Cannot find Desktop Icon in File Explorer

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    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?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,904
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    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.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Berton said:
    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.
    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.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #4

    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
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 289
    windows10 home v22H2 OS Build 19045.3693
       #5

    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.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    RichardC said:
    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.
    Yes this is where I would expect to see the Desktop ICON but it isn't there.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    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.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 519
       #8

    Mine is under username.? No deeper
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13,904
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #9

    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.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 1,471
    Win10 Home x64 - 1809
       #10

    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 ???
      My Computers


 

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