{"id":1971,"date":"2024-08-23T06:01:30","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T06:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/?p=1971"},"modified":"2024-08-23T06:01:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T06:01:32","slug":"recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Recover Deleted Folders and Documents from Desktop on Mac?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI turned on my Mac and saw that my entire desktop is blank. I can\u2019t find all my folders and documents. If I try to access them through Finder, my Mac says: <\/em><strong><em>The operation can\u2019t be completed because the original item for Desktop cannot be found<\/em><\/strong><em>. Please, what can I do to fix this problem?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re like many Mac users who frequently save essential files on the desktop for quick access, then you might know how frustrating it can be to suddenly find an empty desktop. This usually prompts the question: why did my desktop items disappear on Mac?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"739\" height=\"415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recover-disappeared-folders-from-desktop-mac.jpg\" alt=\"recover disappeared folders from desktop on mac\" class=\"wp-image-1973\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recover-disappeared-folders-from-desktop-mac.jpg 739w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recover-disappeared-folders-from-desktop-mac-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In this article, we will explain the reasons why files and folders disappear from the desktop and some impeccable ways to recover them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Why_Folders_and_Files_Disappeared_from_the_Desktop\" title=\"Why Folders and Files Disappeared from the Desktop?\">Why Folders and Files Disappeared from the Desktop?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#How_to_Recover_Disappeared_Folders_from_Desktop_on_Mac\" title=\"How to Recover Disappeared Folders from Desktop on Mac?\">How to Recover Disappeared Folders from Desktop on Mac?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Effective_Solutions_to_Try_Before_Recovery\" title=\"Effective Solutions to Try Before Recovery\">Effective Solutions to Try Before Recovery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Use_Spotlight_to_Find_the_Disappeared_Desktop_Files\" title=\"Use Spotlight to Find the Disappeared Desktop Files\">Use Spotlight to Find the Disappeared Desktop Files<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Use_Time_Machine_to_Recover_Files_Disappeared_from_Mac\" title=\"Use Time Machine to Recover Files Disappeared from Mac\">Use Time Machine to Recover Files Disappeared from Mac<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Use_iCloud_Backup_to_Recover_Missing_Desktop_Documents_on_Mac\" title=\"Use iCloud Backup to Recover Missing Desktop Documents on Mac\">Use iCloud Backup to Recover Missing Desktop Documents on Mac<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Use_File_Recovery_Software_to_Retrieve_Missing_Folders_from_Mac_Desktop\" title=\"Use File Recovery Software to Retrieve Missing Folders from Mac Desktop\">Use File Recovery Software to Retrieve Missing Folders from Mac Desktop<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/recover-disappeared-desktop-files-mac\/#FAQs_on_Disappeared_Desktop_Folder_Recovery\" title=\"FAQs on Disappeared Desktop Folder Recovery\">FAQs on Disappeared Desktop Folder Recovery<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Folders_and_Files_Disappeared_from_the_Desktop\"><\/span>Why Folders and Files Disappeared from the Desktop?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are 5 likely reasons why your desktop files disappeared on Mac:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>\u2753<strong>Reasons<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>\ud83d\udcddExplanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\udd04System Updates<\/td><td>Sometimes, the reason why files disappear from Mac is as simple as transfer or deletion of files to different locations. It can be as simple as accidental deletion of desktop files.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\uddc2\ufe0fFiles Misplacement<\/td><td>Sometimes, the reason why files disappeared from Mac is as simple as transfer or deletion of files to different locations. It can be as simple as accidental deletion of desktop files.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ud83d\udc64User Account Issues<\/td><td>Problems associated with a user account, such as not having permission or wrong settings within the account, can make desktop files invisible.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u26a0\ufe0fVirus Attack &amp; Software Conflict<\/td><td>If the iCloud drive is not configured properly or there\u2019s an issue with your iCloud sync to the desktop, it might seem like your files are missing from the desktop.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u2601\ufe0fiCloud Drive Settings<\/td><td>If iCloud drive is not configured properly or there\u2019s an issue with your iCloud sync to desktop, it might seem like your files are missing from the desktop.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Recover_Disappeared_Folders_from_Desktop_on_Mac\"><\/span>How to Recover Disappeared Folders from Desktop on Mac?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have an understanding of why Mac folders disappeared from desktop, here are 5 reliable methods to recover them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Effective_Solutions_to_Try_Before_Recovery\"><\/span>Effective Solutions to Try Before Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, it could be that your Mac is experiencing a little glitch. Below are quick fixes you can try to recover desktop files disappeared on Mac:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The first fix is go to <strong>Apple menu<\/strong> > <strong>Force Quit<\/strong> <strong>Finder<\/strong>. You will receive a message, asking if you want to relaunch. Click <strong>OK<\/strong>. All your folders and files on Mac will be restored.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/mac-force-quit-finder-button.jpg\" alt=\"mac Force Quit Finder\" class=\"wp-image-1979\" style=\"width:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/mac-force-quit-finder-button.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/mac-force-quit-finder-button-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the first fix failed, then you can also go to <strong>System Settings<\/strong> > <strong>Desktop &amp; Dock<\/strong> > <strong>Desktop &amp; Stage Manager<\/strong>. Navigate to Show Items and make sure the On Desktop box is ticked. All your folders that disappeared from desktop Mac will reappear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"679\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/mac-stage-manager.jpg\" alt=\"mac Stage Manager\" class=\"wp-image-1980\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/mac-stage-manager.jpg 679w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/mac-stage-manager-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The third try is restart your Mac and make sure you sign in with the right user account. Files often disappear when you switch users&#8217; accounts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/tape-restart-button.jpg\" alt=\"tape restart button\" class=\"wp-image-1982\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/tape-restart-button.jpg 735w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/tape-restart-button-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The last fix is go to <strong>System Settings<\/strong> > <strong>Apple ID<\/strong>. Click on iCloud Drive settings and make sure <strong>Desktop &amp; Documents Folders<\/strong> are turned on. Your folders might appear missing on your Mac, but can be recovered on other devices via iCloud.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/check-mac-icloud-sync-settings-1024x788.png\" alt=\"check mac icloud sync settings\" class=\"wp-image-1984\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/check-mac-icloud-sync-settings-1024x788.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/check-mac-icloud-sync-settings-300x231.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/check-mac-icloud-sync-settings-768x591.png 768w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/check-mac-icloud-sync-settings.png 1430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_Spotlight_to_Find_the_Disappeared_Desktop_Files\"><\/span>Use Spotlight to Find the Disappeared Desktop Files<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Spotlight is a built-in tool in every Mac computer. Its sole function is to search for files from anywhere they&#8217;re located on Mac, which includes searching for files that disappear from the desktop or transferred to another location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49Here are the steps on how to find files on Mac through Spotlight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Press the <strong>CMD<\/strong> + <strong>Space<\/strong> keys on your keyboard to open the Spotlight tool.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/use-spotlight-to-find-the-disappeared-desktop-files.jpg\" alt=\"Use Spotlight to Find the Disappeared Desktop Files\" class=\"wp-image-1985\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/use-spotlight-to-find-the-disappeared-desktop-files.jpg 701w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/use-spotlight-to-find-the-disappeared-desktop-files-300x187.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Input the name of the desktop file you&#8217;re looking for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the search results to find the file. When you find the file, drag it back to the desktop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_Time_Machine_to_Recover_Files_Disappeared_from_Mac\"><\/span>Use Time Machine to Recover Files Disappeared from Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Time Machine is also an in-built tool in Mac. Its major role is to automatically backup your files and folders. This tool is particularly useful when desktop files disappeared on Mac. It allows you to navigate through different backup dates and choose the files to restore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, before you can use this method, you must know how to backup and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/restore-from-time-machine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">restore files on Mac with Time Machine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49Follow these steps to recover desktop files disappeared on Mac:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Connect the external drive with the Time Machine backup to your Mac.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the menu bar, click on <strong>Time Machine<\/strong>, and select <strong>Enter Time Machine<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"686\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/enter-time-machine-button.jpg\" alt=\"enter time machine button\" class=\"wp-image-1986\" style=\"width:450px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/enter-time-machine-button.jpg 686w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/enter-time-machine-button-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find and select the desktop disappeared files. Click on <strong>Restore<\/strong> to return them to the desktop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"739\" height=\"415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/click-the-restore-button.jpg\" alt=\"click the restore button\" class=\"wp-image-1987\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/click-the-restore-button.jpg 739w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/click-the-restore-button-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_iCloud_Backup_to_Recover_Missing_Desktop_Documents_on_Mac\"><\/span>Use iCloud Backup to Recover Missing Desktop Documents on Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another reputable solution for the Mac desktop folder missing is iCloud Backup. iCloud is an online storage created by Apple to backup all types of files, including photos and documents. Every file on your Mac computer is automatically saved on iCloud, serving as a second storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This \u201cMac documents folder disappeared\u201d recovery method is the go-to when your iCloud is not configured properly or the iCloud doesn\u2019t sync with the desktop. By following these methods for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-data-recovery\/recover-permanently-deleted-photos-from-icloud\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">recovering permanently deleted photos from iCloud<\/a>, you can easily retrieve Mac folders disappeared from desktop through iCloud Backup.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/icloud-backup.jpg\" alt=\"iCloud Backup\" class=\"wp-image-1988\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/icloud-backup.jpg 610w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/icloud-backup-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_File_Recovery_Software_to_Retrieve_Missing_Folders_from_Mac_Desktop\"><\/span>Use File Recovery Software to Retrieve Missing Folders from Mac Desktop<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve tried all the recovery methods above and you\u2019re still struggling with how to find files on Mac, using professional file recovery software is the best solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For successfully retrieve missing folders from Mac desktop, we recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/data-recovery-mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TinyFrom ONERECOVERY<\/a> \u2013 a highly-rated file recovery software for restoring folders and documents from various lost scenarios. This software is designed for every Mac user and it\u2019s compatible with various Apple chips, macOS versions, and file systems. It has a user-friendly interface that allows both tech beginners and experts to seamlessly get their files back.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"837\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recovery-scenarios-1024x837.png\" alt=\"recovery scenarios\" class=\"wp-image-1989\" style=\"width:550px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recovery-scenarios-1024x837.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recovery-scenarios-300x245.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recovery-scenarios-768x628.png 768w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recovery-scenarios-1536x1255.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/recovery-scenarios.png 1640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>ONERECOVERY has a dual scan mode (Quick Scan and Deep Scan) that helps to find and retrieve folders disappeared from desktop Mac regardless of the complications involved. Its comprehensive recovery capabilities extends to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-data-recovery\/recover-replaced-files-mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">restoring replaced files on Mac<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49Here\u2019s how to use ONERECOVERY to retrieve files that disappeared from Mac desktop:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Download and install ONERECOVERY on your Mac.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bak-pro-all-usa.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com\/recovery\/mac\/prod\/1.0.0\/ONERECOVERY_setup.dmg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"251\" height=\"91\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/onerecovery-mac-download-button.png\" alt=\"onerecovery mac download button\" class=\"wp-image-1967\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Launch the ONERECOVERY software and click on <strong>Desktop<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/start-a-location-1024x705.png\" alt=\"start a location using ONERECOVERY\" class=\"wp-image-1887\" style=\"width:650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/start-a-location-1024x705.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/start-a-location-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/start-a-location-768x528.png 768w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/start-a-location.png 1122w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Immediately, ONERECOVERY begins to scan the Desktop for all missing files, including the deleted, transferred, and replaced files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"709\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/using-onerecovery-to-scan-the-drive-1024x709.jpg\" alt=\"using onerecovery to scan the drive\" class=\"wp-image-1888\" style=\"width:650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/using-onerecovery-to-scan-the-drive-1024x709.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/using-onerecovery-to-scan-the-drive-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/using-onerecovery-to-scan-the-drive-768x532.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/using-onerecovery-to-scan-the-drive.jpg 1134w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Preview the scan results, select the files you want to retrieve, and click <strong>Recover<\/strong>. Choose a preferred location (such as Desktop) to save the recovered files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/preview-the-result-using-onerecovery-1024x711.png\" alt=\"preview the result using onerecovery\" class=\"wp-image-1249\" style=\"width:650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/preview-the-result-using-onerecovery-1024x711.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/preview-the-result-using-onerecovery-300x208.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/preview-the-result-using-onerecovery-768x533.png 768w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/preview-the-result-using-onerecovery.png 1132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How to recover missing files and folders on desktop can be daunting, but very possible. We\u2019ve answered the popular question \u201cwhy did my desktop items disappear on Mac,\u201d as well as provided solutions to recover the disappeared items. By following the instructions for each solution, you will successfully restore your missing desktop files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_on_Disappeared_Desktop_Folder_Recovery\"><\/span>FAQs on Disappeared Desktop Folder Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Examine these are answers to frequently asked questions about desktop files disappeared on Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How to Recover Desktop Files Disappeared on Mac after Update?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Updating your Mac may cause changes to your system settings, such as making desktop invisible on Finders or modification of files paths on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49But here are ways you can recover disappeared desktop files on Mac after update:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you\u2019ve enabled Time Machine, all the missing files can be recovered through Time Machine snapshots.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you have enabled iCloud, all the desktop disappeared files can be restored from iCloud Drive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the files are completely lost from your Mac, you can use ONERECOVERY to retrieve them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>      <strong>2. How to Fix Desktop that Keeps Disappearing from Finder\u2019s Sidebar?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Finder is a feature that allows you to organize your Mac to suit your preferences. It can also be used to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-data-recovery\/retrieve-screenshot-mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">find screenshots on Mac<\/a>. If your desktop keeps disappearing from Finder\u2019s sidebar, it most likely means that it has been hidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49To fix desktop that keeps disappearing from Finder\u2019s sidebar, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open Finder on your Mac and click on <strong>Preferences<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to the <strong>Sidebar<\/strong> tab and tick the <strong>Desktop<\/strong> box. This will make desktop visible and stable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/desktop-box-finder.png\" alt=\"desktop box finder\" class=\"wp-image-1991\" style=\"width:350px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/desktop-box-finder.png 350w, https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/desktop-box-finder-300x292.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>      3. How to Unhide Icons on Mac Desktop?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To unhide icons on Mac desktop, simply open <strong>Terminal<\/strong> and type <strong>defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop true killall Finder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this command, all hidden icons on your desktop will become visible. However, you must be cautious when using Terminal because incorrect commands can result in further complications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI turned on my Mac and saw that my entire desktop is blank. I can\u2019t&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1971"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1992,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1971\/revisions\/1992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tinyfrom.com\/mac-tips\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}