Windows 10: Desktop icons do not work

When I click on my desktop icons I get a small square window (by the icon) that I can click and put a check mark in. It does not open the program. In order for me to open program/icon I have to right click the icon and select open from the drop down menu. I can click icons in the lower taskbar and they'll open programs but I'm puzzled on what I've done here.

Using Windows 10 64 bit OS.

Help and suggestions are appreciated. What do I need to do to allow me to double click icons in the desktop and open programs?

Thank you

:)

 

Desktop Icons do not work.

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft community.

I understand your inconvenience and we will surely help you to resolve the issue.

Please answer the below question to resolve your issue.

1. What icons are you trying to open?

2. If issue is specific with all desktop icon?

3. Go to all Apps and check if you can open the applications?

Please follow the below methods to resolve the issue:

Method 1: Perform System File Check (SFC), and then check if this fixes the issue.

Follow the steps:

SFC scan:

1. Press Windows logo + X.

2. Select command prompt admin.

3. Type ‘sfc /scannow’ (without quotes) and press enter.

4. Restart your computer.

Refer link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

Method 2: Perform DISM and check it helps.

I suggest you to run the System update readiness command. It detects incorrect manifests, cabinets or registry data, it may replace the incorrect data with corrected version available. Follow the steps.

1. Press Windows key + X.

2. Click command prompt (Run as administrator).

3. In the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type the following commands. Press Enter key after each command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

To close the Administrator: Command prompt window, type Exit, and then press
Enter.



Hope this helps to resolve the issue. Please revert for any clarification on this or any Windows issue. We will be glad to help you.

 

Desktop Icons do not work.

Thank you for your speedy reply. As I sat musing over the problem, I decided to check the updates. I updated what was suggested, restarted the computer and every icon on the desktop worked. It is hard for me to imaging that the problem was solved so
simply. I will , however, keep your directions incase the problem arises again. Thank you.

 

Hi, I understand that associations for .lnk (shortcuts) may be broken.

You might try
Default File Type Associations - Restore in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
Option 2 and find 'lnk'
Download and merge the reg file.
Make sure you follow the instructions under Option 2.

Otherwise if the problem has occurred recently you may have a system restore point you could use.

Note: we strongly recommend using disk imaging routinely so you can easily restore your system to a previous working state e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + its boot medium + external image storage.

 

A single click does exactly that, selects a desktop icon or shortcut. To open a program from desktop icon you need to double click it.