If you have missing desktop icons or you have no desktop icons apart from the Recycle Bin it is usually due to Windows trying to be helpful and make your life a bit easier.

It can be a real pain, but luckily it is pretty easy to get all the desktop icons back.

There are a couple of ways to do this

1. Go to the Start Menu – Control Panel – select Display – Desktop tab – customize desktop – General tab and select the desktop icons you want to see – My Documents – My Network Places – My Computer – as per graphic below

   

   As above make sure My Documents – My Network Places and My Computer is Ticked

2. It is also worth turning off the Desktop cleanup wizard, from the current Desktop icons screen untick – Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days

   Did you know Display Settings can also be accessed by right clicking on the Desktop and Selecting properties

3. The second reason for losing desktop icons is when the main desktop icons setting is turned off.To re-enable Right Click on the Desktop – Select Arrange Icons By – you will now see a sub menu – make sure Show Desktop Icons has a tick on it.

   Now click Ok and your changes should be implemented

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