Desktop files not allowing me to open by double clicking.

[jsymalone]

I want to open items on my desktop by double clicking it. I use to be able to do this, but now I have to open it from the file drop down menu. Do I have setting issues needing to be corrected?

 

[Kaveman]

have you done a full Apple Menu > Restart

 

[karazelle]

In case others come across this issue later, in your user folder/Library/Preferences folder is the file com.apple.desktop.plist that contains your desktop settings. Trashing it and rebooting the computer can often solve situations like these if nothing else helped.

Note that you will need to configure your desktop settings, colours, wallpapers and so forth again!

Lion note: You need to press Option/Alt and use the Go menu in Finder to see your Library folder.