# A question about Internet Explorer Bookmarks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433 "2006-07-21T02:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/1 "2006-07-21T02:08:18Z")
When I add a bookmark to IE, frequently, it will have a unique icon next to it. However, invariably, after a few days, the icon will disappear and be replaced with a generic IE icon. What gives? How can I get the unique icons back, and keep them? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/2 "2006-07-21T02:13:42Z")
Going back to the website has alway seemed the most effective way to restore to icon in my experience. I don’t think this feature has been implemented well in IE, other browsers seem to manage icons better and don’t just lose them after several days. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/3 "2006-07-21T02:35:02Z")
My guess would be that IE keeps them in its cache, and that gets cleared out every few days. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/4 "2006-07-21T03:13:56Z")
They’re called favicons, and IE seems to only show them intermittently. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/5 "2006-07-21T08:29:17Z")
This bugs me too. I would also like to know how to get my bookmarks in non-alphabetical order. I used to have them arranged like I wanted them, then one day accidentally hit “put in alphabetical order” or something like that. Now, when I try to move them around, they revert back to alphabetical. Highly annoying. Help? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/6 "2006-07-21T12:14:27Z")
IE only shows the favicon when you add the link. Once you clear your cache, they vanish. I assume they will change that in the next version. Firefox has persistent favicons. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/7 "2006-07-21T13:29:44Z")
Try this nifty freeware utility called [Favor](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,13999,00.asp)g > [@](#): > > This issue’s utility, FavOrg, scans the Web sites in your Favorites list for favicons and makes your favicons persistent. It also lets you associate any icon you choose with a given shortcut, even if no favicon is provided. Because FavOrg must check the validity of an Internet shortcut before attempting to download the favicon, it automatically flags dead links as it goes through your Favorites list. It can also update redirected links or reset dead links to the site’s root. Note that FavOrg does not replace the Organize Favorites dialog that is part of Internet Explorer; it adds features not included. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/8 "2006-07-21T16:04:05Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Try this nifty freeware utility called [Favor](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,13999,00.asp)g When I tried to download it, it asked for $8 for the download or $20 for a years worth of downloads ☹ Do you have an alternate site? It sounds cool. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/9 "2006-07-21T17:24:19Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > When I tried to download it, it asked for $8 for the download or $20 for a years worth of downloads ☹ Do you have an alternate site? It sounds cool. Sorry about that. I didn’t realize they had gone to a subscription. It appears to be available for free on [this page](http://www.wittswallpapers.com/Oldies/indexoldies.html). ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-internet-explorer-bookmarks/365433/10 "2006-07-21T18:23:07Z")
Great, thanks!