If your desktop icons disappear in Windows 11, they may be hidden, the desktop shell may need restarting, or the icon cache may have a temporary problem.
Method 1: Show desktop icons
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is enabled.
Method 2: Restart Windows Explorer
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
Method 3: Check desktop settings
Open Settings > Personalization > Themes and select Desktop icon settings to review system icons.
Method 4: Restart Windows
Restart the PC and check whether the icons return.
Method 5: Check for updates
Open Settings > Windows Update and install available updates.
Final tip
If only a shortcut disappeared, search for the application from Start and create a new desktop shortcut.
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