The operation can't be completed because the original item for "Desktop" can't be found.

In case it is helpful, I had this exact issue this morning, seeming to be related to iCloud. *And* I had just done a reinstall of Mac OS so had no backups to draw from on Time Machine. Here is how I just solved it. Show hidden files on Finder (command + shift + .) and navigate to Users > [username]. There will be hidden aliases of "Desktop" and "Documents." Delete them to repopulate the regular Desktop and Documents folders, et voila.

Mac is so intrusive with pushing iCloud integration on us. I use Dropbox and have no need to have my Desktop synced. I actually don't store anything on my Desktop, I just require it as a waystation for moving things in and out of Dropbox folders (and as a destination for downloads).

Interesting BUG. It started when I was freeing storage in my ICloud Drive. I was asked if I wanted to synch my devices; it sounded like a good idea - it was not. I was on my IPhone but the ICloud removed Documents and Desktop from my Mac Computer. I found them in the User files as alias that could not be accessed. Sadly we did not have a Time Machine backup (we bought the Mac recently) and the Shortcuts folder (used for recovery purposes) was empty in the archived version. Spoke to Apple Support for 4 hours total and had to be transferred to the Senior Support group. The final solution was to erase and then download/install the operating system (I have copies of my important data somewhere else). This should not happen: synching the devices removed system files and made them inaccessible. Apple is assuming that we would love the iCloud so much that we will not un-synch our devices, of course they will charge you for additional storage (this was the first solution suggested by lower level support people). Lesson learned: back up the computer and don’t synch.

ActorCamNY wrote:

Both my "Desktop" and "Documents" folders in Finder no longer work, I can't access either. When I click on them I get the message in the subject line. (This may be related to turning off some things from iCloud backup to save space?)

My iMac is 3.6 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 and macOS is Ventura 13.4.

iCloud Desktop & Documents...

Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple ...

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

iCloud drive missing desktop and documents

Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Recover deleted files on iCloud.com

Recover deleted files on iCloud.com - Apple Support

How to Restore Your Desktop and Documents After Disabling ...

https://www.howtogeek.com/273629/how-to-restore-your-desktop-and-documents-after-disabling-icloud-sync-in-macos-sierra/

How to find your Documents and Desktop folder contents after disabling ...

https://www.macworld.com/article/3396119/how-to-find-your-documents-and-desktop-folder-contents-after-disabling-icloud-sync.html

Finder>Go>Go to Folder>copy & paste:

~/iCloud Drive (Archive)

iCLoud Drive (Archive) - here you should find all your files

I ended up having to create a new admin user and it will re-create a desktop and documents disk that you can actually use again. I then moved all my important files to the new user and abandoned the old one. It's unbelievable that this is can happen with Apple interface. I can't wait to migrate away from Apple products. I lost months and months of work because of Icloud drive.

ActorCamNY wrote:

"Entering "~/iCloud Drive (Archive)" doesn't bring me anywhere, I stay in the Go window. I also can't enable the "Desktop & Documents Folders" selection. I click on it but it stays off/inactive. ("Sync this Mac" is selected.)

Thanks, but as I just replied to the other poster, I can't enable the "Desktop & Documents Folders" selection. I click on it but it stays off/inactive. ("Sync this Mac" is selected.) I'm trying to get access back to the Desktop and Documents folders on my Mac so not sure what I need to do to get that to happen. Since I can't turn this selection on, that's not the fix.

Try sign out of your AppleID and backing again

>AppleID>Sign out

ref: Sign in or out of your Apple ID on Mac

Even if there is nothing active, you would expect to still see the directory in Finder(?)

~/iCloud Drive (Archive)

I have never used iCloud drive— and it still shows up (?)

ex:

Go to the System/Apple ID/iCloud settings pane and see if iCloud Drive is on or off. If on click on the > next to On and see in the next window if Desktop & Documents folders are enabled.

If so disable them and select to keep a copy of the files on your Mac.

For recovering the original Documents contents, I do believe you would need to do a Time Machine reversion as ActorCamNY did. Whatever caused the creation of the hidden aliases must have deleted the regular folder. If you don't know how to work with Time Machine yourself, engage an Apple support team. If like me you do not have any Time Machine backups because of having recently reinstalled the OS, then you may be out of luck. I'm not sure. Some of this is over my head! I'm no expert, just a frustrated guy who found a solution and wanted to share.

Thank you Unmodern - this did infact create my home desktop and document folder - that was an awesome fix. However it did not bring me to my original document folder - so I am still missing all my documents.

I as you only use Desktop as a waystation of moving things. Any idea how to find my original document file?

Thank you again!

Same issue. I was freeing up space from an iPhone and didn't know my Mac desktop and documents was synced to the iCloud... deleted everything permanently, losing months and months of work and documents. Thankfully had backed up all my photos to a storage and amazon photos. This should never happen. It's meant to be a backup not a devastating headache simply to push storage fees. I still can't get my desktop and document to work on my Mac. Day 2.

Synching my new computer to the cloud caused the problem for me. We just deleted everything snd reinstalled since it was a new computer with only 2 weeks of data. I don't to store stuff in the cloud; we have a back up drive now.

I have had a similar issue, with 300gb of data and media files suddenly disappearing from my Desktop and other Finder locations, as well as from iCloud, while the free storage capacity of my hard disk remains unchanged. :/

Luckily for me, all of my files are backed up to a NAS and an external hard drive, so it is out of touch of iCloud.

But the question I have is : is there anyone from Apple reading these posts? These seem to be widespread and recurring bugs, but there is no show from Apple to advise users NOT to resort to iCloud backups until they have sorted out the bugs which are making all this user data evaporate into thin air.

In view of Apple's apparent indifference to users' plights, I am removing my storage from iCloud, and will reduce to a minimum any future storage subscriptions.

That is the best advice I would give to anyone asking me about iCloud backups today : DO NOT DO IT. IT IS WAY TOO RISKY!

Best of luck to all.

How can I get assistance for restoring my desktop and documents folder from Time Machine and overwrite the existing folders (which are hidden). as solution above?