What causes shortcuts to disappear from the desktop in Windows 10?

Shortcuts can disappear from the desktop in Windows 10 due to a variety of reasons. It could be due to a corrupted user profile, a virus or malware infection, an update that caused a conflict, or a system crash. It could also be due to a recent change in settings or a new application that has been installed.

Can I recover deleted shortcuts in Windows 10?

Yes, you can recover deleted shortcuts in Windows 10. You can use a data recovery software to recover deleted shortcuts. There are many data recovery tools available online that can help you recover deleted files, including shortcuts.

How do I know if the Group Policy setting is causing my desktop shortcuts to disappear?

You can check the Group Policy settings to see if any of them are configured to delete or hide desktop shortcuts. To do this, open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop. Here, you should be able to see all of the settings related to desktop shortcuts. If any of them are configured to delete or hide desktop shortcuts, then this is likely the cause of your issue.

How do I disable the Group Policy setting that causes shortcuts to disappear in Windows 10?

To disable the Group Policy setting that causes shortcuts to disappear in Windows 10, you need to open the Local Group Policy Editor and navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove pinned programs from the Taskbar. Once you are there, double-click on the policy and select Disabled. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Can third-party software cause desktop shortcuts to disappear in Windows 10?

Yes, third-party software can cause desktop shortcuts to disappear in Windows 10. Malware and other malicious programs can delete or move shortcuts, or even change their properties, which can cause them to become invisible. Additionally, some software may remove shortcuts when it is uninstalled, or a system restore may cause them to be removed.

Desktop Shortcuts Disappear in Windows 10: Solutions

Author: Vladimir Artiukh
Editor: Oleg Afonin
Updated: 8.05.2024 10:56

Learn why shortcuts disappear from the desktop in Windows 10 and how to fix it with this comprehensive guide. Whether you’re experiencing occasional shortcut disappearance or frequent vanishing acts, this tutorial covers everything you need to know. Dive deep into step-by-step instructions and essential tips for troubleshooting and resolving missing desktop shortcuts.

Contents

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How to Recover Desktop Shortcuts and Set Default File Associations in Windows 10 🛠️💻📀

Overview of the Problem

There is a principle of psychology: the more expectations you have concerning some event, the more chances of your facing severe disappointment. Expect more, get less; expect less, get more. This is a steady principle, and it never fails.

Recently we have received quite a lot of messages on the topic “Desktop shortcuts are gone! What should I do?” Such messages are numerous and it made us write a brief troubleshooting manual.

Why are desktop shrotcuts Gone

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How To Add This PC Icon To The Desktop, Create a Shortcut and Use Hot Keys for This PC 💻⌨️🖥️

There may be several reasons for that, for example, a computer virus, or a system failure caused by such malware. It can also happen because a user failed to observe common rules of taking care of the computer, such as cleaning it from dust and switching it off properly, or even because a person doesn’t know basic rules of operating a PC, to say nothing of the notorious human factor – haste and neglect.

Though our company provides users with data recovery software, there is no need to use them in this case. Before that, we recommend that you try restoring your shortcuts with standard Windows 10 tools.

First of all, make sure that showing desktop elements is enabled in your computer: right-click on a free area of your desktop. In the menu that appears, see if this option (“Show desktop icons”) is checked. If it is not, activate it.

This strategy will also work with Windows 7.

Alternatively, you can also do the following. Go to Start –> Settings –> System. In the tab “Tablet mode” try moving the slider – first “On,” then “Off” or vice versa.

Desktop Shortcuts Disappear in Windows 10: Solutions

If the above mentioned methods did not help you to restore desktop shortcuts, and you are sure they were there before, you can scan your disk with Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 5.0

The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.

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When doing that, remember that all files and desktop shortcuts are stored on disk (:С) in the folder C:\Users\Username\Desktop, and all file shortcuts have a “Shortcut” tag in their names.

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