Folder Disappeared from Desktop on Windows 10/11? Recover Now!

Imagine how frustrated you would be when you sit down to work only to realize that an important folder on your desktop is missing.

It's not just an icon that's missing, it's a disrupted workflow and the potential loss of important data. Whether it's human error or a system failure, you'll want to know: where did it go?

Don't worry if you are also going through this situation or can't find pictures, videos, files, etc. that you never deleted!

Here, we will explore the common reasons behind folders disappearing from the desktop and guide you in taking steps to recover them quickly.

Why folder disappeared from desktop?

For “folder disappeared from desktop in Windows 10/11”, there are different solutions for different reasons. Usually, it happens in the following cases.

Although there are many reasons for the loss of folders on your computer, the problem is not incurable. We will introduce 6 methods to repair the folder that disappeared from the desktop issue in this post and provide solutions to recover permanently lost data.

How to recover folders disappeared from desktop

If your files disappear from the Windows 10/11 desktop, first try to recover deleted files from Recycle Bin, your data may have been deleted and saved here due to incorrect operation.

Don't worry if you don't have your desktop folder in the Recycle Bin, we provide you with a variety of effective ways to fix the desktop folders, as well as a solution that can recover all lost data. Scroll down to learn more.

▶ Way 1. Recover accidentally deleted desktop folders easily

When a folder on your desktop is deleted or lost, the easiest way to get it back is to use professional data recovery software. AOMEI FastRecovery can be your first choice.

It helps users find lost data efficiently with an advanced scanning engine and powerful data recovery algorithms. Users can recover permanently deleted files in Windows with just a few clicks.

★More highlights of AOMEI FastRecovery:

Help users recover lost data effectively, safely, and completely.

Recover data lost due to various reasons, including system crashes, accidental deletion, virus attacks, etc.

Bring great experience to users with a very high recovery success rate, and there is no loss of data quality.

Support retrieving 200+ types of data, including documents, videos, pictures, audio, emails, compressed files, etc.

AOMEI FastRecovery has an intuitive graphical interface that can be easily operated by any user. Download the Trial version to get back the disappeared folder.

Step 1. Launch the application > Locate the drive where the lost/deleted data is stored > click Scan.

Step 2. It will automatically retrieve your partition using Quick Scan and Deep Scan mode, you can view and select the lost data that has been scanned to in the list.

Step 3. Select the files and folders you need to recover and click the Recover x files button to get them back.

▶ Way 2. Switch to Uer Account

After you update Windows 10 or 11, the system may use a temporary account to log in to your computer, then the folder where the desktop of the correct account was stored will also be removed. So you can check and switch back to the correct account to confirm if the folder is missing from the Windows 10 or 11 desktop.

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.

▶ Way 3. Search the desktop folder in File Explorer

If your desktop folders were lost after the automatic update of Windows, they may just be hidden, but not completely gone. A simple way to do this is to search in File Explorer.

Please press the Win+E key first to open File Explorer, and then use the search bar in the following two paths to type keywords to search for your 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.

If your desktop folder doesn't exist under either path, you can try the next one.

▶ Way 4. Shown hidden desktop folders

If your files have changed properties as a result of an update or a virus or malware attack, desktop files and folders may be marked as hidden so you can't currently see them. You can try to recover all the hidden data to fix desktop files or folders that disappeared 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, and tick Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

▶ Way 5. Check your C drive

Startup disk and other hard drive corruption is also one of the main reasons for file missing, the desktop folder is usually located in the C drive, you can check the drive and fix the problem to recover lost files on Windows 10/11.

Step 1. Click on the This PC icon from the 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.

▶ Way 6. Change indexing options

Some users have reported that after the Windows 10 or 11 update, the drive letter will change due to various reasons, and you can quickly recover lost files or folders through the PC's change index option. Slide the page and fix the files that disappeared from desktop on Windows 10 or 11 issue by following the steps below.

Step 1. Tap the search icon in the lower-left corner of the desktop, type: indexing options in the search box, and click the option.

Step 2. Click on Advanced, then click Rebuild in the pop-up window.

An effective way to avoid folders missing again

You can easily back up your desktop folders with OneDrive. When you enable desktop folder backup, OneDrive automatically syncs your desktop files to the cloud, ensuring they’re safe and accessible from any device. This is particularly useful if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged, or if you need to access your files from a different location.

1. Sign in to OneDrive

• Open the OneDrive app on your PC. If it’s not installed, download it from the Microsoft Store.
• Sign in using your Microsoft account.

2. Choose Folders to Backup

• Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and go to Settings.
• Under the Backup tab, click Manage Backup.
• Select the folders you want to back up, such as Desktop, Documents, or Pictures. You can also manually drag and drop any folder into the OneDrive folder to back it up.

3. Sync Files Automatically

• Once your folders are in OneDrive, any changes made to them will automatically sync across your connected devices. This ensures your backup is always up to date.

Final words

In conclusion, experiencing a folder that has disappeared from your desktop can be both frustrating and alarming. However, by following the five effective methods outlined in this article, you can quickly restore your missing folder and regain control of your workspace.

Additionally, utilizing tools like AOMEI FastRecovery can help you recover deleted folders, ensuring that important files aren’t lost for good.

To further protect against future data loss, backing up your folders using OneDrive is a proactive step that keeps your files secure and accessible from anywhere. By implementing these strategies, you can minimize the risk of losing important data and maintain a well-organized digital environment.