Windows 10: Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer

Discus and support Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer in Windows 10 Support to solve the problem; My Desktop is showing icons as normal. But if I try to find what is on my desktop by using file manager, I cannot find the icon. I also checked under... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Support' started by sturpe, Jan 4, 2018.

  1. sturpe Win User

    Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer


    My Desktop is showing icons as normal. But if I try to find what is on my desktop by using file manager, I cannot find the icon. I also checked under C;\user my name, public, default and no desktop listed on any of them. Any suggestions?

    :)
     
    sturpe, Jan 4, 2018
    #1
  2. TerryT_G Win User

    Unable to access desktop in Windows 10

    I have the same problem with the desktop though can access it through File Explorer. The file explorer now shows the list of files double spaced, many screens cannot be minimised or reduced (no minimise or reduce buttons) and some cannot be closed (e.g.
    settings). The Action centre icon has been replaced by a Touch Keypad icon and there is no Show Desktop button.
     
    TerryT_G, Jan 4, 2018
    #2
  3. TerryT_G Win User
    Unable to access desktop in Windows 10

    I have the same problem with the desktop though can access it through File Explorer. The file explorer now shows the list of files double spaced, many screens cannot be minimised or reduced (no minimise or reduce buttons) and some cannot be closed (e.g.
    settings). The Action centre icon has been replaced by a Touch Keypad icon and there is no Show Desktop button.
     
    TerryT_G, Jan 4, 2018
    #3
  4. Berton Win User

    Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer

    Mine wasn't showing so I right-clicked the Desktop, clicked Sort by, then clicked Name. Following that I hit F5 to refresh, icon showing now in upper left corner. It is possible to move an icon over the top of another icon to hide it, whether intentional or accidental.
     
    Berton, Jan 4, 2018
    #4
  5. sturpe Win User
    Icons are all showing on the desktop. That is not the problem. When I go to file explorer and look at C;\Users (My Name) Desktop does not show.
     
    sturpe, Jan 5, 2018
    #5
  6. Eagle51 Win User
    Hey sturpe,
    This may be a long shot, since you said it's missing from USERNAME, Default, and Public ... So, if you haven't already ...

    1. Have you tried just going to the folder in File Explorer > Address Bar > C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop to see if actually still exist.

    2. If does still exist, it could have gotten hidden or it's desktop.ini could be missing/corrupt.

    See this tutorial for showing hidden files/folders - Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

    Note ... To see the desktop.ini you have to un-hide Protected Operating System Files ...

    FYI ... My ... C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop\desktop.ini ... looks like this

    [.ShellClassInfo]
    LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
    IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183
     
    Eagle51, Jan 5, 2018
    #6
  7. RichardC Win User
    Go to file explorer. In address bar there is ">" to the left of user's pc. Left click on it and select desktop. It will show all apps and shortcuts on your desktop. Hope that's what you're looking for.
     
    RichardC, Jan 6, 2018
    #7
  8. sturpe Win User

    Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer

    Yes this is where I would expect to see the Desktop ICON but it isn't there.
     
    sturpe, Jan 7, 2018
    #8
  9. sturpe Win User
    I have done further exploration based on the replies I have received. I should mention I am helping a friend remotely with this problem which makes trouble shooting it a little more difficult for me. After looking more carefully here is what I discovered. (I must have missed it the first time I looked into it.)

    There is a Desktop listed under C:\Users\Public. The Icons within that file are shown on the computer desktop.

    There are additional icons on the computer desktop that are not in the C:\User\Public folder. Looking at the general properties of the "additional" icons shows they are located in the C:\Users\Username\Desktop. The problem is I cannot locate the C:\Users\Username\Desktop folder anywhere using File Manager. Yes, the computer is set to view hidden files, folders and drives.

    Thanks in advance for suggestions.
     
    sturpe, Jan 7, 2018
    #9
  10. davehc Win User
    Mine is under username.? No deeper
     
    davehc, Jan 7, 2018
    #10
  11. Berton Win User
    Mine also. However, I had added another User while diagnosing a problem and it has no icons in its Folder. The Public Folder in Users has the same icons as mine.
     
    Berton, Jan 7, 2018
    #11
  12. Eagle51 Win User
    Hey sturpe,
    In File Explorer > Address Bar ... If you manually type in C:\Users\Username\Desktop ... does it popup an error ... windows can't find 'C:\Users\Username\Desktop' check spelling and try again ???
     
    Eagle51, Jan 7, 2018
    #12
  13. sturpe Win User

    Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer

    Now that is interesting. If I do what you suggest, File Explorer Address bar changes to C:\Users\username\documents and the missing ICONS are there. But there is still not a "Desktop" folder.

    Is this a step in the right direction?
     
    sturpe, Jan 7, 2018
    #13
  14. Eagle51 Win User
    Hmmm, that's a bit strange and i'm not sure what to make of it.

    Edit: I'm wondering if the Desktop folder got merged with Documents folder. If it did, I don't think you can un-merge them. You may have to just create a new C:\Users\Username\Desktop folder
     
    Eagle51, Jan 7, 2018
    #14
  15. Eagle51 Win User
    Eagle51, Jan 8, 2018
    #15
Thema:

Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer

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