Can't create any files/folders on Desktop -- Ubuntu-GNOME

Question

I am using ubuntu-GNOME 16.04.

I am not able to create any files/folders on my Desktop. I do have a ~/Desktop directory , but any files created inside that folder are not reflected on my Desktop.

mkdir ~/Desktop/abcd creates the folder abcd in my ~/Desktop as expected. But doesn't show up on my Desktop.

I don't even have a right-click menu option to create a file/folder on my Desktop.

How can I fix this?

Solution

You can configure for Gnome if the Desktop should show items/icons or not using several ways

Using gnome-tweak-tool

Install

sudo apt install gnome-tweak-tool

Should look somehow like that

Using gsettings from terminal

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

You might need to restart nautilus to finish the change

nautilus -q
nautilus

Comments

[You'reAGitForNotUsingGit]

I had a similar issue with my Pi running MATE. Don't remember how I fixed it though :(

[Severus Tux]

Wow! that was easy. But I still prefer command line. something like gsettings set org.Something related to this behaviour

[dufte]

You could test if gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background show-desktop-icons true works - i got no ubuntu/gnome box handy right now

[Severus Tux]

It works . Perfect! thankyou very much . That was the exact answer I was looking for. please add this method in your answer as it requires to tool :-)

[dufte]

I added the second method as well

[marcogmonteiro]

I don't think there's a need to restart nautilus.