Align and resize items in icon view on Mac. When viewing items in icon view, you can change the alignment, size, and labeling of items on the desktop or in Finder windows. To change the icon you see for a file or folder, see Create custom icons for files or folders. Mac Icons - Download 204 Free Mac icons @ IconArchive. Search more than 600,000 icons for Web & Desktop here.
- Gmail Icon For Mac Desktop
- Icon Mac Desktop
- Netflix Icon For Mac Desktop
- Ebay Icon For Mac Desktop
- How To Make An Icon For Mac Desktop
![Icon For Mac Desktop Icon For Mac Desktop](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126501725/427067482.jpg)
Several users have said that they experience a macOS problem where the desktop icons are missing and not showing up. It further appears that everything on the desktop (icons, documents, folders, files, images, etc.) has suddenly disappeared.
Have you lost your Mac desktop icons and you want them back? Is your desktop just blank? Then this article is for you. This article explains how you can restore your missing desktop icons on your Mac.
Do not worry. It is highly likely that your desktop icons still exist, they are just not showing. It is possible that your desktop icons may be hidden. Here is what you can do:
Before you do anything, simply restart your Mac to see if this fixes your problem. You can restart your Mac by choosing the Restart option from the Apple menu. Furthermore, please ensure that you update your Mac to the latest version of macOS. You can update your Mac by going to System Preferences and Software Update. And if you are running an earlier version of macOS, then open the App Store on your Mac to update your computer.
If restarting and updating do not help, then follow the steps below. The steps are listed in order. Therefore, please start with the first step, see if that fixes your problem, if it does not, and then continue to the next step.
See also: How To Restore Disappeared Downloads Folder To Dock & Sidebar In Finder
1. Finder
First, restart Finder by first force-quitting it. You can force quit Finder by going to the Apple menu > Force Quit. Then select Finder and click Force Quit. This will restart Finder. If this does not work, continue the next.
In Finder, from the menu toolbar, click Finder and then select Preferences. Select the General tab. It will say “show these items on the desktop”. And then please make sure that the items you want to keep on your Desktop are selected. And then close the Finder Preferences window.
See also: The Finder Can’t Quit Because An Operation Is Still In Progress On An iOS Device
2. iCloud Drive
Are you using iCloud Drive? iCloud Drive lets you store your Desktop and Documents folders. If you turn this on, a Desktop and Documents folder will be created on your Mac in the home folder. You can see your Desktop and Documents folder in Finder. Simple select iCloud Drive from the Sidebar in Finder. Follow the steps below:
- Open System Preferences on your Mac.
- Click Apple ID.
- Click iCloud from the Sidebar.
- Click the Options button next to iCloud Drive.
- Ensure that the “Desktop & Documents Folders” is checked.
- Click Done.
See also: You can use Stacks to keep your desktop really neat and tidy.
3. Unhide
As stated above, your desktop items may be hidden. You can use Terminal to show them again. Here is how:
Gmail Icon For Mac Desktop
- Open Terminal (Applications / Utilities, you can use Spotlight).
- In Terminal, enter the following command and hit enter:
This will show your icons if they are hidden.
4. Safe Mode
Use Safe Mode to fix your problem. Safe Mode is a macOS startup mode that can be used to fix issues. Here is how:
- Turn off your Mac.
- Then turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
- Keep holding the Shift key until you see the login window.
- And then log in.
- You are now in Safe Mode.
- Do you see the icons that were missing from the desktop?
- Restart your Mac. Just select the Restart option from the Apple menu. Do not press the Shift key.
- When your Mac restarts, check again if you see the icons.
5. Corrupt Preference files
Before proceeding, you may want to backup your Mac. Corrupt preference files (plist files) may be the culprit. Removing these files may fix your problem. Here is how:
- In Finder, click Go while pressing the Option key.
- Click Library.
- Click Preferences.
- Then locate these two files: com.apple.finder.plist and com.apple.desktop.plist. Note that there may not be the two of them.
- Then move these files to your desktop.
- Then restart your Mac. Your Mac will automatically create these files, but you may lose some of your settings.
- Then test your Mac if you can see your icons.
- If this does not fix your problem, you can put back the plist files that you moved to the desktop. This will overwrite the existing one. So you won’t lose anything.
When you download an app on Android or Windows, you get an option, or it automatically creates a shortcut on the home screen or the desktop. On Mac too creating a folder or app shortcut is extremely easy. It hardly requires four clicks. We first make an alias and then move it to the desired location.
You can add shortcuts for folders and apps to the desktop or Dock of your Mac. The first method below is the one I prefer. The second method is also quick, but it at times copies the folder instead of making the shortcut. Anyways, here are two easy ways to create desktop shortcuts on Mac running macOS Catalina.
How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac
Step #1. Decide which folder’s or app’s desktop shortcut you want to create. Find where the folder is located. If you cannot find it, see the end for instructions.
Step #2.Right-click on the folder or app name and click on Make Alias.
Step #3. You will see that a shortcut is immediately created for that folder or app. Press enter key. It has the word alias at the end of the name.
Step #4. Drag this shortcut to your desktop or Dock. You may also copy the shortcut and paste it on the desktop.
This is it!
You have successfully created the desktop shortcut for a folder or app. Now you may quickly use this to open that folder, or launch the app. You may repeat this with as many folders and apps you like.
If you wish, you may select the shortcut, press the enter key, and rename it to remove the word ‘alias.’
Finally, if you wish to see the original folder, right-click on the shortcut icon and click on Show Original.
Note 1: Even if you move the original folder to some other location, the shortcut you created still works. Beautiful! Isn’t it.
Note 2: You may use this method to create shortcuts even for files like image, document, zip, music, movie, etc.
Not able to Find the Folder Location?
Finding applications is clear. You click on Finder → Applications, and there you have all your applications. Knowing the location of the Folders you create is also straightforward.
But for some folders, especially system folders like Downloads, Documents, etc. it may be a bit tough to know the path. Here are some ways to know it.
#1. From Sidebar: Launch Finder, place your pointer on the folder name in left Sidebar, and then right-click. Finally, click Show in Enclosing Folder. Now follow the above steps.
#2. Using Path Bar: Be inside Finder and click on View from the menu bar. Now click Show Path Bar. A tab will be added to the bottom of the Finder. It has the location/path for the folder you click or select.
#3. Use Spotlight Search: Launch Spotlight Search by clicking the search icon in menu bar or press Command (⌘) + Space Bar. Now type the folder name and then scroll to the bottom of the search result and click on Show all in Finder… Click on the folder and follow the above steps to make its shortcut.
#4. Use Siri: I do not like Siri on Mac, notably older Macs. Anyways, you may ask Siri on Mac to ‘Show Download Folder’ (or any folder) and then go to the bottom of the result and click on Show all results in Finder… Now you may follow the above steps. Please note that this does not always work.
Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac Using Drag and Drop
Icon Mac Desktop
The above method is swift and simple. It is the one I prefer. However, there is an additional way to create folder and app shortcuts on Mac.
Step #1. Be at the location of the folder or app you want to create the shortcut of.
Step #2. Press and hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) key together. Do not leave the hold. Now click on the folder or app and drag it to the desktop.
![Google drive icon for mac desktop Google drive icon for mac desktop](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126501725/816355298.png)
Note: When you use this method, there are chances that you may unwillingly and unknowingly copy or move the folder instead of making its shortcut. Don’t worry. Press Command (⌘) + Z to undo and try again, or use the first method.
Add Folder Shortcuts to Dock on Mac
I recently wrote a post where I explained how to add website shortcuts to Dock on Mac. It is an interesting article. Similarly, you may add shortcuts to your Dock too.
Follow any of the above methods and make the shortcut of the folder or app (you may directly add an app to Dock, but anyway). Now drag that shortcut from Desktop to the rightmost part of Dock (Second left to the Trash icon).
Wrapping up…
Netflix Icon For Mac Desktop
These were two easy ways to create shortcut icons on Mac. There is a third method that I know of, which requires Terminal and some command lines. However, it is tricky and beyond the simplicity of the average user. Also, if you change the folder location, the shortcut stops working. So I did not mention this method.
Secondly, on Macs running OS versions before Catalina, you may also click on a Folder or App and then press together Command (⌘) + L. It will instantly make the alias. It works on my old MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra, but on a different MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Catalina, this quick method does not seem to work.
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What are your thoughts regarding shortcuts on Mac? Have you used it on Windows? How was the experience there? Share your opinion in the comment section below.
Ebay Icon For Mac Desktop
Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
How To Make An Icon For Mac Desktop
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