downloaded files are invisible on desktop

Try to temporarily change the default to Downloads folder.

Try to change the default back to Desktop, and see if it then starts to work also there.

I have the same issue with all the files I download on my desktop. Premising that I use iCloud, the problem does not arise when I take screenshots, but when I mainly download files (PDF or doc) attached in emails.

I have another Mac that I use for work that has Ventura installed and for which the problem does not arise. Maybe this issue is due to the new Sonoma update (14.2.1)?

The odd thing is that if I use the Finder to search for the file I see it in <<recent>> but I cannot see it in the iCloud desktop). Further more: I cannot move the file from recent to desktop. Pretty annoying.

Thank you for any suggestions you may have.

I have the exact same problem as chsimo and qp076 on my Mac mini 2020 (Sonoma 14.2.1). I tried Matti's solution in Chrome to save files in download folder and then move them to desktop, and it worked. But when I changed it back to save on desktop, the problem returns. I saw somewhere that if I press command-shift-dot then the files become visible on desktop, and they did, but they are grey and some do not open.

Has anyone figured out why most downloaded files (chrome) become invisible on desktop? This started after my most recent update. As mentioned before, they appear in Finder in <Recent> and in the download history, but not on the desktop and not in Finder in <Desktop>.

Thank you in advance for any help or solutions.

I am having same issue on Sanoma 14.3.1 (23D60). Changed to Donwloads and they show up there. Switch back to desktop and they are invisible, unless I open them through the download icon on my browser. Then i see them.

Lame.

Thank you Matti, now I see the file in the download folder and I can move it to the desktop. Any suggestions to skip this passage? thanks