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Deleted DESTKOP by mistake

Dear all,

I run on Catilina 10.15.7.


In an attempt to delete everything in my desktop, I permanently deleted the desktop folder from my Mac erasing it from the Bin.


The situation is the following:

When I go to my user folder the Desktop icon looks like this. I am unable to save anything on the desktop and if I try to double click on the Desktop I get the following error message "The operation can’t be completed because the original item for “Desktop” can’t be found."


I do not need to recover files that were in the desktop, but I want to be able to use it properly again. I tried to use the first aid of the utility disk, and to restart the computer, but these approaches do not work


Does anyone know how I could address this issue?


thanks a lot for your help

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 12, 2021 6:11 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 12, 2021 8:07 AM

Great, that almost worked!

I duplicated the desktop corrupt folder creating a "desktop copy" file. With this file, I was able to delete my corrupt desktop folder and create a new one that worked! thanks a lot!

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5 replies

Jan 12, 2021 10:30 AM in response to ilveroale

ilveroale wrote:

Dear all,
I run on Catilina 10.15.7.

In an attempt to delete everything in my desktop, I permanently deleted the desktop folder from my Mac erasing it from the Bin.

The situation is the following:
When I go to my user folder the Desktop icon looks like this. I am unable to save anything on the desktop and if I try to double click on the Desktop I get the following error message "The operation can’t be completed because the original item for “Desktop” can’t be found."
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/561b919a-7a0c-4c71-bd77-807c189a865a

I do not need to recover files that were in the desktop, but I want to be able to use it properly again. I tried to use the first aid of the utility disk, and to restart the computer, but these approaches do not work

Does anyone know how I could address this issue?

thanks a lot for your help



If you see the Desktop folder in your user/Home folder— simply drag and drop it back onto the Finder sidebar.


Control click on the alias to delete.


Try rebooting.


If all else fails simply restore your user from a backup—


Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/restore-files-mh11422/mac


Restore your Mac from a backup

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203981

Deleted DESTKOP by mistake

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