Desktop Folder Missing from User Profile -Recover It in 7 Ways

If your desktop folder missing from user profile, don't panic. This guide explains how to restore desktop folder in Windows 10/11, including checking File Explorer and C drive. Follow simple steps to recover missing files fast.

By @Delores
Last Updated June 20, 2025

Desktop Folder Missing from User Profile on Windows 11

 

Desktop folders not showing in that folder in C: drive

Hello, as the subject line describes the folders on my desktop do not appear in the "desktop" folder under my user folder in the c: drive. This is affecting my ability to back up properly through file history. Does anyone know why this might be occurring?

To explain it another way: I have a folder on my desktop labelled "2019". When I go to File Explorer I click on This PC>OS C:>Users>MyUsername>Desktop (which says it is empty).

Thank you for any help,

- Question from answers.microsoft.com

If you have found that the Desktop folder missing from user profile, it might be frustrating. Where is my Desktop folder? Can I find my Desktop folder? How to restore Desktop folder in Windows 10 or 11 computer? Don’t worry, you can find solutions here.

Why is My Desktop Folder Missing from User Profile?

Not having a desktop folder is not only annoying, but it can also get in the way of your work, hide important files, or even be a sign of more serious system problems.

⭕ Accidental Deletion or Move: The folder may have been inadvertently transferred by you or another individual. The desktop has not been lost; it has just been misplaced.
⭕ Corrupted User Profile: Windows occasionally has issues that cause profile folders to vanish or become inaccessible.
⭕ OneDrive Syncing Issues: Files that are solely kept in the cloud may seem to have disappeared if OneDrive takes over your desktop.
⭕ Hidden Folder Setting: Windows can mark folders as hidden, making them invisible in File Explorer.
⭕ Windows Update Gone Wrong: A faulty update might reset folder paths or permissions.
⭕ Registry Errors: Incorrect registry tweaks can break folder locations, making the desktop seem missing.

Now that we know the culprits, let’s get your desktop back.

How to Find Desktop Folder in Windows 10, 11

First of all, your Desktop folder can be located in other places, you have to check it first.

Way 1. Check Multiple Desktop Folders

In fact, there are multiple Desktop folders. What you see on your desktop is a combination of several folders:

  • C:\Users\your user account\Desktop
  • C:\Users\Public\Desktop (has objects made available to all users)
  • C:\Users\Default\Desktop (has default desktop objects)

To locate your Destkop folder, please check the above paths to find your Desktop folder, or follow the following to find your Desktop folder in User Profile:

1. Please hit the Windows + E key combination to open Windows File Explorer.

2. Input the %userprofile%\desktop into the address bar, and hit Enter. It will find your Desktop folder automatically.

Way 2. Check OneDrive Backup Settings and Find Desktop Folder

Sometimes, your Desktop folder will be relocated to another place if you have set up OneDrive and configured backup for the Desktop folder. OneDrive moves the location from C:\users\%username%\desktop to C:\users\%username%\ONEDRIVE\Desktop.

How to ensure you have set up a backup for Desktop in OneDrive? Try this:

1. Please run OneDrive on your computer, tap your OneDrive icon > Help & Settings > Settings.

2. Choose Sync and backup > Manage backup.

3. Check if the Desktop folder is selected; if so, your Desktop folder is located in C:\users\%username%\OneDrive\Desktop.

4. Find your Desktop folder in the OneDrive path.

Way 3. Show Hidden Folders

Hidden folders can be the culprit for the Desktop folder missing from the user profile. So, showing hidden folders might reveal the Desktop folder. Here is how to unhide the hidden folders:

1. Please go to the C:\users\yourusername folder.

2. Tap View > Show > Hidden items.

3. Now, check if your Desktop folder is here. If so, congatulations.

Fix Desktop Folder Missing from User Profile in 4 Ways

If you need to restore Desktop folder to the original location, or find missing Desktop folder, here are 4 solutions to fix. Let’s find out more.

Method 1: Restore Default Desktop Path

Sometimes, Windows changes the folder location. Let’s reset it:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

3. Double-click Desktop and ensure its value is:

%USERPROFILE%\Desktop

4. Click OK, restart your PC, and check if the desktop reappears.

Tip:✎...
Backup your registry before making changes (File → Export).

Method 2: Create a New Desktop Folder Manually

If the folder was deleted, rebuilding it can help:

1. Go to C:\Users\[YourUsername].

2. Right-click → New → Folder → name it Desktop. Or Click New > Folder to create.

3. Restart your PC—Windows should recognize it automatically.

Method 3: Disable OneDrive Desktop Backup

If OneDrive "stole" your desktop, here’s how to reclaim it:

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar to open it, then choose Help & Settings > Settings.

2. Go to Sync and backup > Manage backup.

3. Untick the Desktop option, and hit Save changes.

4. Now, check your Desktop folder, it should be in the original location.

Tip:✎...
If files stay missing, check OneDrive’s online folder—they might still be there.

Method 4. Restore Desktop Folder with MyRecover

If nothing works, your Desktop folder might be deleted somehow. Check your Recycle bin to restore, or use the powerful data recovery software MyRecover Pro to recover the Desktop folder effortlessly.

Highest (99%) Recovery Rate in the Market. You can use MyRecover to easily find and recover files.
Unlimited Data Recovery. You can recover files without limitation, unlimited data.
500+ Recovery Scenarios. You can recover deleted files, recover files from a crashed computer, from an emptied recycle bin, a formatted hard drive, a virus-attacked hard drive, etc.
Preview Files Before Recovering. You can preview the files before recovering, which is very useful to find the right files.
Quick Scan and Deep Scan. It provides different modes to find the deleted files easily.

How to recover the Desktop folder missing from the user profile with MyRecover, here is the simple guide.

1. Please download and install MyRecover Pro.

Free Trial
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & Sever
100% Secure

2. Click Deleted Files Recovery, and hit Scan on C drive, wait for it to complete.

3. Find the Desktop folder, tick it and hit Recover.

4. Select the path: C:\Users\[YourUsername] to save your recovered Desktop folder.

5. Now, all the files have been recovered.

Tip:✎...
Preview the Desktop folder and the files within it before recovering, ensure that’s the folder you need.
MyRecover     
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  • 1000+ File Formats Supported     
  • Support HDD, SSD, External Hard Drive, USB Drive, SD Card, etc.     
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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & Sever
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What to Do If the Desktop Folder is Missing from File Explorer

If your Desktop folder is missing from Windows File Explorer, you can pin the Desktop folder to quick access to make it visible. Locate your Desktop folder, then tap the three-dot icon, choose Pin to Quick access.

Prevention for Future Desktop Folder Disappearances

To avoid another desktop folder missing from the user profile headache:

  • Regularly back up your desktop files (use cloud storage or an external drive).
  • Avoid manual registry edits unless you know what you’re doing.
  • Run antivirus scans monthly to catch malware early.

Write in the End

These fixes should restore your desktop folder, regardless of whether it is hidden on the C drive, absent from File Explorer, or disappeared following an upgrade. Before making any registry changes, start with the easiest fix, which is to look for hidden files. And keep in mind that expert data recovery software can save your life if everything else fails.