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How to Restore Folder Disappeared from Desktop
What would I do if my folder disappeared from my desktop? You can learn 5 ways to fix the problem of a missing desktop folder in Windows, and we'll give you a way to get back all of your lost info.
By Lucas / Updated on August 13, 2024
Case: How to find a disappeared folder from my desktop?
“I had a folder in my desktop and it suddenly dissappeared, can someone help me? I am very desperate, the folder contained the 10 years worth of photos and videos of a friend... I need to recover it...”
Why folder disappear from desktop?
The majority of Windows 10/11 users are accustomed to placing frequently used files and folders on their desktops to facilitate rapid and easy access to the necessary data. Folders can be established on the desktop to store any type of file, including documents, videos, and photographs. Additionally, shortcuts to applications can be generated. However, many users have recently reported the absence of the Windows 11/10 desktop folder, which has resulted in both user frustration and a significant decrease in work efficacy.
Losing files and folders on your desktop is a prevalent issue typically resulting from a combination of factors.
▶ Users may have inadvertently deleted folders and icons from the desktop.
▶ File folders are concealed from view after Windows 10 or 11 updates.
▶ Malware and virus infections result in the deletion of folders from your computer.
▶ File disappearance from the Windows 10 or 11 desktop due to a system or disk damage.
▶ The desktop folder may have been removed and third-party applications may have altered your desktop settings.
Although there are numerous causes for the loss of files and folders on your computer, the issue is not irremediable. In this post, we will present five methods for resolving the "folder disappeared from desktop" issue and offer solutions for permanently recovering lost data.
Fix folder disappeared from desktop on Windows 10 or 11
When your files vanish from the desktop of Windows 10/11, attempt to retrieve deleted files and folders from the recycle bin. It is possible that your data was deleted and preserved there as a result of an incorrect operation. We offer a variety of effective methods to fix the missing desktop folders, as well as a solution that can recover all lost data, so there is no need to fret if your desktop folder is not in the Recycle Bin. Learn by sliding the page.
Method 1. Use the correct user account
The system may utilize a temporary account to register into your computer after you update Windows 10 or 11. Subsequently, the folder containing the desktop of the correct account will be deleted. Therefore, it is possible to verify whether the folder is absent from the Windows 10 or 11 desktop by switching back to the appropriate account.
Step 1. Click the Start button (Windows icon) on the desktop and right-click to select your account icon.
Step 2. Select the correct account in the drop-up menu to log in, and then check whether the folder on the desktop is restored.
Method 2. Try File Explorer to locate the desktop folder.
If the automatic update of Windows resulted in the loss of your desktop folders, they may be concealed, but they are not entirely absent. This can be accomplished by searching in File Explorer.
To access File Explorer, first select the Win+E key. Subsequently, utilize the search bar in the following two paths to enter keywords to locate desktop files or folders.
Go to Documents: This PC > Local Disk (C) > Users > [User Name] > Documents.
Go to Public: This PC > Local Disk (C) > Users > Public.
Method 3. Retrieve concealed desktop folders
Desktop files and folders may be designated as concealed, rendering them unavailable for viewing at the moment, if their properties have been altered as a consequence of an update or a virus or malware attack. It is possible to attempt to retrieve all of the concealed data in order to resolve the issue of missing desktop files or folders on Windows 10 or 11.
Step 1. Tap the This PC icon from your desktop and tap the View tab in the top taskbar.
Step 2. Go to the Options interface, click on the View tab in the pop-up window, then select Files and Folders > Hidden files and folders, tick Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
Method 4. Check your C drive
One of the primary causes of file loss is the corruption of the startup disk and other hard drives. The desktop folder is typically located on the C drive. To recover lost files on Windows 10/11, it is possible to inspect the drive and resolve the issue.
Step 1. Click on the This PC icon from desktop, right-click on the C drive where your desktop files will normally be stored, and select the Properties option.
Step 2. Select Tools and click Check to scan the drive and it will automatically check and fix file system errors. After the whole process is over, you can restart the PC and see if the folder is restored.
Method 5. Recover disappeared folder from desktop via data recovery tool
If you are unable to retrieve the files and folders that were previously stored on your desktop using the aforementioned four methods, it is likely that they have been irrevocably deleted or lost. Users who maintain backup practices can effortlessly retrieve duplicates that have been stored on alternative media. Additionally, the persistent loss of critical data can result in substantial losses for other users.
Fortunately, a dependable data recovery tool can successfully recover all of your data. Users can effortlessly retrieve lost files and folders with the help of AOMEI FastRecovery. Users can efficiently locate lost data with the assistance of a sophisticated scanning engine and robust data recovery algorithms. With just a few clicks, users can retrieve files that have been irrevocably deleted in Windows.
1. Assist users in the effective, safe, and complete recovery of lost data on all Windows PCs and Windows Servers.
2. Retrieve data that has been lost as a result of a variety of factors, such as system crashes, inadvertent deletions, and virus attacks.
3. Provide users with an exceptional experience by achieving a high recovery success rate on the most frequently used drives, including HDD, SSD, SD Card, and USB Drive, without compromising the integrity of the data.
4. Facilitate the retrieval of over 200 categories of data, such as documents, videos, images, audio, emails, and compressed files.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.
Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.
Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".
Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.
Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.
To sum up
If your desktop folder has vanished, there is no need for concern; the aforementioned five methods can be used to retrieve the data that has been concealed as a result of a variety of circumstances. Your desktop folder may have been deleted or lost. In such cases, professional data recovery software AOMEI FastRecovery can be employed to retrieve all lost data. It is essential to note that the most effective method of safeguarding your data is still backup. You can use backup tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant to ensure that your critical data is never lost and manage your disks efficiently.
