"Desktop icon settings" does not work anymore

In Settings > Themes I used to be able to click "Desktop icon settings".
But no more. Now I get "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item".

I first discovered this on my laptop, which was recently punished with 1903. I thought the new version reset my desktop icons (This PC, Documents, etc.), so I wanted to change things back ... and failed.

On my desktop (deemed "not ready" for 1903) I'm running 1809. It gives the same failure ... and I am unable to access "Desktop icon settings".

Whuzzup with that? What can I do to fix this?

No, nothing is grayed out. I can click on "Desktop icon settings".
I used to get that dialog, just as you depicted.. But now, when I click "Desktop icon settings" I get a popup error:
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item".

margrave55 said:

No, nothing is grayed out. I can click on "Desktop icon settings".
I used to get that dialog, just as you depicted.. But now, when I click "Desktop icon settings" I get a popup error:
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item".

Let's see if the 'Desktop icon settings' won't open at all, or if it's just being called incorrectly from within settings.

To open it directly, use WinKey+R to bring up the 'Run' box (or open a command prompt) and type Rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0

Rundll32 Commands List for Windows 10

margrave55 said:

In Settings > Themes I used to be able to click "Desktop icon settings".

I'm guessing you tried this on a different theme?

I had this problem happen after an install once when I tried to get rid of that default desktop Trash Can 'short cut'.

As I recall I only need to delete and recreate my custom theme which I may or may not have imported from a prior build. ( Wishing now I'd taken better notes which I normally do with these kinds of anomalies )

OK ...
I tried dalchina's suggestion ... Brink's registry stuff.
This produces a desktop context menu with Brink's new Personalize (classic) item, under which I find:
Theme Settings
Desktop Background
Color and Appearance
Sounds
Screen Saver Settings
Desktop Icon Settings <-- This works, where the Settings > Themes > Desktop icon settings failed
Mouse Pointers
Notification Area Icons
System Icons
So far so good.

Bree suggested Start > Run > Rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0
That works, too.

So now I have two ways to invoke the Desktop Icons dialog box. S'good.

Bree: Now that I've confirmed that Rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 works ... what does that tell us?

I followed your suggestion. You referred to Reinstall and Re-register Apps in Windows 10 Apps & Features ( https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3175-reinstall-re-register-apps-windows-10-a.html )

I found this:

Settings
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *immersivecontrolpanel*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

So I started Power Shell and I ran than from Start > Run.
PS C:\Users\Bruce> PowerShell -Executionpolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *immersivecontrolpanel*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ;Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

And it responded with this:
= : The term '=' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check thespelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.At line:1 char:5+ & { = (Get-AppxPackage *immersivecontrolpanel*).InstallLocation + '\A ...+ ~ + CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (=:String) [], CommandNotFoundException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundExceptioncmdlet Add-AppxPackage at command pipeline position 1Supply values for the following parameters:Path:

I did not know how to respond to that, so I aborted that effort.
=======================================================
I went back to the Start menu and typed themes ...


I want to click that top item Themes and related settings ... but it won't click. Also the Open item on the right side won't click.
So my Start search is now broken. It was working before I did that power shell thing.
But when I switch to another user ... that works.
What now?