Windows 10: Desktop icons gone after upgrade - what now?

After upgrading to Windows 10, it can happen that all desktop icons are gone or no longer displayed correctly. Usually a simple restart of the operating system helps to fix the error.

Why are all desktop icons gone after upgrading to Windows 10?

Most of the time, desktop icons disappear after upgrading to Windows 10 or when you connect a new monitor. Possibly the icons are then not disappeared at all, but only on the other screen. However, if you suspect that the update of the operating system is behind the error, proceed as follows:

1. The first thing you should do is check whether all desktop icons have really disappeared or whether they are simply no longer displayed. Press Windows key + E to open the explorer. Now click on Desktop in the upper left corner. If the icons are displayed to you here, they are only invisible and not disappeared.
2. Click with the right mouse button on a free space on your desktop and select the option "View". Activate "Show desktop icons" here.
3. Open the task manager by pressing "Control + Shift + Escape" and restart the process "Windows Explorer". Dazu klicken Sie ihn mit der rechten Maustaste an und wählen „Neu starten“.
4. Aktivieren Sie kurzeitig den Tablet-Modus, indem Sie mit Windows-Taste + A das Actioncenter öffnen und dort auf „Tablet-Modus“ drücken. Klicken Sie auf den Desktop und deaktivieren Sie den Tablet-Modus danach wieder.