The Desktop Disappeared In Windows 10 - Why And How To Get It Back, Instructions And Tips

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Come back, I'll forgive everything: how to restore the desktop in Windows 10

The Windows operating system is a complex set of interconnected programs in which technical errors periodically occur. Sometimes they are small and easily fixable, sometimes they are critical and require drastic measures. No Microsoft OS user is immune from such troubles. One of the most insidious mistakes is the disappearance of the desktop. Let's understand this problem in more detail.

Content

• 1 Disappearing Desktop in Windows 10: Causes and Solutions

  • 1.1 Why the desktop disappeared

  • 1.2 How to restore the desktop using the task manager

    1.2.1 Video: Restoring Desktop Using Task Manager

  • 1.3 How to restore the desktop through the "Registry Editor"

  • 1.4 How to restore the desktop in other ways

    1.4.1 Video: Restoring the Desktop in Different Ways

• 2 Solving other desktop problems in Windows 10

  • 2.1 How to "start" the desktop if it hangs

  • 2.2 How to remove black screen

    • 2.2.1 If the user profile is damaged
    • 2.2.2 If RunOnce Processes Failed

  • 2.3 How to return all icons to the desktop if they are missing

    2.3.1 Video: Returning Missing Icons to the Desktop

Disappearing desktop in Windows 10: causes and solutions

Let's consider the reasons for the disappearance of the desktop and possible solutions to the problem.

Why did the desktop disappear?

There are several reasons for the incorrect display of the desktop:

• unwanted software (viruses, trojans, worms, blockers, etc.);
• incorrect operation of installed programs;
• minor Windows system crashes;
• damage to the download process of the desktop file (may be due to the drivers of the computer components);
• error in registry database settings.

If your PC suddenly disappears from the desktop, the first thing to do is run an antivirus program. If there are no viruses or malware, go to the other solutions below.

How to restore the desktop using task manager

The uninterrupted functioning of the desktop, like all installed services and programs, is carried out by running the system task algorithm. If such a desktop task (explorer.exe) has stopped starting automatically, for example, due to a technical failure, then it should be activated independently. For this:

1. Open the "Task Manager" with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + alt + delete or by right-clicking on the taskbar.

   

   If, due to the disappearance of the desktop, the taskbar is also not displayed, you can call the "Task Manager" with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + alt + delete

2. Then click "File" - "Run a new task". In the window that opens, enter the command for forced autorun of the desktop - explorer.exe. After that, click "OK".

You can also find the required file in the Windows system folder (System32) via the "Browse" button

If the desktop startup process or the folder where the required file is located is not damaged, the proposed solution should help with a probability of 99%. However, if you have done all the necessary steps, and the desktop still does not appear, use the other solutions described below to solve this problem.

Video: Restore the Desktop with Task Manager

How to restore the desktop using the "Registry Editor"

The registry is the repository of all Windows system settings. If launching the desktop through the "Task Manager" did not give the desired result, this means that the problem lies in an internal failure of the operating system settings. To restore them, you need to run the Windows registry:

1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking on the taskbar.
2. Start a new task ("File" - "Start a new task").

3. Enter the regedit command in the line that appears and click "OK".

   

   To run the desired task without opening the Task Manager, press WIN + R and enter the command

4. This will open the registry editor. On the left will be the folders or sections of the computer. Expand these sections as follows: Computer / HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / WindowsNT / CurrentVersion / Winlogon.

5. When you reach the Winlogon subsection, navigate to the files in the right column. It is necessary to check in the third column the values of files named Shell and UserInit. By default, it should be as follows:

   • Shell value is explorer.exe;

   • the UserInit value is C: / WINDOWS / System32 / Userinit.exe.

     

     Check the values of the Shell and UserInit files carefully

6. If the registry is damaged, then the values of these files will be different. Therefore, you need to manually register their parameters: double-click the left mouse button on the selected file and in the window that opens, write the required values.

   

   When writing the value of the UserInit file, make sure that the slash is slanted to the left

7. Close the registry and restart your computer.

If you find that the values of the Shell and UserInit files correspond to the standard ones, and the desktop still disappears, proceed to additional solutions to the problem.

How to restore your desktop in other ways

Sometimes the problem with displaying the desktop is solved in literally a few seconds without using the registry and task manager. There are 3 easy ways to restore your desktop. Here they are:

1. Mechanical restart of the computer involves rebooting not through "Start", but with the help of the corresponding button on the case of the system unit (this can be either the "Start" button or a separate "Restart"); this method is most effective for minor Windows system glitches. If the desktop on your PC disappears immediately after installing a new program, you need to uninstall it and restart the system.

2. Disable Continuum (tablet mode). For this:

   • go to the settings of the system section ("Start" - "Windows Settings");

     

     You can use the search bar to display an individual setting parameter

   • in the list of options that appears on the left, select "Tablet Mode" and disable the two sliders available in the settings. Disabling tablet mode as a way to restore the desktop is especially relevant for hybrid computers (for example, laptop-tablet).

3. Restoring the Windows operating system. Remember that a "rollback" of the system is possible only if you have a restore point or after installing a Windows system update. To use this feature, follow the steps:

   • open "Options" in Windows settings and go to the "Update and Security" section;
   • find the "Recovery" option and click "Start";
   • after that, the system will display a message with a choice of action about what you want to do: keep your files or delete everything. Select the appropriate option, then wait for the system restore process to complete and restart.

If your Windows system is badly damaged by viruses, choose the option to completely remove all files, applications and settings

Video: restore your desktop in different ways

Solving other desktop problems in Windows 10

In addition to the complete disappearance of the desktop in Windows 10, other problems can arise with it. Let's consider which ones and how to solve them.

How to "start" the desktop if it hangs

It so happens that the desktop seems to be loaded, but it immediately hangs. The problem is quite common. To solve it, it is worth performing the already familiar algorithm of actions:

1. Use the WIN + R keyboard shortcut to invoke the regedit command line, thereby launching the registry editor.

2. On the left side of the window, navigate to the section: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINES / OFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows NT / CurrentVersion / Image File Execution Options.

   

   Do not forget that the "Registry Editor" can be launched through a command in the task manager

3. Expand the system folder, locate the explorer.exe branch and uninstall it by right-clicking on "Uninstall".
4. Next, restart your computer.

How to remove a black screen

After loading the OS, the user may encounter a black screen. There may be several reasons for this "darkness". Let's consider how to deal with each of them.

If the user profile is damaged

To solve the problem of a damaged user registry, you need to create a new account:

1. Use the WIN + R key combination to invoke the command line, where enter the value of mmc.

2. Next, select "Local Users and Groups" and open the "Users" folder.

   

   After double clicking on the "Users" folder, a complete list of all previously created users will open

3. Select "Action" - "New User" from the menu.

   

   You can also create a new user using the console on the right by clicking "More Actions"

4. In the window that opens, enter all the required data and click "Create".

   

   If there is already a check mark at some point, it is better not to remove it

5. Now close your console and reboot your system.

If RunOnce processes crash

RunOnce is a Windows system file that occasionally crashes. To get rid of this error, follow these steps:

1. Open Task Manager with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + alt + delete.

2. In the Processes and Services tabs, disable any RunOnce32.exe or RunOnce.exe processes. To do this, right-click on the line with the name of the process and select “Stop” in the menu that opens.

   

   Don't forget to pause RunOnce and in the Services tab

3. Reboot your computer.

How to return all icons to the desktop if they are missing

This problem, although not the most critical, is very unpleasant. The most common reason for this error is the disabled icon display setting. Everything is solved in two clicks:

1. Right click anywhere on the desktop.
2. In the list that opens, select the line "View" and put a check mark next to the item "Show desktop icons".

In addition to the function of displaying icons in the "View" menu, there are also other useful settings.

Another reason for the disappearance of icons from the desktop is a critical crash in the Explorer program. Follow the instructions to troubleshoot:

1. Open Task Manager with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + alt + delete.
2. Find the File Explorer application among all the available processes.

3. Right-click on its line and select "Restart".

   

   Restarting programs can be done using a separate button in the lower right corner of the window

Video: Returning Missing Icons to the Desktop

As you can see, unfortunately, there are enough problems associated with the violation of the correct functioning of the desktop (even in the new Windows 10 OS). The ways to solve them can vary from elementary simple and fast to very time-consuming, energy-consuming and requiring special computer knowledge. However, if such errors occur, do not panic and do not be upset, because you can cope with them yourself.