For some, it started after an OS upgrade whereas others have said that it happened simply after a normal reboot. If you are also in the same boat, then fret not as you could easily bring those icons back to your desktop. And in this guide, we will show you how to do just that. Follow along.

Fix Desktop Icons Missing or Disappeared on Mac

It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Restart Mac

As obvious as it may sound, but trust us, in most cases, a simple reboot is all that is needed to rectify the underlying issue. So give your Mac a restart and then check if it fixes the issue of desktop icons missing or disappeared from your Mac.

FIX 2: Restart Finder

You might also get bugged with this issue if the Finder is not working along the expected lines due to its background services not functioning properly. In such cases, your best bet is to restart Finder and then check out the results. Here’s how it could be done:

FIX 3: Tweak Finder Settings

Next up, you should also verify that the Finder has been instructed to show those files and folders on your Mac in the first place. Here’s how:

FIX 4: Tweak iCloud Desktop Settings

If you are using iCloud to back up your files on the desktop, then it might also lead to this issue. So you should consider tweaking its setting using the below-given instructions and then check out the results.

FIX 5: Unhide Items via Terminal

You could also unhide the file and folders from your desktop using a single line of command. Here’s how:

FIX 6: Delete Corrupt Preferences Files

In some cases, this issue might also arise if the Finder and Desktop Files get corrupted. Therefore, you should delete both these files and then let the OS create a fresh instance of the same from scratch. Here’s how it could be done: That’s it. These were the six different methods that shall help you fix the issue wherein the desktop icons are missing or have disappeared from your Mac. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

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