Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

A "Desktop" folder randomly appears on my desktop

ChromeCrescendo

ChromeCrescendo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 3, 2020
459
252
I have a 2019 MP 7,1 running Catalina 10.15.6 and every few days a folder named "Desktop" appears on the desktop

It is a normal looking folder except for a faint square on the folder

I can neither delete it nor open it

I cannot take any screenshots while it is on the desktop as all the screenshots disappear (they are normally saved directly on my desktop) so I cannot even attach a screenshot

The only way to get rid of it is to restart the MP and then, upon startup, all the screenshots I had taken are magically on the desktop and the weird "Desktop" folder is gone

Anyone else experience this?
 
Last edited:
Can you take a photo with your phone?
Does it have any properties, if you right click and get info?
 
EpicEsquire said:
I have a 2019 MP 7,1 running Catalina 10.15.6 and every few days a folder named "Desktop" appears on the desktop

It is a normal looking folder except for a faint square on the folder

I can neither delete it nor open it

I cannot take any screenshots while it is on the desktop as all the screenshots disappear (they are normally saved directly on my desktop) so I cannot even attach a screenshot

The only way to get rid of it is to restart the MP

Anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...

What you describe sounds like an odd situation.

Create a new clean user account, login to the new user account and see if the issue still hapoens
 
MarkC426 said:
Can you take a photo with your phone?
Does it have any properties, if you right click and get info?
Click to expand...

Ahhh I should have done that but ended up restarting

However, upon restart, I had to edit all the Finder Preferences as the only things that would show up were my Macintosh HD and Time Machine

This is really weird




Taz Mangus said:
What you describe sounds like an odd situation.

Create a new clean user account, login to the new user account and see if the issue still hapoens
Click to expand...


The next time it happens I will do that
 
Well, it just happened again

I also posted on the Apple Discussions site and received no response
 
This is what it looks like:

TFY7gxk.png
 
That icon is not the standard "Desktop" icon. Have you opened the folder to see what the contents is inside the folder? The contents might give you a clue what is generating the folder.

Are you running any virtual machines such Parallels, VMWare, etc.? Take a look at what software is running at the time the folder appears.
 
Last edited:
Taz Mangus said:
That icon is not the standard "Desktop" icon. Have you opened the folder to see what the contents is inside the folder? The contents might give you a clue what is generating the folder.

Are you running any virtual machines such Parallels, VMWare, etc.? Take a look at what software is running at the time the folder appears.
Click to expand...


It cannot be opened

No virtual machines

The only apps running when it happens are Safari, Music and iMessage
 
Gregg2 said:
But, did you test a new User Account, as suggested? That's what I was quoting from.
Click to expand...


It happens at random times (has happened only 3 or 4 times in the 3 months I've had the computer) - so, creating a new user account and it not happening would not mean it would not ever happen
 
Have you right clicked and get info?
See what permissions it has.

See what time it was created and look at what Console shows at the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Taz Mangus
EpicEsquire said:
It cannot be opened

No virtual machines

The only apps running when it happens are Safari, Music and iMessage
Click to expand...

Is there anything in the following folders:
  • Your user account Library/LaunchAgents
  • /Library/LaunchAgents
  • /Library/LaunchDaemons
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ChromeCrescendo
EpicEsquire said:
It happens at random times (has happened only 3 or 4 times in the 3 months I've had the computer) - so, creating a new user account and it not happening would not mean it would not ever happen
Click to expand...
Well, I suppose that's true for a short time frame. But, if you continue to use that account for several months, and the problem does not come back, you've isolated it to the other account.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ChromeCrescendo
Well, a moment ago, the weird Desktop folder just appeared again
When I click "Get Info" - nothing happens
I cannot move it to the Trash
Screenshots disappear and cannot be found in Spotlight

Time to reboot the machine and see if it goes away

Well, I clicked on "Restart" and it shut down completely - I had to press the power button to turn it back on
Also, I had previously made my desktop wallpaper the Login Screen wallpapers as well and this time it did not show up, instead, reverting to the standard Catalina login wallpaper

Not sure why this is happening
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back