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everything has dissapeared from my desktop

I just sat down at my computer and everything has disappeared from my desktop. It looks like all the files are still in iCloud but how do I get them back on my desktop?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 6, 2022 10:40 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 6, 2022 11:41 AM

Please refer to this excerpt from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support:


What happens when you turn off Desktop and Documents

When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.


6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 6, 2022 11:41 AM in response to cblackride

Please refer to this excerpt from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support:


What happens when you turn off Desktop and Documents

When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.


Jan 23, 2022 2:27 AM in response to John Galt

I have just experienced something similar, but I cannot find the home folder anywhere. In my case, I had the icloud off for desktop and I turned it on. When I did that, my desktop got filled with the old desktop folders that where in the icloud and the folder I had presently in my desktop dissapeared and I cannot find it. Any help???

Jan 23, 2022 4:13 AM in response to John Galt

Thank yo John for your answer.

I can restore, or I can find my files in an external harddrive that I just copied before doing the iCloud thing, but my issue is, that I then expect that the files will be in two places filling memory and adding to confusion.

I do also think that it is very strange that the things just dissapears with just that click. I understand if they dissapeard when I erased them, but otherwise I don't.

everything has dissapeared from my desktop

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