Desktop Missing in Finder? See Fixes Here

Have you ever encountered errors like Desktop missing in Finder when you work on you Mac devices? If you do, feel at ease. This post will give you three easy tips to fix the Desktop missing error. Read on!

The Desktop folder is now the heart of Mac's daily workflow. You can keep your essential files, folders, and drives for easy access. That is why it can be downright alarming when you open Finder, but only to find the Desktop missing in Finder sidebar. However, feel at ease; it is a common issue with macOS that can be fixed with simple methods. This post from EaseUS will help you restore your Desktop to the Finder sidebar and get your workflow back to normal, so keep scrolling.

Method 1. Re-add Desktop via Finder Preferences to Fix Desktop Missing

The simplest method to restore the missing desktop to Finder is to re-add the desktop via the Finder Preferences. Here is how you can do this:

Step 1. Click on your desktop to make sure the Finder is now active. You can also click the Finder icon from your Dock.

Step 2. Now, click the Finder from the menu bar and then choose "Settings".

Step 3. In the new Windows, look for Desktop under the "Favorites" section. Ensure there is a check mark in the box next to it.

Step 4. Select the Preferences window, and you can see the new Finder window appear on your desktop now.

Method 2. Force Restart the Finder to Fix Desktop Missing in Finder

If the first method didn't work, a simple force restart can resolve many temporary glitches. You can forces restart the Finder app like this:

Step 1. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard.

Step 2. While holding the key, right-click (or two-finger click) on the Finder icon in your Dock.

Step 3. From the menu that appears, select Relaunch.

Now the Finder will restart and your Dock will briefly disappear and reappear and you can check the sidebar to see if the Desktop has returned.

Method 3. Reset the Finder's plist File (Advanced) to Fix Desktop Missing in Finder

If the above methods fail, the issue might be with a corrupted preference file. Resetting it can often solve the problem.

💡Warning: This will reset all your Finder preferences (like default view for folders) to their factory defaults.

Step 1. Close all open Finder windows.

Step 2. On your keyboard, press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" window.

Step 3. Type the following path and press Enter:

Step 4. In the folder that opens, look for a file named com.apple.finder.plist.

Step 5. Drag this file to your Trash. (You may be asked for your password.)

Empty the Trash, then restart your Mac. When you log back in, the Finder will create a new, fresh preferences file, which should restore the Desktop to the sidebar.

Pro Tips: What If Your Desktop Files Are Also Missing

In rare cases, you might find that not only is the sidebar link gone, but the actual files on your Desktop have disappeared too. If this happens, stay calm. Your data is likely still on your Mac's drive. In this case, a data recovery tool for Mac like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac would be your best amigo.

Get Your Lost Mac Files Back in 3 Steps

• Facing an empty Documents folder? A missing Downloads folder? Restore your deleted files quickly and reliably, with no backup required.
• This powerful tool specializes in recovering data from seemingly vanished directories, returning your files directly to you.

Download the software and start recovering lost documents on Mac now:

Step 1. Scan for lost documents

Select the location where your important Word/Excel/PPT/Numbers/Pages documents were lost and click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. Find lost documents on Mac

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately start a scan on your selected disk volume. Meanwhile, the scanning results will be presented in the left pane. Select "Documents" and you can quickly filter the DOC/PDF/PPT/XLS files you've lost earlier.

Step 3. Recover lost/deleted documents

Select the target files and preview them by double-clicking them. Then, click "Recover" to get lost documents back at once.

Final Words

This post has looked at how you can fix the Desktop missing in Finder error and how you can restore the missing Documents folder and files. Tay EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard when you want to get your precious files back.

FAQs on Desktop Missing in Finder

Take a look at several questions users frequently ask about:

1. How do I get my desktop back in my Finder?

To restore the desktop in your Finder sidebar, open Finder, go to Finder > Settings (or Preferences), click the Sidebar tab, and ensure the Desktop checkbox is selected under the "Favorites" section. Alternatively, open a Finder window, go to the menu bar, select Go > Home, click the Desktop folder, and then drag it to the sidebar's Favorites section.

2. How to make desktop visible on Mac?

Pressing F11 sends all the windows to the borders, showing the desktop. F11 again restores everything in its previous place.