Desktop disappears from Finder when the sidebar hides it, iCloud Desktop is off or mis-synced, or Finder settings and permissions need a quick reset.
Desktop Not Showing In Finder — Common Causes
When “Desktop” goes missing in Finder, the issue usually sits in one of four places: the sidebar, Finder settings, iCloud Drive, or folder permissions. Start with the fast checks below, then work down the page for deeper fixes.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No Desktop entry in the sidebar | Sidebar hidden or item unchecked | Show the sidebar and enable Desktop in Finder › Settings › Sidebar |
| Desktop shows under iCloud Drive only | “Desktop & Documents” stored in iCloud | Open iCloud Drive › Desktop, or change the iCloud setting |
| Desktop appears but looks empty | Different user, guest session, or sync still running | Verify the signed-in user and wait for sync to finish |
| Can’t open Desktop or get errors | Folder permissions or Finder glitch | Fix permissions in Get Info and relaunch Finder |
Show Desktop In Finder Sidebar
Finder can hide the entire sidebar or just the Desktop item. Bring it back with these steps.
Check Finder Settings (Sidebar Tab)
- Open a Finder window, then choose Finder › Settings (older macOS says Preferences).
- Select the Sidebar tab.
- Under Favorites, tick Desktop. While you are here, tick Documents and Downloads too if you want them handy. Apple’s guide on customizing the Finder sidebar shows where this lives.
Sidebar Hidden Or Collapsed
- Press ⌥⌘S to show the sidebar.
- If Favorites looks collapsed, hover over it and click the tiny arrow to expand.
- Drag the divider between the sidebar and the window to resize it if items look clipped.
Drag Desktop Back Into Favorites
If Desktop is visible inside your Home folder but not in Favorites, you can pin it back:
- In Finder, press Shift⌘H to open your Home folder.
- Drag the Desktop folder into the Favorites section of the sidebar. Release when you see a small line appear.
If Desktop Lives In iCloud Drive
Many Macs store Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive. In that setup, your Desktop sits inside iCloud Drive and may not appear as a separate sidebar item. That’s normal. You can work inside iCloud Drive › Desktop like any other folder, or change the setting if you want a local Desktop again. Apple’s article Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive explains what this switch does and what happens when you turn it on or off.
See Your iCloud Desktop Right Now
- Open Finder and click iCloud Drive in the sidebar.
- Open the Desktop folder inside it. Your files should be there.
- If a small cloud icon appears, items are still syncing. Let that finish before moving files.
Change The “Desktop & Documents” Setting Safely
- Open System Settings › your Apple ID › iCloud › iCloud Drive.
- Open Options, then toggle Desktop & Documents Folders.
- Read the prompts. Turning it off creates local Desktop and Documents in your Home folder and may place an iCloud Drive (Archive) folder there with copies.
- After the change, open your Home folder and confirm that Desktop is present and populated.
Find The Right Desktop Folder With Go To Folder
Unsure which Desktop you’re viewing? Use the direct paths:
- Local Desktop:
~/Desktop - iCloud Desktop:
~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Desktop
In Finder, press Shift⌘G, paste a path, and press Return.
New Profile, Guest Session, Or Screen Sharing
If you logged into a guest account or a fresh user profile, the Desktop entry may be empty, which can look like it vanished. Check the name at the top of the left column in System Settings, or open Finder and press Shift⌘H to confirm you’re in the expected Home folder. If you’re viewing another Mac over screen sharing, you’ll see that Mac’s Desktop instead of yours.
Permissions And Home Folder Hiccups
Wrong permissions can block Finder from showing or opening Desktop. Fix them with Get Info:
- Open your Home folder, then select the Desktop folder.
- Press ⌘I for Get Info.
- At the bottom, expand Sharing & Permissions.
- Ensure your user shows Read & Write. If needed, click the lock, authenticate, and change the privilege.
- Click the gear icon and choose Apply to enclosed items…. Confirm and close the window.
Now relaunch Finder: hold ⌥, right-click the Finder icon in the Dock, and choose Relaunch. You can also press ⌥⌘Esc, select Finder, then click Relaunch.
Pick The Right Finder View And Start Folder
Sometimes files exist, but Finder’s view and start location hide them from sight. A few tweaks clear that up.
Set New Finder Windows To Open Where You Work
- In Finder › Settings › General, set New Finder windows show to Desktop or Home.
- Turn on Show these items on the desktop if you want external disks or servers visible on the wallpaper layer.
Switch Views And Show The Path
- Use ⌘1 through ⌘4 to switch between Icon, List, Column, and Gallery views.
- Press ⌥⌘P to reveal the path bar, then click Desktop in the path to jump straight there.
Scenario Fixes That Save Time
The steps above solve most cases of a Desktop missing in Finder. If yours still plays hide-and-seek, match your situation to one of these quick tracks.
After A Macos Update
Recent releases renamed Finder Preferences to Settings, moved several options, and changed some default toggles. If you upgraded and the Desktop vanished, revisit Finder › Settings › Sidebar and tick Desktop again. Then open the General tab and set New Finder windows show to a place you use daily. A restart of Finder right after a big update also helps the sidebar redraw.
Desktop Renamed Or Moved
Finder expects a folder named Desktop in your Home folder. If that folder was renamed or dragged elsewhere, macOS may create a new, empty Desktop at login. Open your Home folder and look for any “Desktop”-like names, including ones with “old” or a date suffix. If you find your files inside a renamed folder, move them back into ~/Desktop. Avoid renaming Apple’s standard folders in the Home directory.
Third-Party Utilities Changed The Sidebar
Apps that tweak the Dock, clean caches, or manage the sidebar can toggle items off. Disable those tools for a moment, then re-enable Desktop in Finder settings. If the entry returns, add the tool back one feature at a time or leave its Finder options off. As a rule, use built-in settings for Finder layout whenever possible.
Managed Or Work Macs
On some managed Macs, configuration profiles can freeze parts of Finder’s sidebar or redirect Desktop into a network path. If re-enabling Desktop does nothing, sign in to another local user on the same Mac. If Desktop shows there, the restriction likely comes from a profile. Your company’s admin can remove or adjust it.
Multiple Displays And Spaces
With multiple displays or several Spaces, a window may open on a different desktop space than the one you’re viewing. Press ⌘Tab to switch to Finder, then press ⌘N for a new window. If nothing appears, right-click the Finder icon in the Dock, choose Options, and set Assign To as None. That setting prevents windows from spawning on a hidden Space.
Network Home Folders
In schools and some offices, Home folders live on a server. If the server is offline, Finder may show a placeholder sidebar without Desktop. Check the network status icon, reconnect to the server, then open a fresh Finder window. If your account also has a local Home, you can work there and move files later when the server returns.
| Setting | Where To Change It | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| New Finder windows show | Finder › Settings › General | Opens windows in Desktop or Home so you land in the right spot |
| Path bar | View › Show Path Bar (⌥⌘P) | Makes location obvious and clickable |
| Sidebar width | Drag divider | Prevents hidden items when names are long |
When Desktop Still Won’t Show
At this point the Desktop entry usually returns. If it doesn’t, work through these checks, top to bottom:
- Relaunch Finder. Hold ⌥, right-click the Finder icon, pick Relaunch.
- Restart your Mac. Pick Apple menu › Restart. This clears temporary hitches.
- Safe Mode test. Restart while holding the correct startup shortcut for your Mac model, then sign in. Open Finder and check the sidebar. If Desktop shows here, a login item or third-party add-on likely caused the issue.
- Create a fresh user. Make a new local account and sign in. If Desktop shows there, the problem sits in your profile. Move only needed data over time.
- Check storage. If your disk is full, Finder can misbehave. Clear space, then try again.
Practical Tips To Avoid A Repeat
- Keep the Desktop in Favorites so it stays one click away.
- If you use iCloud Drive for Desktop, give sync time on slow networks before moving big folders.
- Use the path bar and keyboard shortcuts to jump to Desktop fast, even if the sidebar misbehaves.
- Back up with Time Machine or another tool so a missing view never feels like lost data.
Why This Happens And What To Expect Next Time
Finder tracks sidebar items, window layouts, and the last locations you used. A hidden sidebar, a setting change, or an iCloud toggle can hide Desktop without touching your files. Once you know where the switch lives and where the folders sit on disk, the fix takes seconds. If you see a repeat, the same checklist above will bring Desktop back again.
Pin Desktop in Favorites, keep Finder updated, and use the same routine next time; you’ll fix a missing Desktop in minutes.