Score:0

There are files on my Desktop, but none are listed in Ubuntu

in flag

I am new to Ubuntu.

I just installed it and want to use it to open a file on my Desktop. I navigated to /home/username/Desktop in the terminal, but no files appear. It's the same with all other folders that show up in home/username. Downloads, Documents, Music, Pictures, etc. are all completely empty, despite me being able to see the files on my desktop and elsewhere when no using the terminal. Using ls -a does not reveal any hidden folders or files.

Any ideas why this is happening?

ChanganAuto avatar
us flag
Maybe a dumb question but... "username" is a placeholder, isn't it? Instead you actually entered your user, right?
in flag
yes, 'username' is a placeholder, my username is my actual name so I withheld it. Not a dumb q, I'm sure that's a pretty common mistake
kanehekili avatar
zw flag
If you are seeing these files in your "nemo file explorer" what happens if you select "Open in Terminal" via the context menu? Which path is shown in the terminal (like with `pwd`) ?
Nmath avatar
ng flag
If you just installed Ubuntu, there shouldn't be any files on your desktop. What file are you trying to open and how did it get there?
in flag
Kanehekili, I don't have an 'open in terminal' option. pwd shows home/username/Desktop Nmath, how do I navigate to the desktop on my computer with files if home/usernmae/Desktop in Ubuntu has nothing? I thought they were the same thing, but I am new
Paul avatar
us flag
Did you try right-clicking on the target directory?
in flag
Paul, yes, it prompts me to open the file with other programs but not in the terminal
Paul avatar
us flag
That is for files. What about on a directory?
mook765 avatar
cn flag
In a fresh installed system these folders should indeed be empty.
in flag
if these folders should be empty, then how do I access the files on my desktop through the terminal?
Paul avatar
us flag
In Nemo from `/home/username/`, where you see the directories in the main pane, you can right-click `Desktop` and the option 'Open in Terminal' will be in the context menu.
Paul avatar
us flag
Without further details, it is not possible to fix this problem.
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