How to Fix Windows 10 Desktop Icons Missing Problem

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Written By Larious

Larious is the Executive Editor of LowkeyTech. He is a tech enthusiast and a content writer. 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated on June 22, 2021 by Larious


On Windows 10, the desktop shortcut serves as the fastest way to reach important files, system folders. Whenever you install new software on Windows 10, the operating system automatically creates a desktop shortcut for quicker access.

However, sometimes, the desktop icons on Windows 10 might disappear due to system file corruption or other issues. Recently, many Windows 10 users have reported that their desktop icons disappeared or are missing.

If you have just switched to Windows 10, you won’t find any Desktop icons until you add them manually. However, if the desktop icons have disappeared out of nowhere, you need to implement few methods to restore the missing icons.

5 Methods to Fix Windows 10 Desktop Icons Missing Problem

Hence, in this article, we will share some of the best methods to fix Desktop icons disappeared on Windows 10. Let’s check out.

1. Turn on the Visibility of Desktop Icons

Before trying any other method, first, make sure to check if your desktop icons are visible or not. Follow some of the simple steps given below to turn on the visibility of desktop icons.

Step 1. First of all, right-click on an empty space on the screen, and select the ‘View’ option.

How to Fix Windows 10 Desktop Icons Missing Problem

Step 2. From the list of options, verify if the ‘Show desktop icons’ has been marked as checked. If it’s not, click on the ‘Show desktop icons’ to make the icons visible again.

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That’s it! You are done. Now you will see all desktop icons.

2. Enable Desktop Icons from System Settings

If you have recently switched to Windows 10 and cannot find the desktop icons, you need to implement the steps given below. Here’s how you can enable desktop icons from settings.

Step 1. First of all, right-click anywhere on your desktop and click on the ‘Personalise’ option.

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Step 2. On the left pane, click on the ‘Themes‘ option.

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Step 3. On the right pane, click on the ‘Desktop icon settings’ option.

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Step 4. On the Desktop icon settings, enable the icons that you want to see on your desktop.

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That’s it! You are done. This is how you can restore missing icons on Windows 10.

3. Disable the Tablet Mode

Many users have reported that having Tablet mode enabled created problems with the desktop icons. Some have reported that they are unable to find the File explorer icon as well. To disable tablet mode on Windows 10, follow the steps given below.

Step 1. First of all, open Settings on your Windows 10 and open the ‘System‘ option.

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Step 2. On the System, click on the ‘Tablet‘ option.

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Step 3. On the right, click on the ‘Change additional tablet settings’ option.

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Step 4. On the next page, disable the toggle for ‘Tablet Mode’.

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That’s it! You are done. This is how you can disable tablet mode in Windows 10.

4. Rebuild Icon Cache

Sometimes outdated or corrupted icon cache also creates problems with the display of desktop icons. So, in this method, we are going to rebuild the icon cache. Follow some of the simple steps given below.

Step 1. First of all, open File Explorer on your Windows 10 PC.

Step 2. On the File Explorer, click on the ‘View‘ tab and enable the ‘Hidden items’ option.

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Step 3. Next, navigate to the C:UsersYour UsernameAppDataLocal. On the local folder, search for ‘IconCache.db‘ file.

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Step 4. You need to delete this file from this folder. Also, make sure to clear the recycle bin as well.

Step 5. Once done, restart your Windows 10 computer to rebuild the icon cache.

That’s it! You are done. Windows 10 will rebuild the icon cache during the restart, which will probably fix the missing icons problem.

5. Fix Corrupted System Files

Sometimes, corrupted system files also create problems with desktop icons. So, if your desktop icons are missing due to corrupt system files, you need to run the System File Checker utility.

We have shared a detailed guide on how to scan and fix corrupted files on Windows 10. You can implement the steps to fix corrupted system files quickly.

So, these are the best methods to fix & restore missing desktop icons in Windows 10. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.

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