In this article, I will guide you on how to restore the missing My Computer icon on your Windows 10 desktop.
Enable Desktop Icon Visibility and Settings
1. Right-click on an empty area of the desktop.
2. From the context menu, select “Personalize” to open the Settings app.
3. In the Settings app, click on “Themes” in the left sidebar.
4. Scroll down and click on “Desktop icon settings” under the “Related Settings” section.
5. In the Desktop Icon Settings window, you can choose which icons you want to display on the desktop. Check the box next to “Computer” to restore the My Computer icon.
6. You can also customize the icons by clicking on each one and selecting a different icon from the list.
7. Once you’ve made your desired changes, click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the settings.
8. Your My Computer icon should now be visible on the desktop.
If the My Computer icon is still missing after following these steps, you can try resetting the icon cache. To do this, follow these additional steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type “taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F” and press Enter. This will terminate the File Explorer process.
4. Next, type “DEL /A /Q “%localappdata%\IconCache.db”” and press Enter to delete the icon cache file.
5. Then, type “start explorer.exe” and press Enter to restart the File Explorer process.
6. Close the Command Prompt window and check if the My Computer icon has been restored.
Rebuild and Restore Icon Cache
To rebuild and restore the icon cache on Windows 10 and bring back the missing My Computer icon on your desktop, follow these steps:
1. Close all open windows and make sure you’re on the desktop.
2. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type “cmd” and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type “cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local” and press Enter.
5. Next, type “del IconCache.db /a” and press Enter to delete the existing icon cache file.
6. Now, type “shutdown /r /f /t 00” and press Enter to restart your computer immediately.
7. After the restart, Windows will automatically rebuild the icon cache.
8. Once your computer is back up, check if the My Computer icon is restored on your desktop.
If the icon is still missing, you can try using the System File Checker tool to repair any corrupted system files. Here’s how:
1. Open the Command Prompt as administrator by searching for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
2. In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan to complete. If any corrupted files are found, the tool will attempt to repair them.
4. Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and check if the My Computer icon is now visible on your desktop.
Perform System Checks and Updates
Performing regular system checks and updates is crucial for maintaining the optimal performance of your Windows 10 desktop. These checks can help identify and resolve any issues that may be causing the My Computer icon to go missing. Here are some steps you can follow to perform these checks and updates:
1. Start by checking your taskbar and desktop settings. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select “Taskbar settings.” Make sure the “Show taskbar on all displays” option is enabled. Also, ensure that the “Auto-hide the taskbar” option is turned off.
2. Next, check your desktop icons settings. Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select “Personalize.” Then, click on “Themes” in the left sidebar and click on “Desktop icon settings” in the Related Settings section. Make sure the “Computer” option is checked.
3. If the above steps don’t solve the issue, you can try running the System File Checker (SFC) tool. Press the Windows key + X, then select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).” In the command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan and repair any corrupted system files that may be causing the problem.
4. It’s also important to keep your Windows 10 up to date. Go to the Start menu and click on “Settings.” Then, click on “Update & Security” and select “Windows Update” from the left sidebar. Click on “Check for updates” and install any available updates.
By performing these system checks and updates, you can ensure that your My Computer icon is restored and visible on your Windows 10 desktop.
Reset or Restore Your Computer
1. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop to open the context menu.
2. From the context menu, select “Personalize” to open the Personalization settings.
3. In the Personalization settings, click on “Themes” in the left sidebar.
4. Scroll down and click on “Desktop icon settings” under the “Related Settings” section.
5. In the Desktop Icon Settings window, make sure the box next to “Computer” is checked.
6. If it’s not checked, click on the checkbox next to “Computer” to enable it.
7. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
8. The My Computer icon should now be restored on your Windows 10 desktop.
If the above steps didn’t work, you can try resetting your computer to its default settings. Keep in mind that resetting your computer will remove all your personal files, applications, and settings. Make sure to back up any important data before proceeding.
To reset your Windows 10 computer:
1. Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
2. Click on “Update & Security” and then select “Recovery” from the left sidebar.
3. Under the “Reset this PC” section, click on the “Get started” button.
4. Choose whether you want to keep your personal files or remove everything, depending on your preference.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
After the reset is complete, your computer will be restored to its default settings, and the My Computer icon should be back on your desktop.
F.A.Qs
How do I get my desktop shortcut back?
To get your desktop shortcut back, right-click on an empty spot on your desktop and choose View > Show desktop icons. This will restore all your hidden desktop icons.
Why did my desktop icons suddenly disappear?
Your desktop icons may have disappeared because Tablet mode was enabled. To fix this, open the Settings app by pressing Windows+I, select System > Tablet mode, and toggle off the “When I sign in, automatically switch to tablet mode” option.
How do I get an icon back on my computer screen?
To get an icon back on your computer screen, right-click on an empty space on your desktop, click on the “View” option, and make sure that “Show desktop icons” is ticked.
How do I get my computer icon back on my desktop?
To get your computer icon back on your desktop, right-click on your desktop and go to Personalize > Themes > Desktop Icon Settings. From the listed options, select “Computer” and click “Apply” to add it to your desktop.
