[Fix] Desktop or Other Apps Tile Missing on Start Screen in Windows 8 and Later, Can’t Add from All Apps Page

Start Screen in Windows 8 is one of the most impressive things (for some people) and at the same time one of the most irritating things (for many people) present in the OS. Start Screen works like a replacement for the good old Start Menu. It shows big tiles of programs in form of a grid. You can add new tiles or remove existing tiles to customize Start Screen appearance. You can check out following tutorial to learn more about Windows 8 Start Screen if you are not familiar with it:

[Windows 8 Start Screen] How to Pin, Resize, Move, Close or Uninstall App Tiles?

Windows 8 also shows all program shortcuts in a new “All Apps” page which is actually a part of the new Start Screen. If you removed a shortcut accidentally or if you want to restore a removed shortcut, you can go to this “All Apps” page and can pin or add the shortcut again to Start Screen as mentioned in point 2 of this guide.

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But sometimes Windows 8 users face a strange problem. Actually Windows 8 Start Screen shows a rectangle tile of Desktop which allows you to switch to Desktop from Start Screen. Due to some unknown reasons, sometimes Desktop tile gets deleted from Windows 8 Start Screen.

Desktop_Tile_Missing_Windows_8_Start_Screen.png

If the user tries to add it using All Apps page by pressing Ctrl+Tab keys, it doesn’t show in the list as shown in following screenshot:

Desktop_Shortcut_Missing_Apps_List.png

It becomes quite irritating and there is no way to add the Desktop tile back to Start Screen. The reason behind this strange problem is unknown but I have seen this problem in a few computers. In fact I have received few emails from AskVG readers regarding this annoying problem. It might be possible that some 3rd party software removed the tile or may be temporary files cleaning software such as CCleaner removed the shortcut? But the real reason is still unknown. Anyway lets move to the solution of this problem!

Actually Desktop tile shown at Start Screen is a special type of shortcut which is present in “Programs” folder and if the shortcut gets deleted from the folder, it also disappears from Start Screen and you’ll not find it in “All Apps” page as well.

Desktop_Shortcut_Missing_Programs_Folder.png

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To restore Desktop tile at Start Screen, you just need to copy Desktop shortcut in “Programs” folder again and it’ll reappear at Start Screen.

If you are also facing Desktop tile missing in Windows 8 Start Screen problem, you can follow these simple steps to fix the problem:

SOLUTION 1:

1. Press “Win+R” keys together to open RUN dialog box. Now copy following string in text box and press Enter:

%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

It’ll open “Programs” folder containing various shortcuts which are shown at Start Screen or “All Apps” page.

2. Now download Desktop tile shortcut using following link:

Download Desktop Tile for Windows 8 Start Screen

Its a ZIP file, extract it and you’ll find a file “Desktop” in the extracted folder.

3. Copy “Desktop” file from the extracted folder and paste it in the “Programs” folder which you opened using step 1.

Desktop_Shortcut_Copied_Programs_Folder.png

4. That’s it. As soon as you copy the shortcut, Desktop tile will be re-added automatically to Start Screen. If you still don’t see the tile, you can re-pin it using “All Apps” page. Now it’ll appear on that page.

Desktop_Tile_Added_Windows_8_Start_Screen.png

SOLUTION 2:

If above mentioned solution doesn’t work for you, try following solution:

1. Press “Win+R” keys together to open RUN dialog box. Now copy following string in text box and press Enter:

%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\

It’ll open “Windows” folder which contains many other sub-folders inside it.

2. Now take ownership of “Start Menu” folder.

Check out following tutorials to learn about taking ownership of a file or folder in Windows:

That’s it. It’ll fix the problem.

Have you faced this problem in Windows 8? Feel free to share your experience about Windows 8 in your comment…

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. thank you so much. Here is what i think caused it to happen to me: i was modding a game i downloaded from steam (it was not illegal) and then the game crashed and brought me back to the start screen. I then noticed the icon for the desktop was gone and it might be because that’s where the game was open when it crashed(?). i didn’t open the game up, i just went strait to google to find out how to fix the problem and this site fixed it so thanks! (and don’t mod games kids)

  2. i read this complete article ..but the solution provided in this link ddint work for me.. after updating my os from windows 8 to 8.1, nothing i shown in start screen.. not even desktop short cut key!!!

    info: i bought this laptop in germany with german key board and now changed the language to English..does it make any issue?

  3. really..i ws having so much trouble without that “DESKTOP” tile
    now its totally solved thanks a lot……

  4. I also read this complete article but it did’nt worked for me………… what i have to do now i was really upset help me………..

  5. And there is no apps on my screen even a user namer name of mine. I can just see a blank screen when i start my pc.
    INFO- I just added a new toolbar on my pc does it make any issue regarding this.

  6. Please can i get an info on this… when i start up my pc and i put my password in the login page as required, i find out that my start screen is empty, its just all blue, then i right click so as to click the “All apps” button n there is nothing there too, after reading this article i ran %programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, and i saw all the folders n shortcuts there. but they dont show on my start screen, what do i do please?

  7. ^^ As I earlier suggested try to create a new user account. If it doesnt work, you can try to repair Windows using setup disc.

  8. Its not working in my hp….
    please suggest some more solutions so that I can bring my start menu tiles back.

  9. I was so embarrassed when i had seen missing desktop icon in start menu…this article let me find it out the solution. Thank you very much askVG.com

  10. hello ther .. i really need a help .aafter updating my vaio laptop all ….each and every shortcut tiles gone missing from start up scrren .. it just show nothing .. plz help

  11. Thank you for the tip! I finally got the desktop tile back, it had frustrated me forever on my laptop!

  12. My Desktop And OneDrive Icons Are Missing. Where I Can Restore Those From? I’m Using Windows 8.1.

  13. This method restore my Desktop icon. Can you upload the OneDrive.ink as well. Please?

  14. This probably works fine for programs, but it does not work for apps. To say that I’m frustrated is an understatement.

  15. thankyou so much step one fixed the problem, Why did my apps disappear?????? I was definately loosing it!!!! Thank you Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) will google you and find more of your articles….

  16. Looks fine, except that it doesn’t seem to work for me.
    Problem occurs at this point:
    “2. Now download Desktop tile shortcut using following link:
    Download Desktop Tile for Windows 8 Start Screen
    Its a ZIP file, extract it and you’ll find a file “Desktop” in the extracted folder.”
    I can download but on extraction I get an error message
    “cannot open output file”
    Suggestions?
    Thank you

  17. I would be very thankful if you could explain why I can’t extract the Desktop Tile shortcut after downloading the ZIP file with the link you gave. What I get when I try to extract the contents of the ZIP file is: “can not open output file”

  18. i cannot COPY the desktop file referred to in solution 1 right click on that highlighter file gives many choices but none are copy and control c does not copy it also so i cannot past in in the programs folder. what am i doing wrong? here are your instructions :

    Download Desktop Tile for Windows 8 Start Screen

    Its a ZIP file, extract it and you’ll find a file “Desktop” in the extracted folder.

    3. Copy “Desktop” file from the extracted folder and paste it in the “Programs” folder

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