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Well, some things can't be explained. For example, my Desktop alias icons all got stacked on top of each other. I discovered this after a bit of trouble getting Show View Options to open for Finder. I changed Stack By back to None, and all was well.

I assume you're still using the original user account. I won't hurt to abandon that account, migrate to a new one and just use it. If after several months, these problems do not appear, then you will have forgotten you ever had them.
 
This is a tough one to diagnose because in order to figure out what is creating that folder, you will need to be able to reproduce the problem in a timely manner. Maybe look at what you have installed and running;
  • System Preferences->Users & Groups-><your user name>->Login Items
  • The files in your user account Library/LaunchAgents
  • Files in /Library/LaunchAgents
  • Files in /Library/LaunchDaemons
  • Look at what you have installed in the menubar
  • Look at what third party preferences you have installed in System Preferences
What application were you running when the folder appeared on your user account Desktop?
 
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This is a tough one to diagnose because in order to figure out what is creating that folder, you will need to be able to reproduce the problem in a timely manner. Maybe look at what you have installed and running;
  • System Preferences->Users & Groups-><your user name>->Login Items
  • The files in your user account Library/LaunchAgents
  • Files in /Library/LaunchAgents
  • Files in /Library/LaunchDaemons
  • Look at what you have installed in the menubar
  • Look at what third party preferences you have installed in System Preferences
What application were you running when the folder appeared on your user account Desktop?


Safari, iMessage, Music

there are no third-party preference panes
 
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That Desktop folder icon in the video looks like the standard user account Desktop folder icon.

Screen Shot 2020-09-21 at 11.23.37 AM.png
 
You might be able to tell which application has that open. Open the Terminal app and enter:
Bash:
lsof | grep Desktop

In the output, the first column will be the name of the command that is accessing the folder.
 
Last edited:
That Desktop folder icon in the video looks like the standard user account Desktop folder icon.

View attachment 956932
You might be able to tell which application has that open. Open the Terminal app and enter:
Bash:
lsof | grep Desktop

In the output, the first column will be the name of the command that is accessing the folder.


Just happened again - here is screen recording (I then restarted and screenshots taken while this Desktop folder was on the desktop appeared)

 
EDIT to add:

I apologize for missing @Taz Mangus 's suggestion upthread. You might get objective results using the command s/he recommends; my original post is/was speculation.

END EDIT

----------------------------------------

If you’re using the iCloud Drive Desktop and Documents feature, that’s something you could try troubleshooting. Perhaps there’s a lag in your network connection or a problem with your iCloud Drive account itself, etc. It uses the icon and label you’ve posted.


60582D6C-D10E-4418-9373-72DD0E07DFCE.jpeg

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206985
 
Last edited:
You might be able to tell which application has that open. Open the Terminal app and enter:
Bash:
lsof | grep Desktop

In the output, the first column will be the name of the command that is accessing the folder.



OK it just happened again and I entered the command in Terminal but I have no idea what I am looking at as there are like 200 lines of information

I took screenshots but, as long as the weird Desktop filed is on the desktop I cannot access any of the screenshots

Going to restart, which will cause the weird folder to disappear and my screenshots to appear and will then post them
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2020-11-22 at 6.05.09 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-11-22 at 6.05.09 PM.png
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  • Screen Shot 2020-11-22 at 6.05.33 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-11-22 at 6.05.33 PM.png
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Ok, you've tried all kinds of ways to find the problem so you can solve it. Why not try solving the problem and forgetting about knowing what it is? (I don't see any post saying you tested another or new User Account.)
 
Ok, you've tried all kinds of ways to find the problem so you can solve it. Why not try solving the problem and forgetting about knowing what it is? (I don't see any post saying you tested another or new User Account.)
Already suggested in post #3.
 
Ok, you've tried all kinds of ways to find the problem so you can solve it. Why not try solving the problem and forgetting about knowing what it is? (I don't see any post saying you tested another or new User Account.)

Already suggested in post #3.

Yes - I could do that But I never know when the issue is going to occur - I could try a new user account and a month or two could go by and, whether or not it happens in that time frame would not be conclusive as to whether or not my user account is somehow the issue
 
The next time the folder shows up do the following:
  1. Open a Finder window.
  2. Broowse to the Applications/Utilities folder.
  3. Double click on the Terminal application.
  4. In the Terminal window:
    • Enter: df​
    • Post the output shown in the Terminal window.​
  5. In the Terminal window:
    • Enter: cd ~​
    • Enter: ls -la Destop​
    • Post the output shown in the Terminal window.​
Suggest that you don't restart the computer when the folder shows up. This will allow more diagnosing to occur.
 
The next time the folder shows up do the following:
  1. Open a Finder window.
  2. Broowse to the Applications/Utilities folder.
  3. Double click on the Terminal application.
  4. In the Terminal window:
    • Enter: df​
    • Post the output shown in the Terminal window.​
  5. In the Terminal window:
    • Enter: cd ~​
    • Enter: ls -la Destop​
    • Post the output shown in the Terminal window.​
Suggest that you don't restart the computer when the folder shows up. This will allow more diagnosing to occur.

Will do - thanks
Did you see my earlier post?
 
Yes - I could do that But I never know when the issue is going to occur - I could try a new user account and a month or two could go by and, whether or not it happens in that time frame would not be conclusive as to whether or not my user account is somehow the issue
But, if you try that and the problem comes up right away, you've proven the opposite, and one thing has been eliminated as the culprit.

Post #3, yeah - see post #7
 
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