Desktop has many more items than Desktop folder

[PabloAK]

I have searched high and low over the years and no hits on this. I have 34 icons on my Desktop but only 14 in my Desktop folder under my user. I bet it is something very simple but no search has ever addressed this scenario. I am using a Microsoft SP3 on Win 10 ver 1809 today. I cannot fully back up my Desktop as the folder is missing more than half of the items.

 

[dacone1]

Have a look at c:\Users folder. you should see different users like "Default User" and "Public".
I think the missing items in your folder are being imported from the "Desktop" folder within the "Public" user.

 

[Ryujingt3]

What are the missing icons? Can we start there? There may be a common link.