Desktop Explorer Walkthrough – Puzzle & Achievement Guide

If you’re playing Desktop Explorer, you’ve probably already realized this isn’t the kind of puzzle game where every answer is sitting right in front of you. The game expects you to experiment, inspect files, rename things, open source code, and sometimes think like you’re actually using an operating system rather than playing a game.

That’s honestly what makes it so good.

When I was working through the game, there were plenty of moments where I only needed a small push instead of a full solution. Other times I completely missed a hidden interaction that turned out to be essential. So instead of making a guide that immediately spoils every puzzle, this walkthrough starts with hints first, followed by the complete answer whenever you need it.

Desktop Explorer Walkthrough – Puzzle & Achievement Guide

There are a few mechanics the game expects you to use constantly.

Keep these in mind throughout the entire game.

• Always inspect Source Code. Many puzzles hide clues inside HTML or markdown rather than the files themselves.
• Open every WebSurfer page you can access. Besides helping with puzzles, they also count toward the WebSurfer achievement.
• Experiment with files freely. Rename them, change extensions, compress them, duplicate them, delete them if possible—the game usually prevents anything that would permanently break progression.
• Whenever you see the 📑 symbol in this guide, there’s a Chronolog available in that section.

Part 1 – Halibut

The Cave

The Cave introduces many mechanics you’ll use throughout the rest of the game.

One important tip: keep track of every password you discover. Several later puzzles reference passwords you’ve already entered.

Puzzle Passwords

Puzzle	Password
Puzzle 0	fortuna
Puzzle 1	Inanna
Puzzle 2	Elephas 📑
Puzzle 3	Salve
Puzzle 4	portonus
Puzzle 5	mmtt 📑
Puzzle 6	Kassandra
Puzzle 9 (Altar Entrance)	Rubicon

Puzzle 4 Hint

The broken file isn’t actually broken.

Try changing its file extension.

Puzzle 10

This is the first larger puzzle in the game.

Hint 1

You’ll need three stones before progressing.

Look for them in Puzzle 6 and Puzzle 8.

Hint 2

Try stacking images on top of one another.

Hint 3

Use your Lens on something inside the room.

The mural contains several colored passwords.

Solution

Passwords:

• crocodile
• 14
• fire
• Walleye

Missable Achievement – This Is Not Your Computer

Instead of entering Walleye, type:

father

The Temple

Temple Entrance

Password:

Shai

Podium Chamber

Each route uses the chamber name as its password.

Path 1

Password:

Anubis

Heart & Feather Puzzle

Hint 1

Don’t forget you can edit files.

Hint 2

Think about compressing and multiplying files.

Also remember to use your Lens.

Solution

• Compress the Heart.
• Duplicate it until there are four Hearts (120 KB total).
• Unpack the Feather until it also weighs 120 KB.

The password revealed at the bottom becomes:

Ammit

Locked Jaw

Hint 1

Look carefully at left_wall.

It references previous passwords.

Hint 2

Open the source code of Following_a_voice.

Solution

Replace:

ABRACADABRA

with

INANNA

Part 2 Puzzle

Hint 1

Make sure you’ve collected all five passwords.

Hint 2

Numbers represent letters.

Solution

Sekhetaaru

The reward hints at a hidden treasure elsewhere.

Path 2 – Thoth

Hall of Mirrors

Hint 1

The Lens reveals the correct path.

Hint 2

Open both image fragments beside one another.

Alternative Solution

Duplicating one map fragment also works.

Password

Use the Color Lens.

Password:

5267

📑 Chronolog available.

Hourglass Puzzle

This is one of the trickiest puzzles in the game.

You’ll need:

• Archaeologist Notes
• Hourglass
• Lens
• Clock

Hint 1

Check every file carefully.

Hint 2

The red face appears when the clock shows 12.

Its value becomes 48.

What operation turns 12 into 48?

Puzzle Logic

Multiply the current clock time by the value shown on the Hourglass.

Examples:

• Red Eye = 18
• Red Feather = 35
• Blue Moon = 4
• Scepters = 10

Solution

Final answer:

67

Treasure Puzzle

Give the Ore time.

Simply advance the system several years.

Path 3 – Ra

Hint 1

Inspect the picture using your Lens.

Hint 2

Sort files by weight.

Hint 3

Duplicate the heaviest file.

Solution

Repair burningCoal36 by adding the .img extension.

Duplicate it three times.

Open your Hand item to burn it.

Password:

Sahmat

Tomb Site

📑 Chronolog available.

Hint 1

Repair the damaged file.

Try different extensions.

Hint 2

The three servants represent three programs.

Hint 3

The corpse image spells the correct phrase.

Each Help window provides one step.

Hint 4

Open Source Code.

Look for the <phrase> section.

Solution

Insert:

WE ARE INCOMPLETE WITHOUT YOU

Talk to Pizarro.

Compress then uncompress the file.

Password:

Merneith

Continue Progress

Open all three Treasure files.

Place them over the Scarab Podium image.

Part 2 – Maxine (NextRoom F1)

Password Hints

You’ll need these Chronolog passwords.

• stegosaurus
• Cascadia
• Faiza

Accessing Desktop Explorer

Hint 1

Chronolog entries and downloaded pictures both contain clues.

Hint 2

Although the internet appears offline, browser links still work.

Solution

Open:

fridgemagnets.com/posts/m4x1mus/06-07-96

The page hints that the password uses initials.

Password:

power

Desktop Explorer Login

One puzzle requires patience instead of interaction.

Simply leave everything untouched.

Eventually the screensaver activates.

Maze Hint

The colorful diamond flips the maze upside down.

Login

Username:

The_Max

Password:

sweaters123

NextRooms Floor 1

Access Mall

The nearby computer contains the Kojami code.

Kojami Code

North → West → South → East → South → West

Mall Floor 1

Important collectibles:

• Blood pool photo
• Coin
• Rabbit.skt
• Chronolog near Janitor entrance

Power Puzzle

Connect the red and green lines while allowing the blue connection to pass between them.

Bee-Kind

You’ll need:

• Kamarena’s conversation
• Store videos

Questions 1–3

Watch the videos.

Every answer appears inside them.

Question 4

Arrange the movies by emotional progression:

• Happy family
• Divorce
• Death

Answers

• TheSweaters
• zombie
• red
• PineappleSummer

Installation Wizard

Required items:

• Fortune Ticket
• Rabbit Puzzle
• Card Deck

Hint

Those fortune numbers aren’t random.

Draw symbols inside the Rabbit Puzzle.

Solution

You’ll obtain:

• 6♦
• J♥
• 3♠

Rename files:

• 6D
• JH
• 3S

Password:

cronos

Pet Store

This room contains a surprising number of interactions.

Hint 1

Inspect absolutely everything.

Hint 2

The cash register password relates to fish.

Check the Aquarium source code.

Hint 3

CJ provides the reptile order.

Hint 4

Clean only the correct terrariums.

Hint 5

Stay still.

The correct screensaver appears faster.

Count the fish stripes.

Password

3142

Achievement – Neat Freak

Completely clean one terrarium window.

After Completing the Three Stores

Inspect the photographs.

Follow the GameBagels link.

User:

HAZEL82

Maze Route

East → South → East → North → East → South

Wormhole 2 / Paint Store

You’ll need:

• TV display
• 8-ball.img
• Paint Store

Hint 1

Count spaceship corners.

Hint 2

The 8 Ball provides mathematical modifiers.

Hint 3

The bottom-middle object is a cube.

The final 3×3 grid becomes:

8 1 6
3 5 7
4 9 2

Overlay it onto the strange painting.

Painting Passwords

• 896
• 712
• 354

Second Power

Start with the Purple circuit.

It’s generally considered the most difficult.

NextRooms Floor 2

Achievement – Muralist

Paint on the mural.

Arcade

Arcade Card

Password location:

Janitor Locker (Floor 1)

Password:

0321

More Tickets

Tickets are simply files.

Think about what can be done with files.

Achievements

• Sold Out
• Can I Pet Her?

Vendor

You’ll need:

• Prize instructions
• Trash Storyteller hint
• Spare change

Solution

Mine Sniffer coordinates:

• B4
• I7
• G3
• C8
• J5

Required amount:

$3.75

Coins remain editable files.

Secret Room

Find the wall marked with the Water symbol.

Use the Lens.

Arrange emotions as:

• Blissful set
• Wrath set
• Grief set
• Grief eyes + Bliss mouth

Photo Studio

By now you should have:

• Three numbered photographs
• Nonogram instructions

Arrange them around the frame.

Mannequin 1

Correct outfit:

• Fedora
• Green Shirt
• Blue Tie

Achievement – I Am the Law

Dress the mannequin with:

• Guard Hat
• Purple Shirt
• Blue Tie

Do this before solving the final mannequin puzzle.

Crime Scene Mannequin

Hint

Compare every witness statement.

Some trial and error is required.

Solution

• Blue Shirt
• Green Tie
• Glasses

Photo Order Puzzle

Rename and arrange the photographs like this:

camera | paint | candies
aquarium | crime | magic
emotions | arcade | video

Part 3 – Admin

Unlock Desktop Explorer

First unlock:

de_analysis.nsh

Hint

Use the Terminal.

Solution

Commands:

chrono restore
memories/12-09-1995.res

The restored Chronolog contains the password.

Completionist Achievement – Clever Girl

In the Terminal type:

Uninstall DesktopExplorer

de_analysis Password

Run diagnostics.

Hint

Downloads contains an important picture.

Hidden files contain the encryption key.

Solution

Password:

TAROCCHI

Tower

Entrance

Study both the tablet and the moon.

Orb Puzzle

Hint

Remember the classic riddle.

Four legs.

Two legs.

Three legs.

Solution

• LOOK at the right orb.
• TOUCH the left orb.
• TOUCH the middle orb.

Portrait Puzzle

Use Storyblock to create a Hand window.

Commands:

• FEEL FLOOR
• Continue entering the yellow emotion words.

Tower Summit

Walk around.

Interact with everything.

📑 The center object unlocks another Chronolog.

Part 4 – Guppy

The game lets you explore freely, but following this order makes progression much smoother.

Halibut – Memory Lane

Hint

Convert Underwater Ruins into an image.

Stretch the faded instructions.

Use the colored lenses.

Solution

Directions:

Left → Right → Left → Down → Left → Right → Down

What Is Left

Background pictures contain every clue.

Passwords

• bigcatch
• dontforget
• anglertrio

Admin Chessboard

Interact with everything first.

A Pawn appears inside Maxine’s inventory.

Place it before the mirror.

Chess Puzzle

Hint

Read the book.

Study King’s Demise.

Duplicate missing pieces.

Solution

• King – B1
• Knights – B2, C2
• Rooks – C1, A3
• Pawn – A2

Achievement – Power to the People

Duplicate several white pawns.

Maxine Ship

Open the Source Code.

Replace the magic word with:

Inanna

Next, visit Halibut’s recycle bin to collect the newly unlocked item.

At this point you’ll have every required item to finish the game.

Achievement Guide

Story Achievements

These unlock naturally:

• Fortuna
• Merneith
• What a Thrill
• Sol Plaza
• The Tower
• Desktop Detective
• Desktop Explorer

Achievements Available Throughout the Game

• I Like Your Style! – Change the wallpaper.
• Taking Notes – Create and save an .npg file.
• Screen Time – Watch screensavers for 10 minutes.
• Masterpiece – Create and save a Sketchy file.
• Lore Master – Read every available Chronolog.
• Example Quest – Find and solve the hidden file inside Halibut’s Desktop Explorer folder.
• WebSurfer – Open every website and subpage, including Chronolog links.
• Kojami Code – Enter the Kojami Code from the main menu.

Missable & Location-Specific Achievements

• This Is Not Your Computer – Enter father during Puzzle 10 instead of Walleye.
• Muralist – Paint on the mural in NextRooms Floor 2.
• Sold Out – Purchase every Arcade prize.
• Can I Pet Her? – Pet the dog in Mine Sniffer.
• Neat Freak – Fully clean one terrarium window.
• I Am the Law – Dress the mannequin with a Guard Hat, Purple Shirt, and Blue Tie before solving the final mannequin puzzle.
• Power to the People – Duplicate several white pawns.
• Clever Girl – Type Uninstall DesktopExplorer in the nOS Terminal.

This completes every major puzzle, password, collectible, Chronolog location, and achievement currently available in Desktop Explorer, making it a complete reference whether you’re looking for a gentle hint or the full solution.