Desktop Restore on Windows 11/10: 8 Simple Ways

How to Do Desktop Restore on Windows 11

Losing desktop icons or shortcuts on your Windows 11 or 10 PC can be frustrating, especially if you rely on them for quick access to files, apps, or folders. Some of the most common reasons for desktop icons missing may be:

• Accidental hiding of icons through settings.
• Corrupted icon cache, which can cause icons to stop displaying properly.
• System glitches after updates or restarts.

In this guide, we'll walk you through various ways to perform desktop restore in Windows 11/10 for shortcuts as well as desktop folder. Let’s get down to business now!

AOMEI Backupper

Free Windows backup software for file and system backup and restore.

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

How to Restore Desktop Icons in Windows 11/10 in 6 Solutions

To restore desktop icons on Windows 11 and Windows 10, there are 6 simple approaches.

Way 1. Enable Desktop Icons

One of the most common reasons for missing desktop shortcuts in Windows 10/11 is that the desktop icons are simply disabled. You can quickly fix this by re-enabling them:

Step 1. Right-click on anywhere on your Desktop, and select View.

Step 2. Check the option labeled Show desktop icons to restore desktop shortcuts on Windows 11/10.

Way 2. Check Desktop Icon Settings

Sometimes, even after enabling desktop icons, certain icons, like Computer, and Recycle Bin, may still be missing due to specific settings being adjusted inadvertently. Here’s how to make sure everything is set up correctly:

Step 1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings. Navigate to Personalization and then click Themes.

Step 2. Scroll down and select Desktop icon settings.

Step 3. In the Desktop Icon Settings window, check the boxes for the icons you want to appear on your desktop (like Computer, Network, Recycle Bin, etc.).

Step 4. Click Apply and then OK to confirm the changes.

Way 3. Rebuild Desktop Icon Cache

Windows builds an icon cache to speed up loading and displaying icons. If the cache becomes corrupted, it could cause desktop icons not to show up properly. Here's how to rebuild the desktop icon cache to restore desktop icons in Windows 10and 11:

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

• cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
• taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
• del IconCache*
• Explorer.exe

These commands will stop Windows Explorer, delete the corrupted icon cache, and restart Windows Explorer, which should restore the desktop icons.

Way 4. Check Group Policy Settings

Sometimes, Group Policy settings can prevent desktop icons from displaying. This is often the case in work environments where system administrators set specific rules. Here's how to check if Group Policy settings are causing the desktop icons rearrange themselves on Windows 11 issue:

Step 1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box and type gpedit.msc. Press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop. Double click Hide and disable all items on the desktop on the right.

Step 3. Then, choose Not Configured or Disabled and click Apply > OK.

Way 5. Run Run System File Checker Tool

Corrupted system files can also lead to issues with missing desktop icons. Running the built-in System File Checker (SFC) tool can help repair these corrupted files.

Step 1. Search for cmd in the Start menu, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the sfc /scannow command and hit Enter.

Step 3. The tool will scan your system for any corrupted files and automatically repair them. Once the scan is complete, restart your computer.

Way 6. Add Desktop Shortcuts Manually

Adding your desktop shortcuts manually is also a useful solution for desktop restore on Windows 11. Here is what to do:

Step 1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop. In the context menu, select New, then choose Shortcut.

Step 2. In the "Type the location of the item" box, enter the path to the program, file, or folder for which you want to create a shortcut.

Step 3. Give your shortcut a name and click Finish.

How to Restore Desktop Folder on Windows 11/10

If you are troubled by missing Desktop folder, here are also some solutions that may be useful to you.

Way 1. Restore from Recycle Bin

If you accidentally deleted the Desktop folder, it may still be in the Recycle Bin. To restore it:

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop.

Step 2. Look for the Desktop folder. If it’s there, right-click on it and select Restore.

Way 2. Restore Desktop Location to Original

If you’ve accidentally moved your Desktop folder or changed its location, you can restore it back to the default path. Here’s how:

Step 1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. Then, right click on the Desktop folder in the navigation pane, and click on Properties.

Step 2. Tap on the Location tab, and click the Restore Default button.

Step 3. Then, click OK to restore desktop folder on Windows 11/10 to its original location.

Easiest Way to Backup Computer for Disaster Recovery

Restoring desktop icons or folders is a relatively simple thing, as long as you find the right method. However, if the computer has a serious problem, such as system damage, crash, etc., your important files will most likely be impossible to retrieve. Professional backup software, such as AOMEI Backupper Standard, can help you avoid such situations.

AOMEI Backupper

Free Windows Backup Software

• System Backup: Create a backup of your entire operating system, so you can restore it quickly if anything goes wrong
• File Backup: Backup individual files or folders, protecting your most important documents.
• Disk Backup: Create an image of your entire hard drive to ensure everything is backed up.
• Scheduled Backup: Set up automatic backups to run on a schedule, so you never forget to back up your data.
• Quick Restore: In case of system failure or data loss, you can restore your system or files easily from the backup.

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure

Step 1. Launch the AOMEI Backupper Standard application after installation. Select Backup and System Backup. You could also choose other backup options as needed.

Step 2. Choose a destination location to save the system backup. You can backup computer to USB drive, external drive, network share, NAS, etc.

Step 3. Click Start Backup to begin the system backup on Windows computer.

Summary

Whether you’re dealing with missing desktop icons or a desktop folder that has disappeared, there are plenty of ways to do desktop restore in Windows 11/10. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily get your desktop back to its original state.

Additionally, always ensure that you back up your important files regularly to protect yourself against data loss. Tools like AOMEI Backupper Standard make it easier than ever to safeguard your system and do a system restore whenever needed. Besides, it allows you to clone hard drive on Windows 11 for data transfer easily.