The “Desktop” is an important screen where various files, folders, and shortcuts for quick access to content or programs are stored. From time to time, problems occur with it – from spontaneous changes in appearance to complete disappearance. We tell you what to do in such situations using Windows 10 as an example.
Reasons for the disappearance of the “Desktop” in Windows 10
Most users are accustomed to the usual view of the Desktop. The developers, in an effort to innovate, added another display format – tiles, which is extremely inconvenient for inexperienced people. It becomes difficult to find the required files or programs.
There are several reasons why the Desktop has changed:
- tablet mode is accidentally turned on (especially on laptops);
- the function of hiding shortcuts is activated;
- the main screen turns off;
- incorrect OS update;
- software glitch.
Most often, users accidentally change the display of the Desktop on their own, but there may be errors when installing an OS update. For example, the device was turned off before the update was completed.
How to get your desktop back in Windows 10
The method for restoring the home screen varies depending on the cause of the problem. We’ll look at several ways to fix the error, starting with the simplest options.
Deactivating Tablet Mode
Tablet mode is intended for devices with a touch screen, but this feature is added by default to the “ten”. If it was accidentally activated, you can disable it in the following way:
- Open “Settings” (key combination “Win + I”);
- Find the “Tablet Mode” section;
- Find the line “When I sign in”, select “Use the mode appropriate for the device”.
If tablet desktop display re-enables after restarting your computer, repeat the process again and enable the Always ask option under Tablet mode.
explorer.exe process
If changing the display mode does not help, let’s try an alternative method. To do this, you will need to act through the Task Manager. We act as follows:
- Open the tool (key combination “Ctrl + Shift + Esc”);
- Click on the File tab;
- Start a new task;
- In the window that opens, enter the following: “explorer.exe” (without quotes);
- Confirm the operation.
If this does not help, perform the operation again, checking the box next to “Create task with administrator rights”. This will open the main screen, which has priority over other functions.
Configuring the registry
An option in case the parameters are damaged or changed. The error is corrected as follows:
- Open the command window with the key combination “Win + R”;
- In the line that opens, enter “regedit” and click “OK”;
- After that you will go to the registry. In the search column on the left, find the folder “Winlogon”;
- A list of files will pop up to the right of the column. Find the item named “Shell”;
- Check that the parameter “explorer.exe” is active in it. If the value is different, double-click the file and set the required parameter.
Removing updates
If the Desktop has disappeared and there is now just a white screen in its place, you need to check the correctness of the latest updates.
It is done like this:
- Go to “Options”;
- Find the “Updates and Security” section;
- Find the inscription “Additional options”, view the update log;
- Next, remove all updates and upgrades that were installed recently;
- Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Restore shortcuts
If the Desktop is saved, but all shortcuts have disappeared from it, you need to try to restore them. To do this, do the following:
- Open “Options”;
- Find the item “Tablet mode”;
- Disable the option to hide shortcuts and the taskbar.
Check your computer for viruses
It is possible that the cause of what is happening is malware. You can use different programs to check for viruses: Avast, Kaspersky, etc. However, the services are paid, if you do not have a subscription to them, you can use an alternative in the form of the built-in Windows Defender. We access it through the “Settings”.
The scan will take up to half an hour. When finished, the program will offer to remove viruses, if any. Clean them and, perhaps, the appearance of the Desktop will be restored.
OS recovery
Option for the “most extreme case”. Before coming to it, it is necessary to try all the listed methods.
It is worth remembering that all files will be deleted during the process, so it is important to create a backup copy in advance or transfer important documents to a temporary storage device.
To restore the OS, you need to do the following:
- Open “Options”;
- Find the “Updates and Security” section;
- Find the line “Windows Security”. Then click the “Start” button in the “Recovery” column;
- Confirm the start of the operation.
Once completed, the Desktop will be restored, but all files and shortcuts will be gone.