Saved files do not show up on desktop in Tahoe

Question

Level 1

18 points

Saved files do not show up on desktop in Tahoe

Problem:

In the past few months I purchased a new Mac Studio (M4 Max, 128 GB) and updated to Tahoe 26.0.1. Since then, saved files do not immediately show up on the desktop like they always have on all of my other Macs.

Notes:

This issue did not occur before the Tahoe update.
I do not use iCloud at all and do not have it turned on, not that it should matter.
This issue does not appear on my older non-Tahoe MacBook Pro, which is the computer I'm replacing.
The images (which do not appear on the desktop) always show up as expected in the Desktop tab in Finder, so I know they're in the correct location.

Scenarios:

I saved image attachments from Apple Mail to the desktop, but they don't appear.
I exported SVGs and PNGs from Adobe Illustrator to the desktop, but they don't appear.
I saved a PSD from Adobe Photoshop to the desktop, but it doesn't appear.
I used the keyboard to create screenshots, but they don't appear.

Workaround:

The only option I've found is to randomly click through various windows (Finder, windows, Settings, etc.) and sometimes move them around on the same screen or drag them to another of my three monitors. Then, at some point, the hidden files suddenly appear on the desktop. Obviously, this is not how the OS is supposed to function.

Disappearing Folders:

Also, sometimes when I move a desktop folder to another location on the desktop, it disappears. I have to use the same workaround above to get it to reappear.

Thanks ahead of time for reading about this and considering solutions.

Posted on Oct 15, 2025 11:12 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

55,683 points

Oct 15, 2025 3:20 PM in response to badafam

That is odd, indeed. The fact that Safe Mode behaves normally strongly suggests there's a Tahoe-incompatible 3rd party extension that's problematic. Extensions are different from apps. First place to look is in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.

Also try changing the View Options for your Desktop (Command-J) especially snap to grid and stack.

I use Snap to Grid, when I save a file to the desktop it will appear behind a Finder window if that's the next spot from the top right down.

The other things that can invisibly take up space on your primary display are Widgets. Even if you have System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Show Widgets turned off, if they're installed then you cannot put files in those areas of the Desktop occupied by the widgets even though you can't see them. Try control-clicking on the Desktop, select Edit Widgets. If there are a bunch, close them.

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Answer 2

badafam Author

Level 1

18 points

Oct 15, 2025 2:48 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Additional Information:

I use 3 monitors. The center one is my main desktop where I save files.

Interesting Discovery I Just Made:

When I have a Finder window open on the center monitor, the saved file will not appear on the desktop.
However, when I move the Finder window to the left or right monitor (leaving a "blank" center monitor desktop) and then save a file, it appears on the desktop as expected.
I also tested it with a browser window, and it worked the same as with Finder.

This has something to do with a window being present on the screen during a file save to the desktop.

Window present? Problem. Window not present? All good.

This is so strange.

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Answer 3

ENK452

Level 1

12 points

Oct 17, 2025 1:48 PM in response to badafam

I'm having the same issue. I can get the files to appear if I hold opt and right click on the Finder icon in the Dock. The resulting menu has "Relaunch" at the bottom which seems to be a refresh for the Desktop.

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Answer 4

badafam Author

Level 1

18 points

Oct 20, 2025 7:35 AM in response to ENK452

Thanks for your input. I can confirm that the Finder Icon (Option + Right Click) -> Relaunch does cause the images to appear as they should.

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Answer 5

Oct 20, 2025 7:50 AM in response to badafam

The fact that it does not happen in Safe points (as neuroanatomist wrote) to a third party extension or daemon.

And since affects Finder and gets "fixed" by relaunching...

There may be a glitch caused by a third party finder extension. Do you have dropbox, google drive or one drive syncing with Finder? And, furthermore, are you syncing your Desktop with one of those?

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Answer 6

Oct 15, 2025 11:26 AM in response to badafam

Interesting, I have not seen this on Tahoe – files save normally to the Desktop and appear there immediately as expected (except for the normal floating thumbnail delay with screenshots). Works as it should on the internal and on external displays.

See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

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Answer 7

badafam Author

Level 1

18 points

Oct 15, 2025 1:28 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Thanks for the response.

I rebooted in safe mode and tried all of the scenarios I mentioned in my original post.
The files appeared immediately on the desktop as expected, so safe mode was great.
Then I rebooted again in regular mode, and the problem immediately reappeared, meaning no images on my desktop.

I'm not sure what to make of this. I've installed the same applications that I've been using on my older computer, so there isn't much of a difference in 3rd-party extensions as far as I know.

I'm stumped. Maybe I should start uninstalling applications and then testing it, one by one?

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