Windows 10: My desktop does not show the documents in the desktop folder

My desktop does not display the documents & files in the desktop folder. This happened after a factory reset.Operating system is Windows 11. Computer is a Lenovo IdesPad 3. Syncs with OneDrive * Moved from Community Center

:)

 

documents and desktop folders mixed up

• Doube-check OneDrive settings to make susre it isn't set to "backup" Desktop.
• Copy & psate each of the following into the Explorer Address bar and see what folder opens:
  • shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder
  • shellersonal
  • shell:Local Documents
  • shell:::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

• The first one should open your Desktop folder
• The next two should open This PC > Documents ( which should be displaying the content of ...\OneDrive\Documents )
• The last one should also show the contents of ...\OneDrive\Documents, but with the full path in the Address bar.

 

documents and desktop folders mixed up

Yep, took another look at your .reg file.

Not only are the Documents folders under This PC (Personal & {f42ee2d3-909f-4907-8871-4c22fc0bf756}) pointing to ...\OneDrive\Documents, but so is {754AC886-DF64-4CBA-86B5-F7FBF4FBCEF5}, which is hte Desktop folder under This PC and thus the source of files seen on your Desktop.

So the SendTo shortcut is fine, it just the wrong folder is designated as your Desktop.

Not sure if you turned off the desktop.ini files as I suggested. If not, vrify actual folder names in PowerShell or a Command Prompt.

• If the correct Desktop folder is named "Desktop" & under your UserProfile folder, you can delete the value named {754AC886-DF64-4CBA-86B5-F7FBF4FBCEF5}. It doesn't exist on a clean install & isn't created until the Desktop is redirected.
• If your desired Desktop folder is different from the default, edit path for the value {754AC886-DF64-4CBA-86B5-F7FBF4FBCEF5} to that of your desired Desktop.

After a log off/log on, you should be good.

 

Can word processor documents be sent to desktop vs Documents folder

That's a different question.
You want to know how to change the default.
Only by 'relocating' your user Documents folder to your Desktop. Move Location of Documents Folder - TenForumsTutorials but it seems a very big step to take just to satisfy WordPad.
I would not be at all surprised to find that somebody has discovered a Registry hack to do what you want more directly & without relocating the Documents folder.

Denis