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It used to work until yesterday at least, and I think it happened after installing and running a virtual machine through Virtualbox. Pretty much the whole desktop is idle and unusable. I don't mind this, as I don't usually use the desktop to store files or folders on it, but I am curious what I did and how it can be reversed or intentionally brought to this state.

At some point icons disappeared, can't be added, I can't left click + hold to select anything, and the right click menu doesn't give me anything but the 3 options seen on the screenshot. The right click menu works fine when I am in folders though.

enter image description here

Svetoslav Antonov
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5 Answers5

7

I also have the same issue. In my case reinstalling the ubuntu desktop worked.

sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop

After running this, restart the system.

Jatin Gupta
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  • After installing the sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop you might need to enable the extensions from the extension manager. If you cannot see the desktop icons option in the list, try installing gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng using the command sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng and enabling it from the extensions. – malin8a Sep 01 '22 at 20:45
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    Or use sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop-minimal if you have installed minimal version. – Jurakin Apr 08 '23 at 10:12
2

In my case it was probably related to the fuse package that I have installed manually to allow a third party app to work (kDrive from Infomaniak). Reinstalling ubuntu-desktop replaced fuse with fuse3 and now all is working. After a reboot all my Desktop icons are here.

BeastOfCaerbannog
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Gufone
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1

I also faced the same problem. You may follow this:

Using synaptic package manager you can search whether there is ubuntu-desktop package in your system.

You can install that package using the same app (Synaptic). Install it.

Then restart the system. Everything will be OK.

......... I could fix the problem this way.

A.G.
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1

I faced the same issue and I just ran the below command:

sudo systemctl restart gdm3

This command will refresh your desktop UI service. It works for me.

Suhas Shinde
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0

Restarting didn't fix this, but shutting the pc off, and then on again did fix it...

Svetoslav Antonov
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