Cannot view the desktop in finder after double click Main SSD icon

[blackxacto]

19,1 iMac, Monterey 12.3.1

If I double-click the Main internal SSD Icon on desktop, the Finder opens a window. This Finder window shows the internal folders of the SSD. MY question is: At one time, didn't this Finder Window show the desktop, including external drives, any files on the desktop on the left col of the window? Did I turn this off somehow?

 

[chabig]

That view never showed the Desktop because those files don't exist at the root of your SSD. Your Desktop files are in a Desktop folder located in your Home directory. For ease of access, you can put the Desktop in your Finder Sidebar in Preferences > Sidebar.

 

[blackxacto]

Are you sure, my Documents folder is synced w iCloud. Maybe so, I just remember it being easier to go to desktop from finder windows. Perhaps I am wrong. Anyway, I stopped using Apple+Option+D for Dock, and changed it to open the Finder App. So I don’t have to navigate, just hit the keystroke. Thanks for your response.

 

[Diskutant]

yes, you closed the sidebar.
In menu "View" look for "show sidebar"

 

[DeltaMac]

You have the sidebar turned off on that folder.
Shortcut to toggle the sidebar is ctrl+cmd+s

 

[blackxacto]

Thanks guys. I turned it back on. Thank you very much. I thought man it’s on the finder window, why can’t I see it on all? Lol, saved me from having a gray moment, yuk embarrassing lol