Windows 10 Desktop Icons Missing Error [Solved]

Although Windows 10 is the most popular Operating System, there are certain minor glitches that can occur in your system at any time.Millions of users have reported that when they sign in, Windows 10 desktop icons are missing error crop up in their display. Most of the time, if the Desktop icon is not visible and if the default desktop is missing, then this can lead to this problem. 

Bad drivers or corrupt system files can also be a primary for this issue. Dealing with this technical flaw? let’s check how to fix it.

Imperative Solutions to Fix Desktop Icons Missing Windows 10 Error:

Check out the effective solutions in order to resolve your all queries related to desktop icons missing error in Windows 10.

Solution 1- Enable the Show Desktop Icons

Enable-the-Show-Desktop-Icons

Before moving further, ensure that you have enabled the ‘Show desktop icon’ features. For that, right-click on the desktop and click on the View option.

After that, check the box beside the ‘Show desktop icons’.  Then, restart the system and check whether the desktop icons are back or not. If not, then go to the next solution.

Solution 2- Enable the Desktop Icons Visibility

Enable-the-Desktop-Icons-Visibility

To apply this solution, first, open the Settings window by using the Start button. Now, within the Settings, drop down and click on Personalization. 

On the next window, move to the left pane and choose the Themes tab. In the Themes tab, go to the right panel and click on the ‘Desktop icon settings’ to enable the Desktop icon visibility.

Choose the icons that you want to show on the desktop. After that, click on Apply followed by OK. Again, reboot your machine and check the status of the error.

Solution 3- Disable the Tablet Mode

Disable-the-Tablet-Mode

In case, your device has a touch screen, then two modes will appear on the screen. They are Desktop Mode and Tablet Mode.

Sometimes after disabling the Tablet mode, the issue can be resolved. So, first, open the Settings app. From here, scroll down and click on System to open the System Settings window.

Here, move to the left panel and click on the Tablet Mode and disable it. Then, exit from the page and if the error still persists, then here is another solution for you.

Solution 4- Run the SFC Scannow

Run-the-SFC-Scannow

If the above three solutions fail to fix the error, then run the inbuilt SFC tool

To do so, simultaneously press the Windows and R keys together on the keyboard to launch the Run dialog box. Thereafter, enter ‘cmd’ in the given field as well as press the Enter key.

Now, tap on Yes to provide the Administrator’s privilege. Next, enter ‘SFC /scannow’ in the input field and hit the Enter key. 

Wait for sometimes as depending on the file size the updating process might take some time. Once done, restart the machine to take the effect of the changes.

Solution 5- Rebuild Icon Cache

Rebuild-Icon-Cache

You might also apply this solution to fix the Windows 10 desktop icons missing issue. First, launch the Run dialog box and type ‘command prompt’ in the given field. 

After that, press the Enter key to open Command Prompt. Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator option. Within the Command Prompt, type the following command. Don’t forget to press the Enter key, every time you enter the command.

 1st- taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe

 2nd- cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local

 3rd- attrib –h IconCache.db

 4th- del IconCache.db

 5th- start explorer.exe

If you are still unable to get rid of the problem, then proceed to the solution 6.

Solution 6-  Perform a System Restore

Perform-a-System-Restore

So, the desktop icons still did not appear on the LED display? You are suggested to perform a system restore to roll back to the position where the desktop icons show normally on the display. Have a look at the given steps:

  • At first, type ‘ recovery’ in the Search box and press the Enter key to open it. 
  • Under recovery, click on the Open System Restore option. 
  • Then, tick on the ‘Choose a different restore point’ button. Click on Next to continue.
  • Mark the box next to the ‘Show More Restore Point’ option. A list of restore point options with a particular date and time will appear on the screen. 

Choose a restore point when the icons are appearing on the display. Click on Next and Finish. Check whether the icons are now restored on the desktop or not.

Solution 7- Sort Icons by Name

Sort-Icons-by-Name

In case, you are using two monitors, then this problem might occur. However, you can easily fix it by simply sorting the icons.

Hence, right-click on the desktop and select Sort by. After that, select Name and now the icons must be restored.

Solution 8- Reset the Windows 10 Device

Reset-the-Windows-10-Device

If none of the above solutions work for you, restart your device and see the result. Therefore, click on the Start button and then move to the Settings section.

Inside the Settings app, locate and click on the Update & Security option. Then, move to the Recovery tab. 

Here, go to the Reset this PC area and then click on the Get Started option. After that, follow the online instructions to complete the reset procedure.

Hope these solutions might help you out to fix the desktop icons missing Windows 10 problem.

Maria Colombo
Maria Colombo
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