Desktop function not working in Finder MacOS 10.13.6

Question

Desktop function not working in Finder MacOS 10.13.6

I have a client with a MacBook Air 2011 on the latest version of MacOS 10.13 (as high as they can upgrade that model of MacBook.)

The Finder is working but the desktop function is broken. Nothing shows up on the desktop even though we can see a list of documents there whenever we open a Finder window.

Other user accounts on this computer are unaffected - Finder and desktop work correctly.

It's as if whatever invisible flag on the Desktop folder of this user account which makes the files display on the desktop has been corrupted.

Any ideas on how to fix?

I saw the same topic in a thread here from 2018 but no resolution.

MacBook Air

Posted on May 31, 2019 3:28 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

207,607 points

Jun 7, 2019 4:04 PM in response to BIPLTechTutor

Boot into Safe Mode and check the Desktop from there. Reboot normally and check again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing some system cache cleaning, volume verifying and directory repairing.

Reply

Answer 2

Jun 2, 2019 1:51 PM in response to BDAqua

They don't currently have iCloud Drive activated, but it's the desktop function itself which is broken. There are items in the Desktop folder but they don't appear on the desktop, nor can any items be dragged or copied onto the desktop.

Reply