Why are my files not showing up on my desktop Mac
Table of ContentsThe methods we'll cover are as follows: Show
You may get startled when files present on your Desktop, Download folder, Macintosh HD, or Trash suddenly start disappearing. If you're facing the issue of files not showing up on Mac SSD, hard drive, or external storage device, then don't panic. The files are not lost forever. You can either make some changes to your Mac settings, use Time Machine, or leverage a file recovery software to recover your lost files on macOS. But before that, let's know why files disappear from Mac. Common Reasons for Files Disappearing From MacIncorrect sync setting on iCloud Drive: While setting up your iCloud Drive, you may have selected the option of keeping Desktop and Document files on the iCloud Drive. So, the Desktop and Document files get synced to the iCloud Drive and are removed from your Mac. Hidden files on Macintosh HD: Sometimes, incorrect settings can cause your crucial files to appear hidden. In such cases, you might not be able to view your files, but they are still present on your Mac. Out of View files on Desktop: The recent macOS version has the Stack feature that groups files together on Desktop. This feature may make your files out of sight but they are still present on your Desktop. Accidental Deletion of files: The biggest reason behind sudden disappearance of your Mac files is accidental deletion. Accidental deletion can happen when you select a number of unnecessary files for deletion but inadvertently delete a crucial file with them using Option + Command + Delete key combination; when you empty Trash without checking its stored content; or when your unsaved files are lost due to sudden power outage. Read More: Resurrect Data from Empty Trash on macOS Once you're aware of the reasons for the disappearance of Mac files, you can try the following solutions to make your files visible again. 1. Restore Files through iCloudmacOS allows you to save files and folders in iCloud Drive. If you're using iCloud, the documents saved in it can be accessed through all your Apple devices and on iCloud.com. If your desktop files have disappeared from Mac and you have saved those files & folders on iCloud Drive, they will be moved to the iCloud section of your Finder Sidebar. To rectify incorrect iCloud settings, follow these simple steps:
2. Unhide Files through FinderFinder in macOS helps you to organize your files. But if you can't find your required file, folder, or document, then you can always use the Command + Shift + Dot keys to unhide any hidden files. Also, you must check Finder Preferences for any incorrect settings. Steps are as follows:
3. Unhide Files through TerminalYou can use the Terminal app to unhide any hidden files on Mac. Steps are as follows:
4. Access Files through StackStack feature in macOS automatically organizes your files on the Desktop so that it is free of clutter. If you're using that feature, your files may appear lost, but in reality, they're just grouped by macOS. You can go and find the folder in which your files have been grouped inside and recover them as follows:
5. Restore Files through Time MachineIf you've set up Time Machine backup drive to take incremental backup and the latest backup of your Macintosh HD is available, you can use the backup and restoration app to restore your disappeared files from the backup drive. Steps are as follows:
6. Recover Files through Mac Data Recovery SoftwareIf you're unable to recover your disappeared files on Mac by using any of the above methods, the last option is to use a specialized data recovery software for Mac. You may try the free demo of Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac, a specialized DIY software for recovering deleted files, lost/deleted Mac volumes, and disappeared data from other logical data loss situations. Steps are as follows.
2. Scan: Toggle on 'Deep Scan' for scanning the drive based on file signatures. Click Scan to initiate the scanning process. Once the scan is over, preview the scanned files for accuracy. 3. Recover: Select all the disappeared files, then click Recover. Provide a distinct save destination, then click Save. Once the recovery is over, navigate to the save location and view the recovered files.
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