Woodnook2015
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Why won't my Finder icon respond?

Suddenly the files I kept visible on the desktop disappeared and Finder won't respond --- what has happened?The screensaver and desktop photo have changed --- ???? HELP!!!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 9, 2015 2:35 PM

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Woodnook2015

Q: Why won't my Finder icon respond?

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  • by sterling r,

    sterling r sterling r Mar 11, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Woodnook2015
    Community Specialists
    Mar 11, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Woodnook2015

    Hey there Woodnock2015,

     

    It sounds like your desktop files aren't visible and you cannot open a Finder window. I would use the Force Quit menu to relaunch Finder, then restart the computer:

     

    Force an app to close on your Mac

     

    The Finder is an app that your Mac keeps open, so there isn't an option to quit or close this app. If the Finder becomes unresponsive, you can use Force Quit to relaunch it. Select Finder in the Force Quit window, then click Relaunch.

    If none of your apps are responsive, you can force your computer to restart.

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

    Cheers,

    Sterling

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Mar 11, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Woodnook2015
    Level 9 (70,068 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 11, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Woodnook2015
    Do a backup.

     

    Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J.  When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder.  Select Library. Then go to Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist and com.apple.desktop.plist.  Move the .plists to your desktop.

     

    Re-launch Finder by restarting the computer and test. If it works okay, delete the plists from the desktop.

     

    If the same, return the .plists to where you got it  from, overwriting the newer one.


     

    Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.