each Quick Links link on your site and replace file-based icons with built-in icons to prevent future icon loss. For custom branding needs, store the icon file in the Site Assets library and use a relative URL. After any migration or page copy operation, reopen the Quick Links web part and reapply icons using the built-in picker. This approach eliminates the most common cause of disappearing icons.