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Windows 10 desktop missing. Creating a new element

After Windows installation 10, by default, there are no icons on the desktop. But, as you know, changing old habits is not so easy. Therefore, if you are used to having icons on your desktop, then you need to install them. A lot of people don't like the new Windows 10 operating system. You know, it's a matter of habit. At first I also didn’t like the seven, then the eight, but for some reason I liked the ten right away, although it still doesn’t work well in it. There are problems with the drivers (this manifested itself on my video card). Sometimes I have to return to the good old seven just because some program I really need does not want to work, or the external HDD with the necessary files. For this purpose, I have all these operating systems installed on my computer (Windows 7/8.1/10). But in general, working in Windows 10 is quite normal, you just need to customize it a little for yourself and create dots.

Well, if you have a choice, and you can go back to old version system, and if not, then you will have to deal with your own problems. Here is a description of some of them:

Perhaps these articles and videos will help you. And now, together with you, we will display some useful icons on the desktop.

In order to get to the desktop icon settings in Windows 10, we need to get into the personalization settings. To get into this mode, we just need to right-click on an empty field of the desktop and select the item " Personalization».

On the left side of the window personalization we need to select Topics and click on the link on the right side.

We will open a small window Desktop icon options, in which we can check the boxes next to the icons that we want to see on our desktop, and the view of these icons is shown below.

If you do not like this or that icon, then by clicking on the button "Change Icon..." and the button "Regular badge" you can return them to their original form.

If something is not clear in my description, then you can watch a video on how to return icons to the desktop in Windows 10:

In the same way, you can remove unnecessary icons from the desktop.

Quite often, Windows 10 users are faced with such a problem as the disappearance of icons from the main screen of the computer. This situation usually results from next update system, system failures and other unclear reasons, for example, after restarting the PC.

Microsoft representatives were unable to identify the exact cause of the problem and can only recommend a few effective ways her decisions. We will try to consider all the options in as much detail as possible, and we will help you return the desktop to its previous state.

Icon visualization

If desktop icons disappeared on your computer after updating Windows 10 or a normal reboot, then most likely system settings. They should be checked first and changed if necessary. It is possible that icon rendering is simply turned off in the options.

To check this you need:

If it's checked, try unchecking it and checking it again. In order for the desktop to change according to the settings, refresh it using the Refresh context menu or the F5 key.

Creating a new element

If the first method did not help, then you can restore the desktop by creating its new element. This helps in cases where the cause is a "glitch" of the system.

To do this, we do the following:

In some situations, this rather simple algorithm can quickly fix the problem. If this does not help and the shortcuts are still not displayed, then the object we created must be deleted and go to the next step.

Settings failure

The new menu that appeared in Windows 10 has a huge number of settings, many of which even an experienced user may not know about. And one of them is a special "tablet mode" - full screen mode, most likely all your files from the desktop disappeared precisely because of it, and quick access tiles appeared instead. It usually turns on automatically, for example, after updating from more old Windows 7/8 for 10 pieces.

Disable this mode simple enough:

After that, its state should return to the previous one and your PC will be ready for full-fledged work again.

Completely missing desktop on Windows 10

Also, icons (icons, shortcuts) may disappear from the desktop as a result of various system failures, one of which makes itself felt after an incorrect shutdown of Windows 10. This usually happens after the light blinks when the computer turns off abruptly. As a result, some system settings may change.

All you need to do is change them back:

Thus, you will return the desktop to its previous state, with all the missing icons and shortcuts.

Incorrect work of the conductor

Most people who still use old Windows XP are familiar with this method and some of them have probably tried it before. If before that "Explorer" constantly had to be restarted due to the invasion of viruses, today this scenario is less likely, but still has the right to exist.

Let's decide this problem and return our missing desktop:

Thus, you can start the "Explorer", which was turned off for some reason, and restore the familiar classic desktop on the laptop.

Explorer.exe file

If a message appears that the file was not found or the tool is not available, then it's time to check operating system for viruses and make sure that the file that is responsible for the Windows 10 window interface is not damaged.

The action plan is the following:

If this did not help restore shortcuts (icons, icons) on the desktop, be sure to try the following:

I would like to pay special attention to the first point, which is why we will analyze it in detail below.

Registry errors

If you have reached this point, then the previous methods did not help you, and this, in turn, indicates that your desktop has disappeared due to errors in the registry. First, briefly, about what it is. The registry is a kind of operating system database. Windows systems 10. It stores all system settings, settings for programs, applications and connected equipment (printers, scanners, etc.). And even small errors can disrupt the correct operation of the OS.

So it should also be checked:

After changing the settings, a black screen usually appears, which disappears after a few seconds.

Additionally, it should be checked using the Reg Organizer utility. She will find and correct all the mistakes.

Reverting the system to a restore point

Another way to return all icons and icons back to the desktop is to roll back all changes in the system, to the moment when all icons and shortcuts were displayed. This is an effective method that will surely solve the problem that has arisen, even if none of the above methods has brought the desired result.

To complete this task, you need:

Enter the classic "Control Panel" by pressing "Win + X" or through Start.
In the search bar (you can find it in the upper right corner), you must enter the query "Recovery".
The search results will display the section we need, go to it.
We start system recovery by clicking on the appropriate item.
The Recovery Wizard will open. To rollback and return to the normal appearance of the desktop, you just need to click "Next" and follow the instructions on the screen.
An important step is to choose an appropriate restore point to which you want to rollback.
Select a point from the list and click "Next". If you do not know what to do in this case and which point to choose, then you should use the "Search for affected programs" option. To do this, select a point and click this button.
A window will appear on the screen with a list of utilities that will be affected by the system rollback. In the upper list, you will see the applications that will be deleted, and in the lower list, those that will be restored.
After choosing a restore point, click "Finish".

After that, the process will start and Windows 10 will roll back to the restore point you need.

Based on the available data, it can be summarized that returning the old desktop is not difficult, and does not require specialized knowledge or skills in computer field, as we explained each of the methods in as much detail as possible.

Reasons for the loss

Most often, the contents of the screen disappear in Windows 10 due to system failures. If you install unlicensed software, downloaded from "left" sites, then no one can guarantee the future performance of the PC. The changes that such self-written programs make to the system and registry are defying tracking, and often logic.

In addition, they can carry viruses that are copied into your system and begin to host it. The result is also unpredictable - not only shortcuts will disappear, but also folders.

What is a "Desktop"?

Visually, this is the Windows screen that we see in front of us after loading. By analogy with a real table, it stores the most important and necessary tools - shortcuts.
In the system, all these resources are located in the user folder, on system drive. And the explorer.exe program manages the directory, creating the interface familiar to us. Failure in its work leads to the fact that the desktop disappears.

What to do if the desktop is gone

First of all, try rebooting. Perhaps the system just needs to accept the new rules after installing the programs. Moreover, everyone notices that it is effective to reboot using the power button on system unit.
If this does not help and everything is gone on the screen, then you should try one of the following actions.

Starting the desktop process

Open the task manager (right click on start or CTRL+ALT+DELETE).

We need to start the explorer.exe process. To do this, in the "File" menu, select the creation of a new task.

And enter the process name explorer.exe.

If the desktop is gone because the process was stopped, this will help. If the folder or program was corrupted by a virus or Windows 10 crash, then this will not help.

Restoring the operating system

How to get back the Windows 10 desktop if it disappeared after the update? Need to go to safe mode. For older versions of the OS, up to 8, it is enough to press F8 when loading. In Windows 10 or 8, we will use the options. The easiest way to search is to type msconfig.

If the failure also touched the taskbar, then press WIN + R and type in the line.

On the Boot tab, select Safe Mode.

If you need a network, click on the dot next to the appropriate option.

The second way is to reload through the parameters. Will work if the main menu is intact. Click "Start" and the gear icon, and then go to the "Update and security" section.

In the Recovery area, click Restart Now.

Then sequentially select "Diagnostics" - "Advanced options" - "Download options". All of this will appear when downloading. Finally, you will be presented with a choice.

Press function key F4, F5 or F6 depending on the desired selection.
Restore the system in safe mode. To do this, go to the settings again, and select "Update and Security". Next is Recovery.

Click the "Start" button.

Attention! It is better to restore the system in safe mode. In this configuration, all executables are disabled installed files, autoload is cleaned up and you have a better chance of restoring Windows.

You will be presented with a choice. Usually the files are saved, but if the system is badly damaged, then choose deletion.

The system will notify you about applications being removed.

And then the system restore will follow.

Registry Configuration

The registry is the system store of all Windows communications. When the software is installed, new data is written to it. Any failure leads to key violations, and we get problems, for example, when shortcuts and folders disappear.
To open the registry, press WIN+R and type regedit.

Follow the path
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/WindowsNT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon
Check parameters:

Shell-explorer.exe
UserInit - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Userinit.exe

If yours are different, install the ones you need and reboot. Screen elements will no longer disappear.

Restoring shortcuts

Sometimes only labels disappear. It is easy to determine this if the "Start" is working. Go to the settings and select the section responsible for the system.

In the Tablet Mode area, turn off all sliders.

Also on the desktop, right-click and move the pointer to the "View" command. Check if the icon display item is disabled. If the checkbox is not checked, the labels will disappear.

Also be sure to check your computer for viruses.

Recovery of individual elements

Not always completely disappears all the contents of the desktop. Sometimes you may miss the folder or the desired shortcut.

Restoring the start button

What to do if the bottom line and Start on the desktop suddenly disappeared? To make it work again, re-register. To do this, in Task Manager, run a new PowerShell task as an administrator.

In it you need to type the command:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach (Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”)

Press Enter. After the command is finished, restart the computer again.

We return the basket if it is gone

This tool allows us to remove unnecessary or restore deleted elements of the system. Let's figure out how to return the basket if it disappeared from the worker Windows desktop 10. Right click on free space screen and select Personalization.

Under Themes, look for desktop icon options.

Check the box next to the shopping cart.

What to do if the recycle bin is missing from the Windows XP or Vista desktop and needs to be restored? Use the editor group policy. Go to Start, select "Run" and type gpedit.msc. Then navigate to the following path:
User Configuration-Administrative Templates-Desktop
On the right side, you will see the "Remove Trash Icon from Desktop" option.

By clicking RMB and opening "Change", you should set the option "Not set".

Be sure to reboot.

Missing folder from desktop: how to find and restore

This can happen due to a change in screen resolution - the folders are gone, because they are simply not visible. Select the view command by right-clicking on the working area of the screen and execute the "Arrange icons automatically" command.

Also check which user you are logged in as. Folders are only visible to the person who created them. Click on start and on top of the three bars (menu). Look for a user. Change it if necessary.

The folder may have disappeared because it was deleted. Open the basket and look in it. Restore if necessary.

Also folders disappear if they are hidden. Open File Explorer and click on View. Check the box next to Hidden Items.

Why does the picture disappear from the desktop

And finally, we’ll tell you how to deal with the situation when the Windows 10 desktop background disappeared. The reason is Windows activation. If you have an unlicensed operating system, then during updates, an activation key is searched. The unsuccessful outcome of this procedure leads to a reset of the settings and the screen elements disappear.

So, if the picture is gone, then go along the path:
Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - Windows Components - Windows Update
Here we need "Setting automatic update».

Select the "Edit" command again and click on the "Disabled" option.

After that, you will get rid of updates and the desktop background will not disappear. And for reliability, consider buying Windows licenses 10.
We told you what to do if the desktop disappeared in Windows 10. We hope the information will help you.

Have a great day!

Sometimes Windows 10 clients encounter a problem: they turn on the computer, but their “Desktop” does not have certain icons that they need to work. Why can this happen? How to be in such a situation? Today we will consider how to return the necessary icons and get quick access to services and programs again.

Why icons disappear from the Windows 10 Desktop

Before you solve the problem with the sudden disappearance of icons in Windows 10, you need to consider why this could happen. There are several explanations:

Virus infection. They are able to make changes to system settings, thereby removing icons. In this regard, before returning the icons to the "Desktop", you need to scan hard drives PC for malware with an antivirus so that after restoring the icons, the situation does not happen again.
System failure. This may be a single bug. In this case, you just need to manually return all the icons.
turned off system process explorer.
Activated "Tablet Mode". To return the usual icons, you need to disable this mode.
Installation Windows updates with mistakes. If the icons disappeared immediately after the system update, it is possible that the update installation was incorrect. In this case, add the shortcuts again manually.
Incorrect shutdown of the second monitor.

Put the icons back on the "Desktop"

There are several ways to fix the situation: by eliminating the cause itself using the "Task Manager" and "Registry Editor" or by returning the necessary icons manually.

Using the context menu options

Utilities icons may be removed from the Desktop if their display is disabled. To enable the feature back, do the following:

If this method does not help, create the program icons again manually using another option context menu:

Again, click on the free field on the "Desktop" with the right mouse button.
In the list, click on "Create". Now click on "Shortcut".
Click on "Shortcut" to create a shortcut to a specific program
In a new window, click on "Browse" so that in " Windows Explorer" choose desired file programs.
Click on the "Browse" button to select an application in "Windows Explorer"
As a rule, all utilities are stored on the system drive in the Program Files folder. We find desired application e.g. Skype. Open the messenger folder and look for the Skype.exe file, which launches the utility. We click on OK.
Select the file of the program whose shortcut you want to see on your "Desktop"
Now click on "Next" in the main window.
Click on the "Next" button to continue the procedure for creating a shortcut
We print a new name for the shortcut or leave the standard file name. We click on "Finish".
Enter a name for the label and click on "Finish"

Returning default icons in the Options window

If classic Windows icons, such as the Recycle Bin or My Computer, are missing from your home screen, you can quickly restore them. Just follow the instructions below:

First, click on the area free from icons on the main Windows screen right-click to bring up the familiar context menu.
Select "Personalize" from the context menu of the "Desktop"
In the list of options and sections, click on the last item "Personalization".
In a large window, go directly to the "Themes" tab.
Now we turn our attention to the right column with links in the window. Click on "Desktop Icon Options".
Click on the "Desktop Icon Options" link
A small window will open on top of the main one. In it, check the boxes to the left of the shortcuts that you want to see on your "Desktop". You can install "My Computer", "Control Panel", "Recycle Bin" and some others.
Check the icons you need and click on "Apply"
After that, click on "Apply" and then on OK to close the additional window. The marked icons will immediately appear on your "Desktop".

Video: how to replace standard Windows shortcuts

Registry fix to restore "Desktop"

The sudden disappearance of icons from the "Desktop" can be triggered by errors in the registry - the database of the operating system, which the latter constantly accesses during operation. It stores all the settings of the system, utilities, connected equipment (printers, headphones, etc.), so it is very important that the registry works correctly. What to do if the reason is an error in the registry?

On the keyboard, hold down the key combination Win + R, which will bring up a small window "Run". In it we enter the word regedit.
Enter the regedit command in the "Open" field
The Registry Editor window will open. Before further manipulations, you need to create backup registry in case of incorrect editing. To do this, click on the "File" object on the top panel, and then on the "Export" option.
Click on "Export" in the "File" menu
We print the name and save it in any folder convenient for you or even on the "Desktop". This file will help restore the registry to its previous state. To do this, you just need to launch it by double-clicking it.
Save a backup copy of the registry in any convenient place
In the left part of the window, open the third main branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Open the third main folder HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on the left side of the window
Now we sequentially launch the following folders: Software - Microsoft - WindowsNT - CurrentVersion - Winlogon.
In the Winlogon folder, look for the Shell entry
On the right side of the window, look for a registry entry called Shell. We launch it by double clicking and see what value this parameter has. It should be explorer.exe. If there is another one, we immediately change it.
The Shell parameter must be set to explorer.exe
The other setting in the Userinit list should be C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe.
The Userinit parameter should be set to C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe
After changing the values of these two parameters, a black screen may appear. Don't worry, it will disappear in a few seconds.

Restoring icons through the "Task Manager"

For graphic Windows design the service process explorer.exe or "Explorer" responds. Icons may disappear at one moment from the "Desktop" due to the fact that it does not work correctly or is not running at all. In the first case, it must be restarted. How to do it?

In Windows 10, launching the "Task Manager" is very simple: right-click on the "Taskbar" and select the desired item in the context menu. Open the "Task Manager" through the context menu of the "Taskbar"
In the first section "Processes" we carefully look for the item "Explorer" in the list. Select it with the left mouse button, and then click on the "Restart" button located at the bottom of the window.
Select the "Explorer" item in the "Processes" tab and click on "Restart"
If you did not find this process in the list, click on "File" on the top bar and select the first item "Run a new task".
From the "File" menu, click on "Run a new task"
In a new small window in a single field, type explorer.exe or explorer. Click OK to run the created task.
Enter the explorer.exe command in the "Open" field
The same launch command can be sent to the system in another way: using the Run window. Hold down the combination Win + R on the keyboard. Write one of the two commands and click on OK.

Turn off tablet mode

Icons do not appear on the "Desktop" if you have "Tablet Mode" activated. How to disable it and make it so that the system does not turn it on on its own?

First you need to make sure that "Tablet Mode" is not activated on your PC. To do this, hold down the Win and A (Latin) keys. An area with notifications and tiles will appear on the right side of the screen. The very first one will be "Tablet Mode". If it is active (saturated color as opposed to off), click on it once with the left mouse button. It will immediately dim - the screen will return to the "Desktop" mode.
After all the manipulations, you need to turn on the system Start menu and click on the gear-shaped icon, which is located directly above the device's shutdown button. This action will open the " Windows Settings». Click the gear icon on the Start menu to open Windows Settings
We launch the first section "System" with one click.
Open the first section "System"
In the first drop-down menu, select "Use desktop mode" as the value, and in the second - "Always ask for permission before switching mode."
In the first dropdown menu select "Use Desktop Mode"
Move the two sliders to the "On" position and then back to the "Off" position.

Shutdown PC using the button on the laptop

A non-standard way to return the icons is to turn off the device using the power button, and not through the system Start menu. To do this, close all utility windows and hold down the button. After turning on the computer, the shortcuts should reappear on the "Desktop".

Scanning the explorer.exe file

Icons can be removed from the "Desktop" if the explorer.exe file, which is responsible for the Windows 10 window interface, is damaged. What can be done in this case? You need to scan the file using special commands:

Video: Several Methods for Restoring Desktop Icons

System rollback

One of the most effective ways to get icons back is to restore the system to its previous state, when all the necessary icons were still on the Desktop. This method will help you if all the others give no results, and you do not want to return them manually. Use the following instruction:

We click on the icon in the form of a magnifying glass on the "Taskbar", located next to the "Start" button. We print the query "Control Panel". As you type, the system will return the expected search results. Click with the left mouse button on the item with the corresponding name. Open "Control Panel" using "Windows Search"
At the top, find the search bar and enter the query "Recovery". In the results, open the section with this name.
Open the "Recovery" section in the "Control Panel"
Now you need to click on the second option "Start System Restore".
Click on the second item "Start System Restore"
The recovery wizard window will appear on the screen. Read the information and simply click on the "Next" button in the lower right corner of the window.
In the wizard window, click on "Next"
In the list of restore points, select the desired one with the left mouse button. Click on "Next" again. The Scan for Affected Programs button lets you know which utilities and drivers will be removed and which will be restored
We click on "Finish" so that the system starts the recovery process - rollback to the time when the shortcuts on the "Desktop" were still there.
Click "Finish" to start the recovery process

Video: how to roll back the system using a restore point

Restoring icons on the "Taskbar"

You can put back the necessary icons on the "Taskbar" in several ways. In particular, by restarting the "Explorer" process in the "Task Manager" and by rolling back the system through a restore point. Detailed Instructions These methods have been described in the "Restoring icons through the Task Manager" and "Reverting the system" sections of this article.

You also have the right to manually install the same icons on the "Taskbar". To do this, do the following:

Right-click on a field free from shortcuts on the "Desktop". In the list, select the very last item "Personalization".
Now we switch immediately to the last tab "Taskbar". Scroll down the page to the link "Choose the icons displayed in the taskbar". We click on it.
Click on the link "Choose the icons that appear on the taskbar"
Use the switches to add or remove system icons and utility icons. As you turn on certain icons, you will immediately see that they appear on the "Taskbar".
Use the switches to activate the icons you need on the "Taskbar"
Click the back arrow to return to the main tab. Now click on the second link "Turn system icons on and off". Here you can configure the display of standard Windows icons on the Taskbar: power, touch keyboard, network, volume, etc. Turn on the icons you need and close the Windows settings window.
Enable the system icons you need
If there was no program in the first list that you want to return to the "Taskbar", drag its shortcut from the "Desktop": to do this, hold down the icon with the left mouse button and drag it to the panel.
Drag the program shortcut from the Desktop to the Taskbar
When the icon is within the panel, release the mouse button - the icon will be fixed.
Skype shortcut stuck in taskbar

If you turned on Tablet Mode and all the icons from the Taskbar disappeared, it means that you have enabled the Hide application icons option in the Taskbar tab of the Windows Settings window. Find it and turn it off using the instructions in the section "Turning off the mode tablet computer» of this article.

If you suddenly lost the icons you need on the “Desktop” and “Taskbar”, first of all check if you have any icons on your PC malware. To do this, use your updated antivirus. You can return the icons by creating new shortcuts through the context menu options and changing the settings in the Windows Settings window. The "Registry Editor" and "Task Manager" will also come to the rescue, in which you can restart the "Explorer" process, which is responsible for GUI Windows and icon display.

The Fall Creators Update, without too much hatred, can be called the strangest update ever Windows history 10. Not only was the update severely cut in terms of functions, but instead of the promised innovations, it was just filled with some wild amount of bugs. One of those is seemingly installed, but at the same time missing applications. An unpleasant bug appears in those users who have updated their computers with the Creators Update. Microsoft has posted a workaround for this issue on its official support forum.

So far, the developers are investigating the problem and trying to find and eliminate its cause. The bug itself manifests itself in a very unpleasant way, when the user cannot find the previously installed application. When it seems that the application is simply removed, the store starts saying that it is actually installed. Neither the search nor the list of applications helps. You can launch such an application only from the store, which is not very convenient, as you understand.

Now Microsoft offers users three methods to solve the problem.

Method 1

Open Options and go to section Applications.
Find the app you want and open advanced options.
Repair the program if this option is available. If not, press the reset button. After that, the disappeared application should again appear in the application list and as a tile on the Start menu.

Method 2

Open Options and in the section Applications find and uninstall the desired application.
Then open the Store, download the application again, after which it should appear in the general list.

Method 3

It allows you to re-register vanished applications via PowerShell. This method is for those who are faced with loss a large number applications. Here it should only be noted that if the first two methods did not work, this one will not help either.

Run PowerShell as Administrator. The best way to do this is through the menu. Win+ X. Then paste the following commands into the console window:

reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\TileDataModel\Migration\TileStore" /va /f
get-appxpackage -packageType bundle |%(add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode($_.installlocation + "\appxmetadata\appxbundlemanifest.xml"))
$bundlefamilies = (get-appxpackage -packagetype Bundle).packagefamilyname
get-appxpackage -packagetype main |? (-not ($bundlefamilies -contains $_.packagefamilyname)) |% (add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($_.installlocation + "\appxmanifest.xml"))

Each of these commands may take some time to complete, so please be patient. After this application should theoretically appear again.

Please note that no one guarantees that these methods will work for you. For some, these actions successfully restored lost applications, but for some they did not. We have not encountered these bugs, so we cannot check the reliability of the published instructions on our computers, but you can try them if your device has been affected by a jamb of developers. Guide published official support Microsoft, so it makes sense to try it.

For now, let's hope for a fix soon. Recall that a similar problem was observed when updating to build 16299.15. Part of optional components like Windows media player, simply disappeared from the system, which is why users had to reinstall them.