Why does finder open on Desktop even if started from another window?

What does it mean to be “started from another window”?

New Finder windows will show what you have selected in the preferences. So what you probably need to do is go to Finder->Preferences and select something other than Desktop for new windows.

Hello, and welcome to Apple Support Communities troyfromacton,

We can see you've been using Get to know the Finder on your Mac  and you have a question about Finder opening on the Desktop.

Let's start here first: Change Finder preferences on Mac You'd want to make sure that Finder is set up the way you'd like and this guide describes how to change the settings.

Next, let's see if changing the preferences in Mission Control will help: Change Mission Control preferences on Mac. Specifically, check the section"When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application".

We hope this helps!

You are going to have to clarify what you mean... there seems to be a communication gap.

"If I attempt to use Finder in any window other than the Desktop window..."

It would help if you could post a screenshot.

How many windows are open?

What exactly are you doing?

(a) Double-clicking on a folder in one window?

What happens? Does it open in the same window, or another window?

(b) Using Command-N or File->Open to open a new window? What happens exactly?

(c) something else? please be as specific as possible.