How to fix missing desktop icons in Windows 10 and 11

Are desktop icons missing or disappeared in Windows 10 or 11? Here are several solutions you can try to fix the problem.

Solution 1: Check if the desktop icons aren't disabled

  1. Right-click on the desktop.
  2. Go to View.
  3. Make sure there's a checkmark next to Show desktop icons.
    Show desktop icon in Windows

Solution 2: Restart the Windows Explorer process

  1. Right-click on the Windows taskbar.
  2. Click on Task Manager.
    Open Windows Task Manager
  3. In the Processes tab, you right-click on Windows Explorer.
  4. Click on Restart.
    Restart the Windows Explorer process

Solution 3: Recycle Bin, Computer, Control Panel, or Network icons

If the Recycle Bin, Computer, Control Panel, or Network icons are missing, follow the steps below.

  1. Right-click on the desktop.
  2. Click on Personalize.
    Open Windows Personalization settings via desktop
  3. Click on Themes.
    Open Windows theme settings
  4. Click on Desktop icon settings under Related Settings.
    Open Windows Desktop Icon Settings
  5. In the next window, you check the checkbox next to the item you want to show on the desktop.
    Show Computer, Control Panel, or Network icon on the Windows desktop
  6. Click on Apply at the bottom of the window.
  7. Click on OK.

Solution 4: Clear icon cache

  1. Open File Explorer.
    Open Windows File Explorer
  2. Click on View located in the top toolbar.
  3. On Windows 10, you check the checkbox next to Hidden items. On Windows 11, you go to Show and then click on Hidden items to check this option.
    View hidden files, folders, and drives in Windows 11
    Show hidden items in Windows 10 File Explorer
  4. Open the (C:) drive.
    C drive
  5. Open the Users folder.
    Users folder
  6. Open the folder with your user account name.
    User folder
  7. Open the AppData folder.
  8. Open the Local folder.
  9. Delete the IconCache.db file.
    Delete the IconCache.db file
  10. Restart your PC.

Solution 5: System File Checker Tool

  1. Right-click on the Windows start menu button.
  2. Click on Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).
    Open Windows Command Prompt or Terminal as administrator
  3. When the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, you click Yes. Depending on your settings, you might need to enter your administrator password first and then click Yes.
  4. In the Command Prompt or Terminal window, you type sfc /scannow.
    Windows sfc /scannow command
  5. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
  6. The System File Checker tool will scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files with a cached copy. This process may take a while. Wait for the process to finish.
  7. When the System File Checker is finished, you close the Command Prompt or Terminal window.
  8. Restart your PC.

Note: If the System File Checker tool is unable to fix corrupt files, go to the following page: How to fix 'SFC unable to fix corrupt files' in Windows 10 and 11.

Hopefully, your problem is solved.