You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Random folders keep appearing on desktop

I've asked this question before and I was told that it must be an app I have installed. This is a new computer. I don't have any apps other than what came with the computer. Every time I turn the computer on I get these folders that are labeled things like "af" "e2" "bd". This is getting extremely annoying and it's clear to me now that this is an apple issue as I've seen people complain on this forum about it and there have been no resolutions. The content of these folders is all the same. and it appears that they are items that should actually be on my desktop.


MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Sep 11, 2022 3:45 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 13, 2022 1:52 PM

Hey WHITEYUPNORTH,


We'll be happy to help out and see if we can figure out why these folders are appearing.


A great step to help us isolate if this is the macOS software or app software/settings on the account itself, is to create a new user account for testing purposes. Here's how to set up a new account on the Mac: 




1.On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups .

If the lock at the bottom left is locked , click it to unlock the preference pane.

2.Click the Add button  below the list of users.

3.Click the New Account pop-up menu, then choose a type of user.

  • Administrator: An administrator can add and manage other users, install apps, and change settings. The new user you create when you first set up your Mac is an administrator. Your Mac can have multiple administrators. You can create new ones, and convert standard users to administrators. Don’t set up automatic login for an administrator. If you do, someone could simply restart your Mac and gain access with administrator privileges. To keep your Mac secure, don’t share administrator names and passwords.
  • Standard: Standard users are set up by an administrator. Standard users can install apps and change their own settings, but can’t add other users or change other users’ settings.
  • Sharing Only: Sharing-only users can access shared files remotely, but can’t log in to or change settings on the computer. To give the user permission to access your shared files or screen, you may need to change settings in the File Sharing, Screen Sharing, or Remote Management pane of Sharing preferences. See Set up file sharing and Share the screen of another Mac.

For more information about the options for each type of user, click the Help button in the lower-left corner of the dialog.

4.Enter a full name for the new user. An account name is generated automatically. To use a different account name, enter it now—you can’t change it later.

5.Enter a password for the user, then enter it again to verify. Enter a password hint to help the user remember their password.

6.Click Create User.

7.Depending on the type of user you create, you can also do any of the following:

  • For an administrator, select “Allow user to administer this computer.”
  • For an administrator, select “Allow user to reset a password using Apple ID.”
  • Use Sharing preferences to specify whether the user can share your files and share your screen.


Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac


If it doesn't happen in the test user account, it will let us know that issue could be caused by a third-party program or certain settings on the main user account. 


Have a great day.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 13, 2022 1:52 PM in response to WHITEYUPNORTH

Hey WHITEYUPNORTH,


We'll be happy to help out and see if we can figure out why these folders are appearing.


A great step to help us isolate if this is the macOS software or app software/settings on the account itself, is to create a new user account for testing purposes. Here's how to set up a new account on the Mac: 




1.On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups .

If the lock at the bottom left is locked , click it to unlock the preference pane.

2.Click the Add button  below the list of users.

3.Click the New Account pop-up menu, then choose a type of user.

  • Administrator: An administrator can add and manage other users, install apps, and change settings. The new user you create when you first set up your Mac is an administrator. Your Mac can have multiple administrators. You can create new ones, and convert standard users to administrators. Don’t set up automatic login for an administrator. If you do, someone could simply restart your Mac and gain access with administrator privileges. To keep your Mac secure, don’t share administrator names and passwords.
  • Standard: Standard users are set up by an administrator. Standard users can install apps and change their own settings, but can’t add other users or change other users’ settings.
  • Sharing Only: Sharing-only users can access shared files remotely, but can’t log in to or change settings on the computer. To give the user permission to access your shared files or screen, you may need to change settings in the File Sharing, Screen Sharing, or Remote Management pane of Sharing preferences. See Set up file sharing and Share the screen of another Mac.

For more information about the options for each type of user, click the Help button in the lower-left corner of the dialog.

4.Enter a full name for the new user. An account name is generated automatically. To use a different account name, enter it now—you can’t change it later.

5.Enter a password for the user, then enter it again to verify. Enter a password hint to help the user remember their password.

6.Click Create User.

7.Depending on the type of user you create, you can also do any of the following:

  • For an administrator, select “Allow user to administer this computer.”
  • For an administrator, select “Allow user to reset a password using Apple ID.”
  • Use Sharing preferences to specify whether the user can share your files and share your screen.


Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac


If it doesn't happen in the test user account, it will let us know that issue could be caused by a third-party program or certain settings on the main user account. 


Have a great day.

Random folders keep appearing on desktop

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.