Last night when I shut my laptop (not turned off) for the night, everything was alright…it was at 22% battery so I let it be and went to bed. Morning I put it for charging and turned it on to check my emails. Find out that a whole bunch of app icons are missing from my dock.
So of course I go back to the Apps folder and set them up again manually. But why did that happen? Did I click on something by mistake? I for sure didn’t them drop in trash.
Re: How did this happen?
There was a ghost in your room. 
Sometime when you turn off your laptop , the message appears “Windows are preparing/Installing”. May be, the changes were made after that process automatically?
I don’t know much.
Re: How did this happen?
I don't turn off my laptop, just exit the apps and shut the cover.
I don't have Windows.
Yes the jinn is the only possible explanation at this point :D
Re: How did this happen?
There are multiple desktop instances in Mac, used to be called spaces. If you slide into a different desktop the icons may change.
To add desktops open "Mission Control" (icon should be in the Dock or else through Launchpad) and move your mouse to the upper-right hand corner. A faint '+' sign will appear allowing you to create an additional virtual desktop. You'd see the desktops on the top of the screen when in Mission Control. When you add the new one you'd see it slide in from the right.
To delete desktops go back in Mission Control and hover your mouse over the desktop and click on the X on its top left corner.
...or maybe it WAS a ghost. :)
Re: How did this happen?
There are multiple desktop instances in Mac, used to be called spaces. If you slide into a different desktop the icons may change.
To add desktops open "Mission Control" (icon should be in the Dock or else through Launchpad) and move your mouse to the upper-right hand corner. A faint '+' sign will appear allowing you to create an additional virtual desktop. You'd see the desktops on the top of the screen when in Mission Control. When you add the new one you'd see it slide in from the right.
To delete desktops go back in Mission Control and hover your mouse over the desktop and click on the X on its top left corner.
...or maybe it WAS a ghost. :)
I had forgotten about this thread. But just a few days ago this happened again. And what you said above is indeed what I realized I was doing. I've been slidin'!!
I've always been confused about mission control and it's role. I'm getting all used to it now. Thank you for the explanation.