Windows 10: Icons not showing up on desktop

Hello all,

I've run into a problem on my laptop where icons are not showing up on the desktop. If I go to Personalization and add icons for My Computer, Recycle Bin, or whatever, they don't show up. Copy-pasting a file to the desktop, it doesn't show up. However, I can see all the stuff I've copy-pasted by going to the Desktop folder in my User folder: everything is there. It just doesn't show up visually on the desktop itself.

This problem occurred soon after I cleaned up my desktop of all icons, including deactivating the My Computer and Recycle Bin icons. I'm not sure if doing that is related to this.

Any ideas? Thank you.

:)

 

Desktop Icons not showing on Start up

Hello Julia,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I would suggest you to try the below methods and check if it helps.

Method 1:

Perform System File Checker (sfc) scan.

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

To perform SFC Scan, refer to the below link:

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

Note: Steps mentioned for Windows 8/8.1, will work fine with Windows 10.

Method 2: Clean boot.

A clean boot is performed to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

Note: Steps mentioned for Windows 8/8.1, will work fine with Windows 10.

Disclaimer: Please go through the section: How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot of the Kb article to boot the computer in normal
startup after fixing the issue.

Method 3: Creating new user account.

You may try to create a new user account and check if it fixes the issue. Refer to the steps below to create a new User Account:

• Go to Start menu and then click on Settings.
• Choose Accounts and then select Other User Accounts towards the left.
• Select Add an Account.
• Enter a user name and press Next.
• Click on Finish.
• Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.
• Check if issue persists.

Hope it helps, reply to us with the status of your issue. We will be happy to assist you.

Thank you.

 

Desktop Icons not showing on Start up

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

Before we proceed, we would require more information to assist you further.

• Are you able to view the icons on Start Menu?
• Are you able to view the icons on desktop when you login with other user account?

I suggest you to follow the methods provided below and check if it helps.

Method 1:
Microsoft Account Troubleshooter

If the issue persist with the particular user account then I suggest you to download and run the
Microsoft Account Troubleshooter and check.

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...B-A23B-5C3A6B5974E3/microsoftaccounts.diagcab

If the issue still persist, I suggest you to follow method 2 and check.

Method 2:
Rebuilding the Icon Cache.

Close all windows that are currently open and follow the steps provided below.

• Launch Task Manager, using the CTRL+SHIFT+ESC key.
• In the Process tab, right-click on the Windows Explorer.
  
• Click on End Task.
• In Task Manager, click on File menu.
• Select Run new task.
• Type CMD.EXE, and click OK button.
• In the Command Prompt window, type the commands one by one and press ENTER after each command:
  
  CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
  
  DEL IconCache.db /a
  
  EXIT
• In Task Manager, click on File menu.
• Select Run new task.
• Type EXPLORER.EXE, and click OK button.

Hope this information is helpful. Do let us know if the issue is resolved. For any further information, feel free to contact us.

Thank you.

 

Try the Option Two: Tablet Mode - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Thank you for the reply. That potential solution didn't work.

A few more symptoms to add: clicking and dragging on the desktop does not present the usual box with which to select things; I can right click and make a new folder, document, whatever and it will show up in the my Desktop folder in Users.

 

Right click on the desktop > View > Show Desktop Icons.





Make it sure that it is checked.

 

That did it! Thank you so much. *Smile

 

You are welcome. Let us know for any further issue.