{"id":55447,"date":"2024-02-25T15:20:59","date_gmt":"2024-02-25T15:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=55447"},"modified":"2025-04-17T16:47:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:47:04","slug":"fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\/","title":{"rendered":"Fix It Now: How to Restore Disappeared Icons on Windows Desktop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-program-when-there-are-no-icons-on-the-desktop\/\">other ways to launch programs <\/a> and open files, your computer will never feel the same without your desktop icons. The good thing is that you can resolve the issue and restore those icons. This article will show you the common causes of the problem and different solutions to fix it.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Did My Desktop Icons Disappear?<\/h2>\n<p>\nSeveral factors can contribute to your desktop icons&rsquo; disappearance. They include:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accidental changes in settings<\/b>: You may have accidentally altered your desktop display settings.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tablet mode<\/b>: Activating Windows 10&rsquo;s tablet mode can cause your desktop icons to disappear.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Icon cache corruption<\/b>: The Windows icon cache, which stores copies of each icon for faster access, can become corrupted, causing the icons on your desktop to disappear or appear broken.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Malware<\/b>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/know-windows-10-computer-infected\/\">Malicious software <\/a> can tamper with system settings or operations to cause icons to disappear.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Corrupted system files<\/b>: Corrupt or missing Windows files can lead to various issues, including missing desktop icons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to Restore Desktop Icons on Windows<\/h2>\n<p>\nThere are different ways to restore your desktop icons if you no longer see them. We&rsquo;ll show you all the solutions, starting from the basic ones.\n<\/p>\n<h3>Making the desktop icons visible<\/h3>\n<p>\nMicrosoft allows you to show, hide, and resize Windows desktop icons as part of its effort to provide a customizable user experience. Users can unintentionally hide all their desktop icons through a misclick, especially when adjusting desktop settings.<\/p>\n<p>So, start by confirming you did not accidentally turn off the view option for desktop icons. Follow these steps:\n<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Press the <em>Win + D<\/em> keyboard shortcut to go to your desktop environment.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Right-click anywhere on your desktop.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Once the context menu appears, select View and ensure there is a checkmark next to the Show desktop icons option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-show-desktop-icons.png\" alt=\"Windows show desktop icons\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3>Change the desktop icon settings<\/h3>\n<p>\nIf you want to view specific icons on your desktop, such as Network, This PC, Control Panel, and your user folder, you have to turn them on individually. These icons allow you to have fast access to these locations.<\/p>\n<p>Follow these steps:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Open the Settings app using the <em>Win + I<\/em> hotkey.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Select <em>Personalization<\/em> and click<em> Themes.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-Personalization-Themes.png\" alt=\"Select Personalization and click Themes\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Scroll to <em>Related settings<\/em> and click <em>Desktop icon settings.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-desktop-icon-settings.png\" alt=\"Scroll to Related settings and click Desktop icon settings\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Now, check the boxes for the items you want to appear on your desktop and click the OK button.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Desktop-icons-Recycle-Bin.png\" alt=\"Now, check the boxes for the items you want to appear on your desktop and click the OK button \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3>Make sure Windows is up to date<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/do-i-need-manually-check-for-win10-updates\/\">Updating Windows <\/a><\/p>\n<p> is a great way to enjoy all the latest software technologies and security boosts for your operating system. If it&rsquo;s been a long time since you last installed Windows updates, some display controls might start malfunctioning.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s also possible that a previous update messed with your desktop icons and Microsoft has since fixed the problem in a newer update. So, follow these steps to ensure your computer has all the latest Windows software components:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Launch the Start menu.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Type <i>update<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click the <i>Check for updates<\/i> result.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-check-for-updates.png\" alt=\"Click the Check for updates result \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Windows will now start checking for available updates for your PC using the Windows Update client.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-update-checking-for-updates.png\" alt=\"Windows will now start checking for available updates for your PC using the Windows Update client \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Allow the client to install every available update and permit it to restart your computer to complete the installation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/windows-update-troubleshooter-easily-fixing-windows-update-issues\/\">Windows Update Troubleshooter: Easily Fixing Windows Update Issues <\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Turn off tablet mode<\/h3>\n<p>\nWindows has <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows-hardware\/design\/device-experiences\/continuum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">tablet mode <\/a> that changes your computer&rsquo;s appearance, making it more convenient to use your computer&rsquo;s touchscreen. The mode is also targeted at two-in-one computers that can be transformed into tablets by flipping the screen or detaching it from the keyboard.<\/p>\n<p>Tablet mode being turned on could be the reason you can&rsquo;t see your desktop icons. You may have accidentally configured your computer to use the mode whenever you sign in.<\/p>\n<div class=\"notebox\">\r\n\t<div class=\"notebox__text\">You can only turn tablet mode on or off in Windows 10. There is no switch in Windows 11 as the system automatically goes into tablet mode once you flip or detach your screen. <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s how to restore icons on your desktop by turning off tablet mode:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Go to the notifications area in your taskbar beside your time and date display and click the message icon.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Once you see your action center, click Tablet mode to turn it off.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Tabled-mode-on-Windows.png\" alt=\"Once you see your action center, click Tablet mode to turn it off \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>You can also go through the Settings application:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Right-click the Windows logo in your taskbar and select Settings. You can also tap the <em>Win + I<\/em> keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app faster.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click the System icon after the Settings home page appears.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Next, go to the right side of the System window and select <em>Tablet.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-settings-select-Tablet.jpg\" alt=\"Next, go to the right side of the System window and select Tablet\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Choose the following options under Tablet mode or Tablet:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><b><i>When I sign in: Use desktop mode<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><b><i>When this device automatically switches tablet mode on or off: Always ask me before switching<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><b><i>Hide app icons on the taskbar in tablet mode: Off<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><b><i>Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode: Off<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Restart your PC and check if the &ldquo; desktop icons missing &rdquo; issue has been resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\nRebuild your icon cache<\/p>\n<p>Windows uses a cache file to hold copies of every icon it displays, including desktop icons. These cached icons are created to avoid the long process of fetching individual icons from their source every time you switch to the desktop environment.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, the cache can become corrupt, causing Windows to display the icons incorrectly or fail to display them.<\/p>\n<p>The solution in this case is rebuilding the cache from scratch. You can do that using File Explorer and Command Prompt.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to get icons back on your desktop using the File Explorer window:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Right-click the Start button in your taskbar or press the Windows logo and X keys simultaneously.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click Run.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Type <code><i>%userprofile%\/AppData\\Local<\/i><\/code> into the Run text box and hit the Enter key.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AppData-Local.png\" alt=\"Type <code><i>%userprofile%\/AppDataLocal<\/i><\/code> into the Run text box<\/p>\n<p>\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Your user profile&rsquo;s Local folder will now open.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Locate the IconCache.db file. If you don&rsquo;t see the file, follow these steps to make hidden files visible:\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">On Windows 11: Click the View options at the top of the screen, select <em>Show<\/em>, and check <em>Hidden items.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Show-hidden-items-on-Windows.png\" alt=\"Show hidden items on Windows\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">On Windows 10: Go to the top of the File Explorer window, switch to the view tab, and check the Hidden items box in the Show\/hide section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Now, right-click the <em>IconCache.db<\/em> file, hold the Shift keyboard button, and select Delete in the context menu.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Restart your computer and allow Windows to automatically rebuild your icon cache.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-IconCache-db.png\" alt=\"Windows IconCache db\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">You can now check if the <em>&ldquo;<\/em> <em>Windows desktop icons disappeared <\/em><em>&rdquo;<\/em> issue persists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\nHere&rsquo;s how to restore desktop icons using Command Prompt:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Open the Start menu and type CMD.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Right-click Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Select Yes in the UAC permission window.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">After the Command Prompt window opens, type the following commands and hit the Enter key after typing each line:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<pre><i>taskkill \/IM explorer.exe \/F<\/i>\r\n<i>DEL &ldquo;%localappdata%\\IconCache.db&rdquo; \/A<\/i>\r\n<i>shutdown \/r \/f \/t 00<\/i><\/pre>\n<p>\nThe last command shuts down Windows and forces applications to quit to prevent delays.\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">After your PC restarts, check if the problem has been resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Get rid of malware<\/h3>\n<p>\nSome sophisticated malware programs can tamper with system settings and Windows operations that directly affect desktop icons and other display features. You should be able to see your desktop icons again once you get rid of these malicious applications.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-remove-virus-and-other-malware-from-windows\/\">To remove the malware <\/a> causing the issue, you need a powerful antivirus program with the latest virus definitions. We recommended going for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/software\/anti-malware\/\">Auslogics Anti-Malware <\/a>, as it has all the protection technologies to rid your computer of the problem.<\/p>\n<p>You can also run a full scan using your current antivirus program to find and remove the malware program causing the issue. Make sure you update the antivirus app before you proceed.<\/p>\n<p>Let&rsquo;s show you how to use Windows Security to run a full scan:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click the search bar in your taskbar and type <i>virus<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click <em>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/em> on the result page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Virus-and-threat-protection-Windows-10.png\" alt=\"Click Virus and threat protection on the result page \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click <em>Protection updates<\/em> at the bottom of the Virus &amp; threat protection window.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Protection-updates-check-for-updates.png\" alt=\"Click Protection updates at the bottom of the Virus &amp; threat protection window \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Now, return to the <em>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/em> homepage and click <em>Scan options. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/virus-and-threat-protection-scan-options.png\" alt=\"Return to the Virus and threat protection homepage and click Scan options\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Choose the <em>Full scan<\/em> option and click the <em>Scan now<\/em> button.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Windows-10-Full-Security-Scan.png\" alt=\"Choose the Full scan option and click the Scan now button \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">The process may take some time, as Windows will check every file and program on your hard drive.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Once it completes, return to the Scan options page and run the <em>Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Perform a system restore<\/h3>\n<p>\nIf you noticed that your desktop icons disappeared recently and none of the fixes have worked so far, some changes you applied to your system may be the cause of the problem.<\/p>\n<p>These changes include installing and uninstalling drivers, programs, and updates. Reverting your system to an earlier state where your desktop icons had no issue can resolve the problem.<\/p>\n<div class=\"notebox\">\r\n\t<div class=\"notebox__heading\">Important<\/div>\r\n\t<div class=\"notebox__text\">You can only use a system restore point you created in the past to restore your computer. However, Windows often creates automatic restore points, especially after installing an update. <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n<p>Follow these steps to restore your computer:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click the search box in your taskbar and type <i>restore<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click <i>Create a restore point <\/i>in the search results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Create-a-restore-point-Windows.png\" alt=\"Create a restore point Windows\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">After the <em>System Properties<\/em> window opens, click the <em>System Restore<\/em> button.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">If you see a recommended restore point and it suits your preferred date, select it and click Next, then Finish.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Restore-system-file-and-settings-Windows.png\" alt=\"After the System Properties window opens, click the System Restore button \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">You can select <i>Choose a different restore point<\/i> and click <em>Next<\/em> if you want to choose another restore point.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Next, select the restore point you want to return to and click <em>Next.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Restore-your-computer-to-the-state-it-was-in-before.png\" alt=\"You can select Choose a different restore point and click Next if you want to choose another restore point \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click <em>Finish<\/em> and confirm your decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Confirm-your-restore-point-1.png\" alt=\"Click Finish and confirm your decision \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Check for the &ldquo; desktop icons disappeared in Windows 10 &rdquo; issue after your computer reboots.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><b>Read more: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/ultimate-windows-recovery-guide-how-to-restore-your-windows-system\/\">Ultimate Windows Recovery Guide: How to Restore Your Windows System<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Repair faulty Windows files<\/h3>\n<p>\nFaulty or missing Windows files can cause your desktop icons to disappear, especially if Windows relies on these files to display the icons.<\/p>\n<p>You can resolve the issue in this case by repairing or replacing the system files using the System File Checker.<\/p>\n<p>Follow these steps:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Open the Start menu and type <i>CMD<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click <em>Run as administrator<\/em> under the Command Prompt search result.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Run-Command-Prompt-as-Administrator.png\" alt=\"Run Command Prompt as Administrator\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Select Yes in the UAC permission window.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">After the Command Prompt window opens, type <code><i>DISM.exe \/Online \/Cleanup-image \/Restorehealth<\/i><\/code> and hit Enter to prepare the repair files. Wait till you see<em> &ldquo;The operation completed successfully.&rdquo;<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/System32.png\" alt=\"System32 command in Command Prompt\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Next, type <code><i>sfc \/scannow<\/i><\/code> and hit the Enter key.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Allow the tool to check for corrupt or missing files and replace them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><b>Further reading: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-find-and-fix-corrupted-files-in-windows-10\/\">How to Find and Fix Corrupted Files in Windows 10<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"notebox\">\r\n\t<div class=\"notebox__text\">If you encounter an error that says, &ldquo;Windows resource protection cannot perform the requested operation,&rdquo; you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/windows-resource-protection-cannot-perform-requested-operation\/\">follow our guide<\/a> on how to fix the SFC error.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3>Reset Windows<\/h3>\n<p>\nWhile we hope you do not get to this stage of the article, resetting your PC is an option you have to consider if nothing works. You can reset Windows without losing your files. However, you&rsquo;ll lose your installed applications.<\/p>\n<div class=\"notebox\">\r\n\t<div class=\"notebox__heading\">Important<\/div>\r\n\t<div class=\"notebox__text\">Before you start the process, we recommend going over the previous solutions one more time to ensure you did not miss anything. <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n<p>Follow these steps to reset Windows:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Open the Settings app using the <em>Win + I<\/em> keyboard shortcut.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">If you&rsquo;re on Windows 10, select<em> Update &amp; Security<\/em> and click <em>Recovery<\/em>. If you&rsquo;re Windows 11, select <em>System<\/em> and click <em>Recovery.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-System-Recovery.png\" alt=\"If you&rsquo;re on Windows 10, select Update and Security and click Recovery\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Next, click the Reset PC button (Windows 11) or Get started (Windows 10).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Windows-Reset-this-PC.png\" alt=\"Next, click the Reset PC button (Windows 11) or Get started (Windows 10) \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Select <em>Keep my files. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Reset-this-PC-Choose-an-Option-Keep-my-files.png\" alt=\"Select Keep my file\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Select <em>Local reinstall<\/em> if Windows asks how you want to reset your system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/How-would-you-like-to-reinstall-Windows-local-reinstall.png\" alt=\"Select Local reinstall if Windows asks how you want to reset your system \" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Click <em>Next<\/em> and select <em>Reset. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"screenshots\">\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__image-shadow\">\r\n    <img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Additional-settings-ready-to-reset-this-PC.png\" alt=\"Click Next and select Reset\" class=\"lazyload screenshots__image\">\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"screenshots__description\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Windows will restart your computer and reset it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to Restore Desktop Icons<\/h2>\n<p>\nIn the end, the &ldquo;desktop icons missing&rdquo; issue is a straightforward problem to resolve. It can be as easy as tweaking your desktop settings, turning off tablet mode, and rebuilding your cache. You can also get rid of malware, restore Windows, and repair faulty system files to restore your desktop icons.<\/p>\n<p>You should take proactive measures, such as keeping Windows up to date and protecting your computer against malware, to avoid future questions like, &ldquo;Where did my desktop icons go?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>You can use the comments below if you still need clarification on anything.\n<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-box\"><div class=\"faq-box__tabs\"><div class=\"faq-box__tab\">\r\n\t<input id=\"id-1\" class=\"faq-box__checkbox\" type=\"checkbox\" \/>\r\n\t<label class=\"faq-box__label\" for=\"id-1\"><span>Why did my desktop icons disappear?<\/span><\/label>\r\n\t<div class=\"faq-box__content\">Desktop icons can disappear due to accidental settings changes, malware, corrupt system files, or activating tablet mode in Windows. <\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"faq-box__tab\">\r\n\t<input id=\"id-2\" class=\"faq-box__checkbox\" type=\"checkbox\" \/>\r\n\t<label class=\"faq-box__label\" for=\"id-2\"><span>How to open a program when there are no icons on the desktop?<\/span><\/label>\r\n\t<div class=\"faq-box__content\">Press the Windows key + S combo to open search, type the program&rsquo;s name, and click on the result to open it. <\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"faq-box__tab\">\r\n\t<input id=\"id-3\" class=\"faq-box__checkbox\" type=\"checkbox\" \/>\r\n\t<label class=\"faq-box__label\" for=\"id-3\"><span>How can I create shortcuts for frequently used programs on my desktop?<\/span><\/label>\r\n\t<div class=\"faq-box__content\">Search for the program in the Start menu, right-click it, and select <em>Open file location<\/em>. Right-click the program&rsquo;s shortcut and select <em>Send to &gt; Desktop (create shortcut)<\/em><em>.<\/em> You may have to click <em>Show more options<\/em> in Windows 11 before selecting <em>Send to. <\/em><\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"faq-box__tab\">\r\n\t<input id=\"id-4\" class=\"faq-box__checkbox\" type=\"checkbox\" \/>\r\n\t<label class=\"faq-box__label\" for=\"id-4\"><span>How can I organize my desktop icons into folders?<\/span><\/label>\r\n\t<div class=\"faq-box__content\">Right-click the desktop and select <em>New &gt; Folder<\/em><em>.<\/em> Name the folder and drag related files and shortcuts into it to organize your desktop. <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Noticing that your icons disappeared from your desktop can be scary. This situation can also be frustrating, especially when you rely on these icons for quick access to essential applications and files.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":55509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[815,881],"tags":[23,619],"class_list":["post-55447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maintenance","category-windows-update-errors","tag-pc-diagnostics","tag-windows-tweaks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Restore Disappeared Icons on Windows&#8212; Auslogics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to quickly restore missing icons on your Windows desktop, ensuring a seamless and organized workspace.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55447\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fix It Now: How to Restore Disappeared Icons on Windows Desktop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to quickly restore missing icons on your Windows desktop, ensuring a seamless and organized workspace.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Auslogics Blog | Tips to Diagnose &amp; Resolve Computer Issues\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Auslogics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-25T15:20:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-17T16:47:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Fix-It-Now-How-to-Restore-Disappeared-Icons-on-Windows-Desktop.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1792\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Samuel Nzube\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Learn how to quickly restore missing icons on your Windows desktop, ensuring a seamless and organized workspace.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Samuel Nzube\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Samuel Nzube\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/fcc5a99a7894019baa00132fc4e1f6de\"},\"headline\":\"Fix It Now: How to Restore Disappeared Icons on Windows Desktop\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-25T15:20:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-17T16:47:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2841,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/Fix-It-Now-How-to-Restore-Disappeared-Icons-on-Windows-Desktop.png\",\"keywords\":[\"PC Diagnostics\",\"Windows Tweaks\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Maintenance\",\"Windows Update Errors\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.auslogics.com\\\/en\\\/articles\\\/fix-it-now-how-to-restore-disappeared-icons-on-windows-desktop\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to Restore Disappeared Icons on Windows&#8212; 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My tech obsession began with chasing the smoothest gaming performance possible into various optimization rabbit holes. But that didn't stop me from dipping my toes in different ponds, as I've written for travel, human resources, and digital marketing publications over the past 7 years. I started out with a copywriting agency after pursuing a diploma in computer science. Since then, I've gone freelance, participated in different tech workshops, and found better ways to achieve peak gaming performance. I now enjoy pursuing the latest in computer technology, so I can tell readers when to hold their horses or hop on new trends. I also help people resolve the most frustrating operating system, gaming, and application errors. These experiences and the brilliant folks at Auslogics continue to enrich my articles and deepen my love for computers. You can reach out and follow me on LinkedIn to learn about the most exciting tech news and solutions when they drop.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/samuel-mbanaso\/"],"knowsAbout":["Gaming","Windows","Sci-Fi","Politics","Android"],"jobTitle":"Tech Writer","worksFor":"Auslogics","url":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/author\/nzube-samuel\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55447"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94647,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55447\/revisions\/94647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}