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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. Running windows 8.1

    Nothing was fixing mine. Tried to simply add a new folder to see if it would show and they all came back. No idea why this happened but seems to be resolved.

  2. I tried all the suggestions nothing worked local computer tech said buy a new computer i tried tdsskiller it worked

  3. Naresh Desai

    Try this, right click on desktop, then click on arreng Icons, then click on “Show Desk TOP Items”

  4. Ansu Godfred

    could the hard disk be the cause of the disappearance of the icons and task bar?:-o:-o.

  5. Ansu Godfred

    will it be possible if i turn off my pc for 48 days or installing mcafee antivirus solve the problem?

  6. Ansu Godfred

    I have used all the above but it seems to repeat itself. I almost update my win xp for about 4 times a day but destop go blank after installing an application.please what should i do ?

  7. Rehan Ahmad

    Thanks dear my problem is solved.I was freaking out but I tried solution 4 and everything was fixed…Thank you!
    May God Bless you.

  8. Thank god! This save me!! I was downloading adobe’s software and all the sudden my wallpaper, icons, and the bottom bar line?, were all disappear…. Thank you very much!!!

  9. need help, my computer normally stays on all the time, this morning it showed me srgtw on screen and say ,u where in middle of something and some data is lost. what does that mean?

    1. Al Snyman, Maybe it is updating something. Anyways, keep as it is updating and let us know if face any problem after this. We recommend you please shutdown your computer after 48 hours for at least 15 minutes.
      Thanks

  10. Oh my Gosh, this helped me alot, I was freaking out but I tried solution 4 and everything was fixed…Thank you!

  11. My problem is occasional. Sometimes after signing in just the screensaver will appear without the task bar or any of the icons. Task Manager will not come up so I have to switch off at power switch. On return, everything appears normally.

    A little irritating but is this a sign of problems ahead please?

    Also, let me commend your site – such patience and helpful replies – I have bookmarked you with thanks.

  12. Unfortunately None of the Above worked I Still can’t see Icons, Taskbar, or desktop!. Can’t right click or anything nothing works but only if i put on safemode!

    1. Mike Perez, We suggest you to create a new user profile on your computer. You may create the user profile account in Safemode.

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