Windows 10 Explorer desktop leaves blank icon-grid spaces after Refresh when sorted by Date modified or Size

Hi EnnuiTea,

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I can understand how frustrating it is to see blank slots when trying to sort your Desktop view. Based on what you have tried (especially with a new user profile), I do not think Windows Explorer is actually counting hidden files or undiscovered items. Taken together, that points more toward an Explorer desktop layout/sorting issue. 

The strongest clue right now is that the blank grid spaces move depending on the sort field and direction. If an actual invisible desktop object were occupying those positions, you would generally expect the same gaps to remain associated with the same object. Still, I can suggest a few other things I would test that I do not see listed: 

1 - Check if one or a few of the items on Desktop was the cause: 

• Remove or temporarily disable cloud-provider services, e.g. 
  • OneDrive 
  • Google Drive 
  • Creative Cloud Files 
• Temporarily move everything on desktop to another folder. 
• Sort by Date modified / Size and Refresh. 
• Add items back in small groups until the behavior returns. 
• Then delete/readd each item in the last group one by one. 
• See if you can identify specific items that caused the issue. 

2 - Check for and reset the current listing in Desktop folders

• Delete everything on your Desktop (or move to a New Folder) 
• Press Win + R > Enter shell:desktop > delete all non-system items 
• Press Win + R > Enter shell:common desktop > delete everything inside
• Just to be sure, sign into the previously created test profile and delete too. 
• Find the applications > right-click > add shortcuts to Desktop the manual way.
• Try sorting again and see the newly added shortcuts are behaving the same or not.

3 - Doing an in-place upgrade

• Refer to Reinstall Windows with the installation media - Microsoft Support  
• Navigate to the bottom of the page and expand In-place Upgrade > follow the instructions. 
• Go to the Download Windows 10 site > download and run the .exe > Keep personal files and apps. 

Disclaimer: An in-place install or in-place upgrade will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes.

From my findings, I've found some similar posts mentioning the blank spots while sorting Desktop. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any officially documented by Microsoft, and accordingly, a confirmed fix. In addition, it's worth noting that Windows 10 already reached end of support in 2025, so if this is a defect as you suspected, it is unlikely that it would receive a fix. 

Sorry for not being of much help. I know this doesn't really give you a direct solution, but I think it’s better to be truthful and upfront about the situation instead of leading you around. You've already done a very extensive test yourself so I believe you know what you're doing.

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