# Dell i3 laptop has no desktop folders or icons

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [May 26, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610 "2026-05-26T21:55:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/1 "2026-05-26T21:55:44Z")

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Hi folks, I am hoping someone can steer me. I’ve installed Budgie Desktop over the top of Ubuntu 24.04 and menus, taskbar etc working nicely, but I’ve got no folders or icons on the desktop. It is blank.

I tried various fixes from toggling icon display in settings to trying both lightdm and gdm3 as the desktop manager, but I just seem to get msg another desktop manager is already running. Most recently, I tried installing Gnome desktop extension but no joy.

I got my earlier problem sorted thanks to the help from here so I hope you guys can point me on this issue now. Thanks very much! Martin

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**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/2 "2026-05-27T03:14:48Z")

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hi @Natphilsoc!

Just a question: which Budgie packages have you installed?

`apt list budgie* | grep installed`

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**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 5:24am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/3 "2026-05-27T05:24:42Z")

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Hi @jlb Great, thanks. The packages I have got listed are:

budgie-applications-menu-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-appmenu-applet/noble,now 0.7.6+dfsg1-4build4 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-backgrounds/noble,noble,now 3.0-1 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-control-center-data/noble,noble,now 1.4.0-2build3 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-control-center/noble,now 1.4.0-2build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-core/noble,now 10.9.1-3ubuntu4 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-desktop/noble,noble,now 10.9.1-3ubuntu4 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-dropby-applet/noble,noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-extras-common/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-extras-daemon/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-hotcorners-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-indicator-applet/noble,now 0.7.2-3build2 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-keyboard-autoswitch-applet/noble,noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-lightdm-theme-base/noble,noble,now 0.19.0 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-lightdm-theme/noble,noble,now 0.19.0 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-network-manager-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-previews/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-quicknote-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-recentlyused-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-rotation-lock-applet/noble,noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-session/noble-updates,now 0.9.1-1ubuntu1 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-showtime-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-trash-applet/noble,noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-visualspace-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-wallpapers-noble/noble,noble,now 24.04 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-wallpapers/noble,noble,now 24.04 all [installed,automatic]  
budgie-weathershow-applet/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]  
budgie-window-shuffler/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]

Martin

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 5:47am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/4 "2026-05-27T05:47:20Z")

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Here’s what I have on my Ubuntu Budgie 24.04:

```auto
apt list budgie* | grep installé | grep -v applet

budgie-backgrounds/noble,noble,now 3.0-1 all [installé]
* budgie-browser-profile-launcher/noble,now 2.1.2-0ubuntu1+build1~groovy amd64 [installé]
budgie-control-center-data/now 1.4.0+202408121747~ubuntu24.04.1 all [installé, local]
budgie-control-center/now 1.4.0+202408121747~ubuntu24.04.1 amd64 [installé, local]
budgie-core/noble,now 10.9.1-3ubuntu4 amd64 [installé, automatique]
* budgie-desktop-environment/noble,noble,now 0.20.13 all [installé]
budgie-desktop/noble,noble,now 10.9.1-3ubuntu4 all [installé]
budgie-extras-common/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installé, automatique]
budgie-extras-daemon/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installé]
budgie-lightdm-theme-base/noble,noble,now 0.19.0 all [installé, automatique]
budgie-lightdm-theme/noble,noble,now 0.19.0 all [installé]
budgie-previews/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installé]
* budgie-quickchar/noble,noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 all [installé]
budgie-session/noble-updates,now 0.9.1-1ubuntu1 amd64 [installé, automatique]
budgie-wallpapers-noble/noble,noble,now 24.04 all [installé, automatique]
budgie-wallpapers/noble,noble,now 24.04 all [installé]
budgie-window-shuffler/noble,now 1.8.0-1build3 amd64 [installé]

```

The package that seems to make the difference is budgie-desktop-environment.  
Install it and see what happens.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 7:59am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/5 "2026-05-27T07:59:38Z")

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Thanks @jlb, I’ve done that and it is appearing in my package listing now, but the desktop files and folders are still not showing up. I did get an error on the install due to very old package conflict as happened on my last install of budgie, but I just removed the very old package like last time. Maybe I need to live with it as there are no errors to clue us in? Many thanks, Martin.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 8:04am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/6 "2026-05-27T08:04:37Z")

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Remember to logout and login. Desktop icons is provided by nemo-desktop - you need to have nemo installed. To enable it look at budgie-desktop-settings - and ensure that the desktop icons toggle is ticked.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/7 "2026-05-27T08:57:34Z")

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Thanks @fossfreedom Yep, I believe Nemo is installed as `sudo apt install nemo gives nothing to do. I've done the logout alongside a full restart but no change.`Ah ha! And I just tried toggling the desktop icons and lo and behold they appear! Terrific, thanks a million @fossfreedom and @jlb both! 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/8 "2026-05-28T20:03:33Z")

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Hhmm! This is disappointing. After a restart the desktop has gone back to blank again. No error and nothing I can think of to try brings back the icons and folders. Is it practical to reopen the problem please?

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**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/9 "2026-05-29T03:51:26Z")

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Good grief… 🙄

We’re assuming that Nemo is already installed:

`apt list nemo`

  

Which file manager opens when you enter this command: Nautilus or Nemo?

`xdg-open ~`

  

If it’s Nautilus, enter this command to prevent it from managing the display of desktop icons:

`gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background show-desktop-icons false`

Then enter this one to switch to nemo-desktop:

`xdg-mime default nemo.desktop inode/directory application/x-gnome-saved-search`

Then reboot.

  

If the icons still don’t appear, enter this command:

`gsettings set org.nemo.desktop show-desktop-icons true`

That should do the trick.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/10 "2026-05-29T04:43:17Z")

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Thanks again @jlb . Yes, Nemo is installed OK and it is Nemo not Nautilus that opens OK. I applied the gsettings command, then the usual things:logout, which gives no change, reboot which gives no change, finally toggle the icons on/off in budgie, but even that still gives no change.

Sorry, good grief is right! 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/11 "2026-05-29T05:02:22Z")

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Perhaps I should completely uninstall and reinstall budgie from scratch? Just to check I did not manage to do something silly then that is making it go screwy now?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/12 "2026-05-29T05:27:33Z")

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Too bad…

To be honest, I also tried installing Budgie on Ubuntu 24.04.

But I found the result to be very disappointing in the end, just like on other distributions that offer Budgie: I only keep an Arch Budgie system to follow the desktop’s developments as closely as possible.

I’m pretty sure that’s where your problem stems from.

Is there a specific reason why you simply don’t install Ubuntu Budgie?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:12am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/13 "2026-05-29T07:12:35Z")

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> [@jlb](#):
>
> closely

No, not really, just lack of confidence as I really don’t want to lose my existing user data.

Can you point me to a URL with trustworthy instructions for a step-by-step. I agree it would be good to try that next.

Many thanks @jlb

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/14 "2026-05-29T14:53:02Z")

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But you know, @Natphilsoc Ubuntu Budgie combines the security of Ubuntu with Budgie already built in, plus all sorts of handy widgets that Solus’s vanilla Budgie doesn’t have — not to mention its relative lightness compared to the GNOME desktop that Ubuntu includes, which makes it possible to run Ubuntu Budgie on older computers or those with somewhat limited specs.

Arch Linux is reliable, but its bleeding-edge nature can cause a few minor issues.

I didn’t install it via the terminal, but using this installer — so I won’t be showing off by casually mentioning, “BTW, I use Arch”. 😅

  

> **[Calam-Arch-Installer.iso](https://sourceforge.net/projects/blue-arch-installer/)**
>
> Download Calam-Arch-Installer.iso for free. Current Release: Calam-Arch-Installer-2026-05 Kernel: 7.0.3. Now you can easily install pure arch linux from my Arch Live Linux with Calam-Arch-Installer through video instructions, following the steps....

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Natphilsoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Natphilsoc](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Natphilsoc)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/15 "2026-05-29T21:51:33Z")

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Understood. Many thanks @jlb . I will drop back to Gnome to see my icons and then plan the Budgie install for the next step. Great to get your help with this. All best wishes, Martin.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yellowsnakes](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/yellowsnakes/32/4696_2.png) [@yellowsnakes](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/yellowsnakes)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/16 "2026-06-02T21:50:35Z")

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> [@jlb](#):
>
> `apt list nemo`

was wondering how would I get list output in a /Budgie\_applist.txt file

tried this . . .

apt list budgie\* | grep installed | gedit /Budgie\_applist.txt

got a file but was empty 😅

regards

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 3:48am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/17 "2026-06-03T03:48:25Z")

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Hi @yellowsnakes!

Yes you can, but you may not pipe the output to gedit — it’s a separate step. You first need to create the file by redirecting the terminal output.

Try this command, to which I’ve added a little extra to hide the warning:

`apt list budgie* 2> /dev/null | grep install > ~/Desktop/Budgie_applist.txt; gedit ~/Desktop/Budgie_applist.txt`

Cheers!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yellowsnakes](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/yellowsnakes/32/4696_2.png) [@yellowsnakes](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/yellowsnakes)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 5:52am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/dell-i3-laptop-has-no-desktop-folders-or-icons/8610/18 "2026-06-03T05:52:10Z")

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thank you for your help

have a nice day 🙂