A .docx file has disappeared from desktop. Not found in trash too.

Spotlight search:

Enter a partial string, or even the full filename of the missing .docx after name:

kind:Word +.docx name:iam_missing.docx

If you see it listed in the Spotlight sidebar, click it once, and press the ⌘ key to see its path, or ⌘-R to reveal its location in a new Finder window.

If above fails, Dock : Launchpad : Other : Time Machine. This will bring up the Time Machine Restore window. Change the window view to the Desktop, and then start stepping backward in time until the missing .docx appears. Click the document, and then click Restore to put it back on your Desktop.

Occasionally, a Word document cannot be opened by MS Word, or Pages, and I have found that in many cases, it can be opened by LibreOffice, and resaved as .docx. Then, it can be opened in the applications that originally refused to open it.

1. Download the free LibreOffice 6.0.2.1 if you have Mavericks or later. Version 5.4.6 if you are using Mountain Lion. Both are on the same download page. Click the yellow download box.
2. When the installer launches, simply drag within the installer window onto the Applications folder link to install. Once installed, right-click on the installer and eject.
3. From the Finder sidebar, click on Applications folder, and right-click on the LibreOffice application icon. Select Open, and on the next dialog panel, select Open again. The operating system will validate the application, and it will finally launch. This is a one-time security ritual, because it didn't come from the Mac App Store.
4. From the Open… menu, see if LibreOffice can access your “corrupted” Word document. Resave as a different Word .docx document.

Post back if LibreOffice cannot open the document. It is the simpler recovery solution, but there are others.

See if you can find the file(s) using one of these programs. If you go Finder/View/Show Path Bar, it will show you where it is located.

EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement

Find Any File

Might be a corrupt .plist.

Do a backup, preferably 2 backups on 2 separate drives.

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. Move the .plist to your desktop.

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

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

Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.