Tahoe: Opened folders, now desktop littered with individual files. How to get items back into Yesterday, previous week, previous month, etc., etc., into original folders? How to close folders?
Mac mini, macOS 26.2
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
Yes, I have been using Time Machine, and I have iCloud. I will try returning to a previous time, Thank you.
I tried to restart in Safe mode, but holding down the power button shows 2 choices, one says Options but when I click it there's no Safe mode on the next screen.
Are these your files or are they folders with two characters like: A2, B5.....? If the latter, then it may be an issue with Spotify having its cache folder relocated to the Desktop. It's been a while since I've seen this occur, but a couple years ago, this was a somewhat common issue. See the following thread for an example and solution:
Random folders appear out of nowhere in D… - Apple Community
Well, you may be able to tell I'm a very old geezer, used Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard many, many years ago but that seemed simple at the time compared to all the options on Tahoe I don't even know what to do with.
I opened Time Machine, found a time before when I opened the folders, but the "Restore" button is dimmed. Only the Cancel button is available. I tried clicking on the earlier date page hoping the Restore would be activated but it was not. Consider me the greenest of Newbies with Tahoe.
No, names are Insurance, Old Desktop Stuff, Medical, simple stuff. To open the folders I double-clicked on them. I also lost all the Today, Yesterday, Last Week, Last Month folders somehow. I don't use Spotify, looked at the posting but I don't have any new apps other than a few different browsers to get into sites that reject some of mine.
Did you just enable iCloud for the Desktop and these are items being synced to this system from the cloud?
Or did you just enable iCloud on another device and those are being uploaded to iCloud then downloaded to this system? I don't use iCloud, so I can help there.
Are these your own files & folders you are seeing? If so, where are they normally located? Are they still located there?
Hi All,
I just found an answer by accident. By right-clicking on a opened folder icon, I saw an option to "Use Stacks". When I clicked on that, the folder closed and contents went back inside. I'm not sure how I got out of "Stacks" mode, but this worked. Now I have to google what "Stacks" mode is and how it works.
Thanks to all for your questions and answers.
ton_de_lay_o wrote:
Hi All,
I just found an answer by accident. By right-clicking on a opened folder icon, I saw an option to "Use Stacks". When I clicked on that, the folder closed and contents went back inside. I'm not sure how I got out of "Stacks" mode, but this worked. Now I have to google what "Stacks" mode is and how it works.
Thanks to all for your questions and answers.
You're welcome......we are glad you were able to figure it out. Great troubleshooting. We appreciate the follow up.
Tahoe: Opened folders on desktop, can't close.
