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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 2154384 › how-to-resolve-location-is-not-available-error-for
How to Resolve "Location is Not Available" Error for OneDrive Folder - Microsoft Q&A
February 4, 2025 - If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again. If the location is on a network, make sure you're connected to the network or Internet, and then try again.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/windows › windows 10 can't detect desktop/documents folder
r/windows on Reddit: Windows 10 Can't Detect Desktop/Documents Folder
March 26, 2020 -

So I am getting this message from my other computer:

"E:\Documents is unavailable. If the location is on the PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again. If the location is on the network, make sure you're connected to the network or Internet, and then try again. If the location still can't be found, it might have been moved or deleted. "

What comes with this message is my being unable to see any icons on the desktop, as well as not having a Desktop folder located in the users folder. I've researched the problem on google, and found this site with 7 different things to try:

https://www.wintips.org/fix-windows-system32-config-systemprofile-desktop-is-unavailable-in-windows-10/

None of these fixes has worked though, and I'm at a standstill. I had some files that I cannot find or access now because of this problem, and I'm wondering if there are other ways to attempt to recover them aside from the above link.

The problem started today while I was cleaning my keyboard while it was plugged in and the computer was on. Sounds worse than it was - I was just wiping it down, and had the monitor in sight at all times - but there wasn't anything that happened aside from a random hotkey being pressed here or there causing some process to begin, but nothing crazy happened to where I was deleting files by any means. I can't be 100% that the problem occurred at this point, only that later today (well after I had cleaned the keyboard), I get on my computer and can't find any icons anywhere. I've tried the basic right click on the desktop > view > show desktop icons, and that's all good and right, and that's when I started looking into other options like what I pasted above.

The specs of the rig (if necessary) are as follows, but please let me know if you'll need more information:

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- Windows 10 Home

- AMD FX(tm)-4300 Quad-Core Processor

- 8GB RAM

- 64-bit OS, x64-based processor

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Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated, since I don't have a backup. I've read that this happens sometimes with Windows updates, and have tried restoring previous points to no avail. Everytime I start the computer, no matter what fix I try, I always end up with the same error message.

Thanks in advance.

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WinTips.org
wintips.org › home › fix: desktop is unavailable in windows 10. (solved)
FIX: Desktop is unavailable in Windows 10. (Solved) - WinTips.org
November 15, 2021 - If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again. If the location is on a network, make sure you’re connected to the network or Internet, and then try again.
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EaseUS
easeus.com › computer instruction › how to fix desktop refers to a location that is unavailable error
Look! How to Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable Error - EaseUS
December 12, 2025 - Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the Internet or your network, and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location."
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MiniTool
minitool.com › home › backup tips › fixed – system32configsystemprofiledesktop is unavailable
Best Fixes: system32configsystemprofileDesktop Is Unavailable
November 28, 2024 - The issue – C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop is unavailable may appear since the Windows update installation isn’t completed yet or it isn’t finished successfully. So, you can perform a system update manually. Create a bootable USB drive from ISO file by using Media Creation Tool. Insert the device and access it over the File Explorer by pressing Win + E. Double-click setup.exe. Choose Upgrade this PC now.
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Driver Easy
drivereasy.com › home › knowledge base › common errors › [solved] the c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop is unavailable error in windows 10/11
[Solved] The C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop is unavailable Error in Windows 10/11 - Driver Easy
September 29, 2025 - 7) Restart your PC to test your issue. If your issue persists, check Fix 4, below. 1) On your keyboard, press the Esc, Shift and Ctrl keys at the same time to open Task Manager. ... 3) Type cmd then check the box next to Create this task with administrative privileges and click OK. 4) Type cd c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile, then press Enter. ... Another fix to the “Location not unavailable” error is running Registry Editor.
Find elsewhere
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Tech Support Guy
techguy.org › home › forums › operating systems › windows 11
Location is not available | Tech Support Guy
After i changed my username in ... is unavailable. If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again....
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 3230592 › windows-update-causing-desktop-is-unavailable-erro
Windows update causing "desktop is unavailable" error - Microsoft Q&A
August 29, 2019 - If this location is on this PC, make sure that the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, then try again. If the location is on a network, make sure that you're connected to the network or internet, then try again.
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Box Support
support.box.com › hc › en-us › community › posts › 14642517596947-Box-Desktop-suddenly-unavailable
Box Desktop suddenly unavailable – Box Support
March 7, 2023 - If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again. If the location is on a network, make sure you're connected to the network or Internet, and then try again.
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Autodesk
autodesk.com › support › technical › article › caas › sfdcarticles › sfdcarticles › Location-is-not-available-displayed-when-Desktop-Connector-is-started.html
"Location is not available" displayed when Desktop Connector is started
When Desktop Connector is started, the following warning s displayed: Location is not available C:\Users\Username\DC\ACC Docs is unavailable. If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again.
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 2191691 › windows-10-tried-to-create-a-new-rule-in-firewall
Windows 10. Tried to create a new rule in firewall inbound and get location is not available error - Microsoft Q&A
January 7, 2025 - If the location is on PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc inserted, and try again. If the location is on a network, make sure you are connected to the network or internet, and try again.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/techsupport › i deleted microsoft onedrive and now i can't access my desktop
r/techsupport on Reddit: I deleted Microsoft OneDrive and now I can't access my desktop
February 8, 2019 -

I never liked one drive so I deleted it. Now when I open up my file explorer, I get the following error message:

Location is not available. C:\Users\marcu\OneDrive\Desktop is unavailable. If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted, and then try again. If the location is on a network, make sure you're connected to the network or Internet, and then try again.

I just want to be able to put files on my desktop again and stop seeing this error message every time I open my file explorer.