How to Restore Missing AOL Desktop Gold Icons and Favorites

One of the most common complaints after a Windows update or a software crash is the sudden disappearance of the AOL Desktop Gold icon or, more importantly, your saved Favorites. This 1,200-word guide explains how the software stores data and how to retrieve it even if it seems permanently lost.

The Mystery of the Vanishing Desktop Shortcut

When Windows updates, it occasionally refreshes the desktop environment, which can break the path to your software shortcuts. To fix this, do not reinstall immediately. Instead, go to your C:\Program Files (x86)\AOL Desktop Gold folder. Look for the file named AOLDesktopGold.exe (it will have the gold icon). Right-click it, select 'Send to', and choose 'Desktop (create shortcut)'. This restores the entry point to your software.

Restoring Favorites from the AOL Cloud

In 2025, AOL Desktop Gold uses a sophisticated cloud-syncing mechanism. Your Favorites are no longer stored solely on your hard drive; they are linked to your AOL Screen Name. If your Favorites are missing, the first step is to log out completely and sign back in. This forces the software to ping the AOL servers and download your 'Member Profile' data. If they still don't appear, check the 'Settings' menu and ensure that 'Sync Favorites' is toggled to the 'On' position.

Important: If you are migrating from an older version of AOL (like 9.8 or Desktop 10), you must use the 'Import' tool located under the 'Settings' tab to bring your old PFC (Personal Filing Cabinet) into the Gold environment.

Manual Recovery: Finding the PFC.db File

If you have lost your emails or contacts, you may need to dig into the local app data. Navigate to AppData\Local\AOL\Desktop Gold\AllUsers. Here, you will find database files with the .db extension. These files contain your local history. By copying these files to a secure backup location, you can ensure that even if the software is deleted, your 20 years of email history remains safe.