7 Methods: Recover Desktop Files in Windows 10, 11 or 7

Desktop Files Disappeaed! Why?

The desktop in Windows is one of the most commonly used locations for storing shortcuts, documents, and temporary files. Many users place important items on the desktop for easy access. However, it can be alarming when these files suddenly disappear without warning. There are several common reasons why desktop files might go missing:

• Temporary or Corrupted User Profile: Windows may log you into a temporary profile if your main user profile fails to load properly, making your original desktop files inaccessible.
• Accidental or Permanent Deletion: Files may be deleted accidentally or permanently removed using Shift + Delete, bypassing the Recycle Bin.
• System Update or System Restore: Major Windows updates or system restores can sometimes relocate or remove desktop files during the process.
• Malware or Virus Activity: Certain malware or viruses can hide, delete, or move desktop files without user knowledge.
• Hard Drive Errors or Corruption: Issues with the disk drive (bad sectors or file system corruption) may result in lost or inaccessible files, including those on the desktop.
• Display or Icon Settings: Desktop files may still be present but hidden due to display settings or because desktop icons have been turned off.

In most cases, missing desktop files are not permanently lost—they are simply moved, hidden, or temporarily inaccessible. Identifying the cause is the first step toward recoveringdesktop files in Windows 10.

How to Recover Desktop Files in Windows 10?

Losing desktop files in Windows 10 can be stressful, especially when important documents or projects suddenly disappear. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to recover missing or deleted files from the desktop, depending on the cause.

Method 1. Check the Recycle Bin (Temporarily/ Soft Deleted)

One of the first places to check when desktop files go missing in Windows 10 is the Recycle Bin. Files that are deleted without using Shift+Delete are usually moved to the Recycle Bin rather than being permanently removed.

By opening the Recycle Bin, you can browse recently deleted items, right-click the desired files, and choose “Restore” to return them to their original location on the desktop.In many cases, this quick and simple step is all it takes to recover accidentally deleted desktop files.

Method 2. Restore from File History Backup (Permanently Deleted)

If your desktop files are missing or permanently deleted using Shift+Delete keys, restoring them from a backup is one of the most reliable recovery methods. Windows 10 includes a built-in feature called "File History".

This tool automatically backs up all your libraries. This includes default libraries like Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music, as well as any custom libraries you have added to. If you have enabled this feature before losing desktop files, do as following to restore them easily:

Step 1. Click on the Start menu, type "Control Panel", and open it.

Step 2. In the Control Panel, go to "System and Security > File History". Click "Restore personal files with File History" to open the backup browser.

Step 3. Browse to the desktop folder in the backup window. Select the files or folders you want to restore and click on the green "Restore" button, which will restore the selected files to their original location on your desktop.

Alternatively, you can right click the button, choose "Restore to" and select another different location to save the recovered desktop files.

Method 3: Recover Desktop Files from "Backup and Restore"

If you previously set up Backup and Restore (Windows 7) and included the Desktop folder in the backup, you can restore your Desktop files using these steps:

Step 1. Press "Windows + S", type "Control Panel", and open it.

Step 2. Navigate to "System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".

Step 3. Click "Restore my files". You’ll see this option under the "Restore" section.

Step 4. Click "Browse for folders" and ook for the "Desktop" folder within the user profile.

Step 5.  Choose the files or the whole Desktop folder to restore.

Step 6. You can restore to the "original location". Or restore to a "new folder"(recommended to avoid overwriting)

Step 7. Click "Restore and wait for the process to complete. Your Desktop files should reappear.

Method 4. Restore With Windows File Recovery Tools (Permanently Deleted, No Backup)

If you haven’t set up File History before losing your desktop files, or if the deleted desktop files are not included in any backups, specialized file recovery tools are required to retrieve lost files from desktop in Windows 10. One powerful option provided by Microsoft is the Windows File Recovery tool.

It is a command-line utility designed specifically for recovering deleted files from various storage devices. Unlike File History, this method works without prior backup, making it a valuable solution when all else fails.

Notes:

This tool can only be used to recover desktop files in Windows 10 and Windows 11 since it works exclusively on these two operating systems.

Step 1. Open the Microsoft Store, search for "Windows File Recovery", dowanlod and install the app if you haven’t already.

Step 2. Click the Start menu, type "Command Prompt", right-click it, and choose "Run as administrator". If you are trying to recover desktop files in Windows 11, open"Terminal" instead.

Step 3. In the command window, enter the recovery command following this format: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

For example, to recover Excel files from the Downloads folder on the C: drive and save them to the D: drive, use the command: winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\YourUsername\Downloads\*.xlsx

Notes:✎...

winfr: The command to launch Windows File Recovery tool.

C: The source drive where the deleted files are located (in this case, the C: drive).

D: The destination drive where the recovered files will be saved (in this case, the D: drive).

/regular: The recovery mode used for NTFS drives when files are not heavily corrupted or overwritten; suitable for most common recovery cases.

/n \Users\YourUsername\Downloads\*.xlsx: Specifies the path and file type filter. Here it means recover only Excel files (".xlsx") from the Downloads folder of the user.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts to start the recovery process. Recovered files will be saved in the destination folder you specified.

While the Windows File Recovery tool is powerful, its command-line interface can be intimidating for many users, and it supports a limited range of recovery scenarios. For a simpler, more user-friendly experience that covers a wider variety of data loss situations—such as accidental deletion, formatting, virus attacks, or system crashes—third-party tools like MyRecover can be a great alternative.

This data recovery program makes it easy for anyone to recover lost desktop files quickly in all Windows operating systems (Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012). Additionally, it supports recovery from multiple file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS) and storage devices (HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, SD card, other digital device), providing more flexibility and convenience.

MyRecover

Top-Rated Windows Data Recovery Software

• 500+ Devices Supported | SSD, HDD, USB Flash Drive, SD Sard, etc.
• 1000+ File Formats Supported | PNG, MP4, MP3, TXT, ZIP, MSG, etc.
• 500+ Data Loss Scenarios | Deletion, Format, System Crash, Virus Attack, etc.

Try It Free
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover from the official website.

Step 2. Launch the program and select the drive where your desktop files were lost (usually the C: drive). Click "Scan" to let MyRecover search for deleted or missing files on the selected drive.

Step3. Preview the scan results, locate the desktop files you want to recover, and click "Recover".

Step 4. Choose a safe location (different from the original drive) to save the recovered files.

Upon completion of the recovery process, you will receive a notification displaying both the number of successfully restored files and their storage location. 

Method 5. Recover from a Temporary User Profile

Sometimes, Windows may load a "temporary user profile"due to system errors, causing your desktop files to appear missing. This temporary profile is separate from your original user account, so files saved under your main account won’t show up. Fortunately, you can often fix this by logging out and restarting your PC to return to your normal profile.

Step 1. Click the "Start"menu and select "Sign out" to exit the temporary profile.

Step 2. Restart your computer completely. At the login screen, enter your usual username and password to sign into your main user account.

Step 3. Check your desktop to see if your files have reappeared.

Method 6. Unhide Desktop Files

Sometimes desktop files seem to disappear simply because they have been accidentally hidden. Windows allows users to hide files and folders, which makes them invisible in File Explorer and on the desktop. Luckily, un-hiding these files is straightforward and you can quickly get back missing desktop files.

Step 1. Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select View.

Step 2. Make sure "Show desktop icons" is checked. If it isn’t, click it to enable desktop icons.

If desktop icons are already visible but files are still missing, try the next steps:

Step 3. Press Win+E to open "File Explorer"and navigate to your desktop folder, usually located at:C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Desktop

Step 4. Click on the "View" tab at the top of File Explorer.

Step 5. Check the box for "Hidden items" to make all hidden files visible.

Step 6. If you find your missing files, right-click each file, choose "Properties", and uncheck the "Hidden"attribute.

After following these steps, your desktop files should reappear and be accessible again.

Method 7: Recover Desktop Files from Windows. Old folder (After System Update)

Major Windows updates can sometimes cause your desktop files to be moved, hidden, or even removed. During these processes, Windows might create temporary profilesandsave your old files in "C:\Windows.old". Open this folder and browse to "Users\[YourUsername]\Desktop" to find and copy your missing files.

Summary

So, when your files disappear from desktop, you can try the above methods to recover desktop files in Windows 10, Windows 11 or Windows 7. Start by checking the Recycle Bin and backups like File History, then move on to more advanced tools.

For a simpler and more efficient solution, we recommend using MyRecover. It supports recovery from a wide range of scenarios—such as accidental deletion, formatting drive, disk errors, system updates, temporary profiles, power failures, and virus attacks. With MyRecover, you don’t have to spend time figuring out the exact cause first; you can quickly restore your lost files and save effort and frustration.