desktop icons

Charles Obermeyer 0 Reputation points
2026-06-20T23:15:30.8466667+00:00

top line of icons on desktop disappeared. I turned off my computer using the power button on my computer. when I turned it back on 8 or so icons at the top of the desktop screen disappeared. Help please. ******@gmail.com

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Desktop
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 86,980 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-21T01:35:38.4666667+00:00

    Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

    Did the icons disappear only from the desktop, or are the programs/files also missing from File Explorer?

    First, right-click an empty area of the desktop and make sure View > Show desktop icons is checked. If the icons are still missing, try right-clicking the desktop and select Refresh.

    Also, are the missing icons shortcuts, files, or folders? Did you recently enable Tablet Mode, change screen resolution, or connect/disconnect another monitor?

    Let us know which icons disappeared and whether they are still present in one of these folders: C:\Users\YourUserName\Desktop and C:\Users\Public\Desktop That information will help narrow down whether the icons were removed, moved, or simply not being displayed.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-20T23:15:49.5766667+00:00

    Try these steps in order to bring the missing desktop icons back:

    1. Check if desktop icons are hidden
      1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
      2. Point to View.
      3. Make sure Show desktop icons is checked. If it is not checked, click it to turn icons back on.
    2. Restore system icons (This PC, Recycle Bin, etc.) if those are missing
      1. Right-click the desktop and select Personalize.
      2. In the left pane, select Themes.
      3. Scroll down and select Desktop icon settings under Related settings.
      4. Check the boxes for the icons that should appear (for example Computer, Recycle Bin, Control Panel).
      5. Select Apply, then OK.
    3. If the icons were shortcuts to files/folders backed up with OneDrive If OneDrive is backing up the Desktop, the Desktop folder location might have changed after the forced power-off.
      1. Open File Explorer.
      2. In the left pane, expand OneDrive and locate the Desktop folder.
      3. Right-click that Desktop folder and select Properties.
      4. Select the Location tab.
        • If there is no Location tab, that is not the correct Desktop folder; look for another Desktop folder (for example under a different account or outside OneDrive).
      5. Select Move.
      6. Browse to the folder that contains the icons that are still present (the Desktop content that is correct), select Select Folder, then select Apply.
      7. When prompted to move files from the old location to the new one, choose Yes so all icons and files move together.

    If the icons were deleted rather than hidden or redirected, they must be recreated (for example, by creating new shortcuts or restoring files from Recycle Bin or backup).

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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