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Desktop icons are not Showing – Icons Disappeared

Suddenly, desktop icons on my Windows PC are not showing. Icons disappeared from the desktop. The majority of programs were also missing from the start menu. If you are also facing the same issue, then I will guide you on how to get rid of this problem.

Why are desktop icons not showing?

There could below three reasons of missing desktop icons.

  1. Sometimes the desktop settings for “show desktop icons” get disabled in unusual ways. See Solution 1 for this.
  2. If you can’t see your taskbar along with your desktop icons, that means the explorer.exe file could not be loaded properly. See Solution 2 to fix this.
  3. There might be a possibility that a virus came into your computer and changed the desktop file’s attribute to “hidden.” Also, change the same settings in the system registry as well. See Solution 3Solution 4  for this.

How to fix – Desktop icons are not Showing

Below solutions may help you to fix this issue in all the versions of Windows like Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Windows 10, Vista, XP, and Server as well.

4 solutions to fix it

Solution 1 : Enable “Show Desktop Icons” option

  1. Right click on the clean area of the desktop
  2. Then click on “View” and then go to “show Desktop Icons” and click on it to make it checked.
  3. Your desktop icons will start appearing again.
enable the Show desktop icons to bring back disappeared icons

Solution 2 : Reload Explorer.exe

Note: Apply only if the taskbar does not appear

This method solved my issue.




Step 1:

On the desktop (No icons Screen) Press Ctrl+alt+Delete key together to open the Task manager.

Step 2:

In the Windows task manager, click on the “Processes” tab and here you’ll find Explorer.exe in the list, right-click on it and click on the End Process Tree. The explorer process will be killed, you’ll get a blank screen with task manager.

Desktop icon not showing (1)

Step 3:

Now go to file menu and click on new task (run), A run box will be opened. Type here: explorer.exe and press the enter button.

Fix missing desktop icons by reloading explorer.exe
Desktop icon not showing

Solution 3 : Registry Fix

  1. Press Windows ‘R’ (to launch Run.exe)
  2. In the Run program, type there regedit and hit enter
  3. Then in the Registry Editor program. follow this folder path
    HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / WINDOWS NT / CurrenVersion / Winlogon
  4. Now click on  Winlogon and after clicking then look at the right side pane.
  5. Here you have to find the Item called “shell” and click on it twice (Double click)
  6. In the Value Data Edit box, Type Explorer.exe (The value of this key “Eplorer.exe) then click on OK
  7. Now restart your computer. After restarting the problem will be fixed.
Desktop icons are displaying

After that your desktop should be restored, you will get your desktop back.

If you are still not getting your desktop icons, it means there is no problem with explorer.exe. Now we have to go to solution 4.

Solution 4 : Run Unhide Tool

This is an automatic fixit utility.

unhide-tool-logo

Download Unhidetool.exe
(Freeware Utility)

Run this Unhide tool to fix the desktop icon missing issue.


If you still do not see the desktop icons, that means a virus has changed some registry settings. Please download the Unhide tool and run it to unhide all the desktop and start menu data to solve the “no desktop icons issue.”


In the end, if you are still unable to fix this issue, the problem could be due to a virus or malware infection. There is a high likelihood of one if no anti-virus software is installed in the system. In this case try to scan your system with a good malware cleaner and then install an antivirus software. At least use a Free antivirus software.

FAQs

189 thoughts on “Desktop icons are not Showing – Icons Disappeared”

  1. Using solution #2, explorer.exe are not present in “processes” bar. When I type explorer.exe on Create new Task, it says Windows cannot find ‘explorer.exe’. Also I cannot browse it, where it is located? Any other solution? Thank you…waiting for your reply.

    1. Techexpert

      Hi Alvin,
      Please double check the spelling of “explorer.exe” because if you did the right spelling and then getting this error message “Windows cannot find ‘explorer.exe’” that means your “explorer.exe” have deleted from this location “c:/windows/system32” by mistake or by due to virus. Anyway, Please check this file is exist or not in that location. Please let us know the status.

      Thanks

  2. My IBM thinkpad T42.
    Got some problem this early Morning.
    My display icons, take bar , menu bar is not showing and also Task manger has been disabled by Administrator.
    Can anyone help me to solve this problem please.

    1. Techexpert

      Hi Manu,
      Sure, we will definitely help you in that matter. Could you please tell us. Are you in the administrator’s account of this computer?

  3. Hello..I’d try all sollution but nothing happen. Disktop icons and taskbar are not showing..but a second fter..the screen saver plays..please help me

    1. Techexpert

      If you don’t see your taskbar that means your explorer.exe is not running at startup. Try solution 2 again and let me know if doesn’t solve this time.

  4. So,Hey,I had the same problem,here is how it goes for me…
    Solution number one : It says ”Proccesing the C drive…” for like hours.
    Solution number two:When I click OK,it says that ”this file has a virus”
    Solution number three: Nothing happend
    Solution number four:When I press right mouse button nothing happends!
    Hope you can help me !

    1. Techexpert

      Sofiha, We’ll give you more steps, please tell me one more thing:
      Can you see your taskbar on desktop?
      Can you see your Icons on desktop?
      Can you see all the Items when you click on start button ?

  5. i have installed new antivirus to my pc and my icons and start menu are not displaying and what is the solution for it

    1. Techexpert

      Reboot your computer in safe mode and then uninstall that antivirus, also uninstall all the other antivirus if you installed previously and then reboot your computer once more. now start your computer in normal mode and install any antivirus. It happens because you had installed that antivirus without uninstall of previous one.

  6. crystal pederson

    i cant hardly remember my password n all my icons are gone off my desktop i really need help on my computer i cant do nothing on my computer so would you help me i need help please this is really urgent i am bored so would you help me on my computer sign crystal pederson

    1. Sure, we will help you to solve this issue. We need more info about your issue. So please give me answer of my questions so that we can help you in a right way.
      1. Is “taskbar” appeared in the bottom of the screen ?
      2. Did you tried all above listed methods on this page?
      3. Have you installed any antivirus recently ?

  7. Dear Sir,
    My desktop icons not showing & when i give explorer.exe icons r showing on desktop.But after restart the system again desktop icons r missing ..
    pl give me the permanent solution

  8. when i tried to run explorer.exe it says only a part of readprocessmemory or writeprocessmemory was completed… desktop icons still not showing

  9. Jeff Zahnd

    I appreciate the help, my icons tend to be removed when I use my mouse key that I configured to “close program” to many times to close multiple windows, and if i click the desktop it basically removes all my desktop icons and i cannot bring up the menu using the right mouse click. your manual instructions worked perfectly, and the program you wrote is now sitting on my desktop 🙂

    only issue i had is when trying to donate some money via paypal, it said something about not being able to receive my donation 🙁 Would like to throw ya a few bucks for your time and help 🙂

    1. Thank You! Damn thought it was a virus turned out it was just the explorer problem! Big THANKS

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