Hi, I’ve logged into my MacBook today and noticed that all my desktop files are missing. I’m not sure what happened as they were there yesterday. Has anyone experienced this and knows how to resolve it? I need these files for an important project. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Have you checked to see if your iCloud Drive is enabled and syncing your Desktop and Documents folders? Sometimes, files might look like they are missing if iCloud Drive is being used and there’s a sync issue. Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and see if it’s toggled on. If so, you might find your files there.
Another possibility could be a different user profile. Maybe you accidentally logged into a guest or secondary user account where the desktop would appear blank. Just double-check by going to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
If neither of these solutions helps, there might’ve been a system glitch or update that moved things around. You could try using Disk Drill to recover lost files. It’s a pretty solid tool for file recovery. There’s an independent review if you want more details: Independent Disk Drill Review.
Hope this helps! Let us know what you find.
Ugh, this just happened to me too last week. It’s so annoying. Sometimes, the files get moved if you accidentally switched your iCloud settings. Check your iCloud Drive options, it’s a known issue. Also, try Spotlight to see if they’re still on your Mac somewhere. I’ve had mixed luck with Disk Drill for Mac—drains your wallet but doesn’t always recover everything. Just make sure you’ve got a backup next time. Fingers crossed you find your stuff! 
Probably another one of those Apple issues. They always make such a big deal about their “seamless” experience, but things just disappear randomly. Check your iCloud settings. Sometimes files get moved to iCloud without warning if the desktop and documents option is enabled. Also, did you update your OS recently? That sometimes messes things up as well.
If you’re desperate, you might have to restore from a Time Machine backup, if you’ve been backing up. No backups? You could try using something like Disk Drill for Mac, but keep in mind it’s not magic. It’s pricey, and the results aren’t always perfect. Check out this article for more options: https://www.handyrecovery.com/best-data-recovery-software-for-mac/. Just don’t expect miracles.
