Today we will consider what to do if from your work windows desktop 7 missing shortcuts. Moreover, we will touch on two cases:

• there are no shortcuts themselves, "Start" and "Taskbar" function;
• everything disappeared from the desktop except background picture, and sometimes it is absent.

Do not go to extremes and think about reinstalling the operating system: almost all icons can be quickly returned back. Read our beginner's guide to learn how to do this.

A beginner may not even suspect that all elements from the desktop on his computer have disappeared, because someone inadvertently activated the option to hide icons. Disable it.

1. We open context menu desktop.
2. In the drop-down list, select the last item.

1. Enter "explorer.exe" and press Enter.

After that, the icons on the desktop and "Start" with the "Taskbar" should appear.

System icons disappear

If any of the system icons ("Trash", "My Computer") are missing, you can create a shortcut for them, for example, by dragging the desired icon from the "Start". But in this case, an arrow, typical for such elements, will appear next to the element. The best way to restore the desired icon is as follows.

1. We call "Personalization" through the context menu of the desktop.

1. Click "Change Desktop Icons".

1. Check the boxes of the icons that we want to restore, and click "OK".

1. Here you can change the icon of any object: click on it, then - on "Change icon ...".

1. Select an image from the library or specify the path to your own icon or their library and save the changes.

Problem appearing after reboot

If the desktop becomes empty after restarting the computer, you will have to dig into the system registry keys.

1. We hold Win + R.
2. Enter "regedit" and click "OK" to execute the command.

1. Expand the "HKLM" bush, and in it go to the "Software" folder.

1. Open the section shown in the screenshot.

1. If it contains a subsection "explorer.exe", delete it through the context menu.

1. We go to the next section along the path shown in the screenshot.

1. We look at the value of the "Shell" parameter. If "explorer.exe" is specified, then everything is in order. Otherwise, indicate the correct value.

The changes will take effect after you restart your computer.

Disable maintenance tool

This tool checks each desktop shortcut for functionality. If there is a shortcut, but the file does not exist (refers to an inaccessible location or remote file), the program will delete such an object. If the desktop contains links to removable drives or network directories, which sometimes become inaccessible and are defined as non-working, their number must be reduced to a maximum of 4 pieces. Create a separate catalog for such objects or pin them to the "Taskbar".

You can also disable the system maintenance tool to prevent any such icon from disappearing.

1. It starts through the "Control Panel" - open it.

1. Click on the "System and Security" element.

1. Across search string(top right) find the "Troubleshooting" object and click on it.

Many PC users are once faced with the fact that shortcuts from the Windows 7 desktop disappear. Many immediately fall into a stupor and do not understand what to do, but nothing terrible has happened and now you will understand what actually this problem easily solved.

Fixing the problem with the disappearance of Windows 7 shortcuts

There are few reasons why this happened: perhaps the function of displaying shortcuts has been deactivated, or perhaps the explorer.exe process has crashed. You shouldn't forget about viruses either.

We activate the function

If the icons on the desktop do not appear, do the following:

• Right-click in a free area of ​​the desktop.
• A context menu will appear, where you should hover the mouse cursor over the "View" section and select "Show Desktop Icons" and "Show Desktop Gadgets" from the drop-down list.

• Further icons and folders should appear on the desktop, if it does not help, use a different method.

Start the explorer.exe process

If icons disappeared from the Windows 7 desktop, the explorer.exe process, which is responsible for them, may be to blame. To fix this:

1. press the key combination Win + R, the command interpreter will start.
2. In its window, enter the explorer.exe command and press Enter.

The icons should be displayed, if not, go to the next method.

Registry editor

Perhaps the reason that all the icons disappeared on the desktop is a problem in the system registry. To restore shortcuts on the desktop, you need:

1. Launch Editor Windows registry... To do this, press the key combination Win + R and enter the regedit command in the window that appears.
2. In the opened editor, you need to expand the main branch "Computer" then go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" - "SOFTWARE" -Microsoft - WindowsNT - CurrentVersion - Image File Execution Options.
3. There you need to look for subsections iexplorer.exe or explorer.exe.
4. If they are found, you should select, right-click and select delete.

The bottom line is that there should not be subsections in this data branch, so if they are present, you need to make them disappear. Then restart your computer and the problem should be resolved.

If it didn't work:

1. In the registry editor, go to"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" - "SOFTWARE" -"Microsoft" - "WindowsNT" - "CurrentVersion".
2. We find the section "Winlogon" there, and in the right window select "Shell" and open the parameter.
3. Check that the value is explorer.exe in the field, if not, write it this way.

Conclusion

Now you know how to restore desktop icons. Use the methods presented by us and the problem will be solved.

A Windows 10 user may face a situation where icons will start to be removed from the desktop without any action on his part. To get rid of this problem, you need to find out why it could appear.

Why icons are erased on their own

The main reasons for the disappearance of icons can be attributed to a system bug or virus infection. In the first case, it is necessary to check some system settings, in the second - get rid of the virus, and then return the icons to the desktop manually.

Also, the cause of the problem can be:

• incorrect installation of updates;
• activated "Tablet Mode";
• incorrect disconnection of the second monitor;
• the disconnected Explorer process.

If the problem persists after installing updates, it is most likely that they were downloaded or introduced with errors that caused the icons to be removed. Check your system settings and re-add icons.

"Tablet Mode" modifies some system properties, which can lead to missing icons. Sometimes it is enough to disable it to return all the icons, and sometimes after disabling it, you need to manually add the necessary icons.

How to return icons to the desktop

If you do not know why the icons disappeared in your case, then follow all the instructions below one by one.

Virus removal

Before you start checking and changing the settings, you need to make sure that your computer is free of viruses. Some malware is capable of deleting and blocking desktop icons. Run the antivirus installed on your computer and run full scan... Remove the found viruses.

Scan your computer for viruses and remove any found

Activating the display of icons

Check if the system is allowed to display icons on the desktop:

Video: How to Add a My Computer Icon to the Desktop in Windows 10

Creating a new item

You can try to create any new item. In some cases, after that, all hidden icons appear immediately.

Deactivating "Tablet Mode"

Activating "Tablet Mode" can also lead to missing icons. To disable it, do the following:

Video: How to Disable Tablet Mode in Windows 10

Dual monitor solution

If the problem appeared when connecting or disconnecting a second monitor, then you need to change the display settings:

Explorer.exe is responsible for the operation of the "Explorer", which determines whether the desktop icons will be displayed correctly. The process can be shut down due to some errors in the system, but it can be started manually:

1. Open Task Manager.

   Open "Task Manager"

2. Expand the File tab and go to start a new task.

   Start a new task through the "File" tab

3. Enter "explorer" and confirm the action. Done, the process will be launched, the icons should return.

   Run the Explorer process to return icons to the desktop

4. Find the process in general list tasks, if it was started, and stop it, and then follow the above three points to restart it.

   Restart "Explorer" if it was started before

Adding icons manually

If the icons disappeared and did not appear after following the above instructions, then you need to add them manually. To do this, move the shortcuts to the desktop or use the "New" function, invoked by right-clicking on an empty space on the desktop.

Add icons to the desktop through the "Create" tab

Removing updates

If the desktop problem appeared after installation system updates, they should be removed by following these steps:

1. Select the "Programs and Features" section in the "Control Panel".

   Go to the "Programs and Features" section

2. Go to the list of updates by clicking on the "View installed updates" button.

   Click on the button "View installed updates"

3. Select the updates that you think have damaged your computer. Click on the "Delete" button and confirm the action. After rebooting the system, the changes will take effect.

   Select and remove updates that could harm your computer

Video: how to uninstall an update in Windows 10

Registry tweak

It is possible that registry settings have been changed or corrupted. To check and restore them, just follow these steps:

What to do if all else fails

If none of the above methods helped you fix the problem, then there is only one way out - reinstalling the system or restoring it. The second option is possible if there is a pre-created backup copy systems. Sometimes it is created automatically, so don't despair if you didn't create a copy yourself.

System Restore

By default, restore points are created automatically by the system, so, most likely, you will be able to roll back Windows to a state when everything was working stable:

1. Find the "Recovery" section through the search bar of the "Start" menu.

   Select a restore point and finish recovery

Video: how to restore the system in Windows 10

Missing icons from the "Taskbar"

The taskbar icons are located in the lower right corner of the screen. Usually these are icons for battery, network, sound, antivirus, Bluetooth and other services often used by the user. If some icons have disappeared from the "Taskbar", then you must first check its parameters, and then add the disappeared icons manually.

Checking Taskbar settings

Adding icons to the taskbar

To add any icon to the "taskbar", you need to find a file in the .exe format or a shortcut that launches the desired program, and secure it. The icon will appear in the lower left corner of the screen.

Pin the program to the "Taskbar" to add its icon to the lower left corner of the screen

If icons disappear from the desktop, you need to remove viruses, check your screen options and settings, restart the Explorer process, or restore your system. If icons disappear from the "Taskbar", then you need to check the corresponding settings and manually add the lost icons.

After starting the system, icons disappeared from the Windows 7, 8 desktop, a rather common situation. Depending on the situation, the labels disappear partially or completely. The ways to solve problems are multifaceted. You can observe situations like this:

1. Some of the shortcuts have disappeared from the desktop, and the rest are in place.
2. All icons are gone, but you can see the taskbar.
3. Icons and other elements are not displayed (only visible or black screen).

In the first case, mostly system icons disappear, such as the recycle bin, my computer and others, read more about restoring system shortcuts for the "recycle bin", for "my computer". All other cases of disappearing icons can be attributed to the settings for displaying shortcuts and problems with starting the file graphical interface.

Enabling the display of desktop shortcuts

If all the shortcuts are missing on the desktop, but is still visible and functional, check for the icons in the Desktop user folder. Start "my computer" from Start or from the taskbar. On the left, select "desktop", if there are all the icons, then the problem is settled.

Right-click (where there are no icons) on the desktop, in the menu, hover over "view", select the option to display desktop icons so that they reappear. My comrades at Microsoft have come up with this clever idea of ​​clearing the desktop.

If there are no shortcuts in the Desktop directory and the display option is enabled, then the icons have been moved or removed due to user actions, virus attack... The first option is unlikely, although the second is more common. Perform a system restore, scan your PC for viruses so that there will be no such situation in the future.

Troubleshooting Explorer.exe Issues

The explorer.exe file, which is located in Windows folder... If, after starting the PC, your Windows 7 desktop disappeared, it means that the graphical interface file did not start with the system. Most likely, the effect of the virus is observed. Follow one or more of the steps below to troubleshoot problems.

1. You yourself can manually force the explorer.exe process to work. , click "file" in the top menu, then "new task (execute)". Enter explorer.exe in the input field, click OK. So you can restore the Windows 7, 8 desktop within this session for easy troubleshooting. After manually launching the GUI, scan the OS antivirus program with latest update bases.

Note: not uncommon malware blocks the task manager. The result will be a notification "".

2. Without starting explorer manually, you can. If the desktop loads completely, it means that something is preventing it from functioning normally. Scan Windows antivirus ON.

3. The graphical interface file is launched automatically through the corresponding registry branch. When the system becomes infected with a virus of a certain type, then the path to the executable file of the virus software (often located in) is written in the registry for the place of the value explorer.exe. If the desktop disappeared Windows shortcuts 7, 8 do the steps below.

You need 8 and go to the Winlogon section (see the image below for the full path). V right side Registry, pay attention to the Shell parameter, it should be set to explorer.exe. If the path to the executable file of the virus is registered there, double-click Shell, delete the unnecessary in the "value" field and write explorer.exe. Then click OK, but do not rush to close the registry.

A virus can take root deeply in the registry. Highlight the name of the malware executable file and copy it. Press Ctrl + F, in the "find" field paste the copied name. Check all the options (see screenshot), then click "find next". If you find the name of the virus, fix it everywhere. Close the registry windows, restart your computer.

4. Sometimes explorer.exe is modified or damaged to restore the desktop on windows 7, 8 and the GUI will help the check command (cmd) system files... You need to enter the command:

5. Perform a system restore. Most popular Windows troubleshooting tool, but not always. In difficult situations, it can be turned off and will not help you in any way.

Now you know why icons disappeared from the Windows 7, 8 desktop, and how to restore them. First of all, it is recommended to check the hide shortcuts setting. Otherwise, use the methods to solve the problem with loading the graphical interface, as a rule, the methods work in a complex manner.

The main area that is involved when using the computer. This is where users can place folders, shortcuts, and program icons. Some services are also displayed on the desktop. For example, "My Computer" and "Trash". But what if no icons appear on the desktop? How to fix the situation?

Removing shortcuts

Let's start with the simplest option - this is a banal removal of previously placed folders and shortcuts on the desktop. This often happens when several people use a PC.

To verify this scenario, the user will need:

1. Right click on any free space on the desktop.
2. Select the line "Create".
3. Create shortcut or folder.

If the resulting object is located on the computer, that's okay. Icons are not displayed on the desktop because someone has deleted them.

You can correct the situation in different ways:

• create shortcuts and folders again;
• restore them from the recycle bin.

In the second case, you will have to open the "Trash", and then select the necessary objects and click on the "Restore" button.

Viruses

The second option, when icons are not displayed on the desktop, is a virus infection. Ideally, the user needs to carry out a complete computer diagnostics using various antiviruses. After that operating system it is necessary to treat, and remove documents that did not succumb to the procedure.

1. Call the "Task Manager". For example, using hotkeys. In Windows it is Ctrl, Alt, Del.
2. Switch to the "File" tab.
3. Click on the "New task" parameter.
4. In the line that appears, type explorer.exe.
5. Press the "Enter" control on the keyboard or click on the "Ok" text on the screen.

After the performed actions, the user will restore the shortcuts. It did not help? Then you have to act differently.

Absence on PC

The thing is that viruses can sometimes damage or completely delete files on your computer. This is a fairly common occurrence.

If the above instructions for restoring the desktop did not help, most likely the explorer.exe document is missing on the PC.

1. Find a user with a similar system or find a verified data source on the Web.
2. Download the explorer.exe document to your computer.
3. Upload document to system folder Windows.
4. Run it following the instructions above.

If everything is done correctly, the computer will be restored to work. Fast, simple and very convenient.

The registry and its values

Why are the icons not showing on the desktop? Maybe it's all to blame system registry... It is necessary to make adjustments to its values.

In order to cope with the task, you need:

1. Press Win + R.
2. In the line that appears, type the regedit command.
3. Confirm the operation.
4. Take a look along the path indicated in point a.
5. In the Shell value, set "explorer.se" (on English language).
6. In the Userinit block, indicate the inscription specified in point b.
7. Travel to the section - see point c below.
8. Delete sub-items that have the word explorer in their names. There should be 2 documents.

Here are the sections and addresses to navigate to:

Everything should work now. All that remains is to send the computer to reboot. We've figured out what to do when Windows 7 desktop icons and more are not displayed.

Disable shortcuts

But that is not all. Starting with Windows XP, new add-ons for the "desktop" were opened to users. With their help, users can hide and resize shortcuts. System errors can lead to the failure of the relevant parameters.

The user will need to act like this to correct the situation:

1. Right click on the desktop.
2. Open the "View" menu item. An additional list will appear on the screen.
3. Put a dot-mark next to the item "Show icons ...". It is advisable to check the box next to the "Display gadgets ..." section.

If done correctly, shortcuts will appear. Practice shows that the problem under study is a minimum of hassle. Especially if you follow the suggested directions.

Service shortcuts

Sometimes users complain that they do not see the icons on the desktop "My Computer" and "Trash". Most likely, the reasons lie in the knocked down system settings.

The guide for restoring system service shortcuts is as follows:

1. Right click on the desktop.
2. Select the "Personalization" option.
3. Follow the "Customize shortcuts ..." hyperlink. She is in the left upper corner.
4. Check the boxes for the services whose shortcuts you want to see on the desktop.
5. Click on "Ok".