Showing Desktop Icons in Windows 10: Troubleshooting Guide

By / March 11, 2023

Microsoft is constantly working on enhancing the user experience, but sometimes, it backfires and causes compatibility issues with third-party software.
In Windows 10, many users have complained the Showing desktop icons option no longer appears, and this can be pretty annoying.

  • The showing desktop icons in Windows 10 issue mostly affects older computers.
  • If you can’t see your desktop icons, make sure you have the latest updates installed.
  • Updating to a newer OS version will also fix this issue, since Windows 10 v1 was notorious for this issue.

Run the troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows key + S and type troubleshoot. Select Troubleshoot settings from the list of results.
  2. Now click View all option under Additional troubleshooters. If you haven’t run the troubleshooter in the past, you’ll see a message saying No problems found.
    Now click View all option under Additional troubleshooters. If you haven't run the troubleshooter in the past, you'll see a message saying No problems found.
  3. Next, click on Show all advanced options.
  4. Locate Show desktop icons in the list of troubleshooters and click on Run the troubleshooter.

Uninstall the problematic program

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Uninstall a program.
  2. Select the program from the list, and click Uninstall to remove it.
    Select the program from the list, and click Uninstall to remove it.

Change Windows 10 power settings

  1. Open the Settings app and navigate to the Power & sleep section.
  2. Now, select Choose what the power button does from the menu on the left.
    Now, select Choose what the power button does from the menu on the left.
  3. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable from the right pane.
  4. Scroll down, locate Sleep section, and disable Hibernate.

Change Power Scheme

  1. Right-click the Start button and from the context menu choose Power Options.
  2. Locate the Change plan settings section and choose the Change advanced power settings.
  3. Locate the Processor power management section and uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
    Locate the Processor power management section and uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
  4. Click OK to save the changes.

Disable Background Apps

  1. 1. Press the Start button and type Task Manager.
  2. 2. From the search results, click on Task Manager. 3. Select Performance tab.
  3. 4. Click on the Background Apps button.
  4. 5. Select the app and click End Task.
    5. Select the app and click End Task.
  5. Disable Windows Spotlight
    1. Press the Windows key + I keys to open Settings.
  6. 2. Select Personalization from the left pane.
  7. 3. Click on Taskbar.
    3. Click on Taskbar.
  8. 4. Select “Turn off Windows Spotlight” option.
  9. 5. Click “Apply” and “OK”.
  10. Disable Taskbar Search
    1. Press the Windows key + I keys to open Settings.
  11. 2. Select Personalization from the left pane.
  12. 3. Click on Taskbar.
    3. Click on Taskbar.
  13. 4. Click on “Find settings” under Taskbar.
  14. 5. Uncheck the “Let Windows Search” option.

Hide the Desktop Icons

  1. Press the Win + X keys on your keyboard
  2. Select Control Panel from the Win + X menu
    Select Control Panel from the Win + X menu
  3. Navigate to Appearance and Personalization
  4. Click Personalization
  5. Click Change desktop icons
  6. Select Hide all icons on the desktop
  7. Click Apply
    Click Apply
  8. Click View on your desktop
  9. Click Yes
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