Windows 10: desktop disappeared - what to do? Solution and instructions

If the desktop suddenly disappears under Windows 10 and icons and folders are no longer visible, this is usually the result of an upgrade to Windows 10. We will show you how to solve the problem here.

Windows 10: desktop disappeared - sometimes restarting helps

When upgrading from an earlier version of Windows to Windows 10, the desktop may suddenly disappear and no icons will be visible. Most of the time, the background image is also gone.

• The reason for this is an error during the upgrade: The operating system moved desktop icons and files to a temporary profile during the update and then did not transfer them correctly to the new profile.
• However, the bug should be fixed by now. If your desktop has disappeared anyway, restarting the PC or switching to tablet mode often helps. We will show you how to do this in another practical tip.

Windows 10: Search for the missing desktop

First, check if the desktop icons are still there.

• Open the Run dialog with the key combination [Windows] + [R]. Tip: In another practical tip, we describe how to add the Run command to the Start menu under Windows 10.
• Now type "desktop" in the dialog box and confirm with the Enter key. The desktop directory of your profile folder should appear.
• If you have the icons and folders on your desktop here, it's just a display problem. In this case, we recommend copying the folders and symbols to another folder and saving them there.
• If this directory is empty, all desktop folders and icons are probably deleted. Try restarting anyway. With a little luck, the desktop reappears.

Windows 10: Show vanished desktop again

You can also try to show the icons again.

• Right-click on an empty area of ​​the desktop to open the context menu.
• Navigate to "View" in this context menu to go one level further. Here you check whether the checkmark is set for "Show desktop icons". If this is not the case, click on the point to tick the box.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to perform the system restore under Windows 10.