MiniGames UK

Desktop Explorer completion guide

Desktop Explorer achievements and missables

Reviewed 25 July 202623 Steam achievementsFull spoilers

Most important warning: enter father during the final Cave security question before submitting the accepted answer, finish every optional Max/NextRooms task before the corkboard ending, and create exactly six white pawns during the late chessboard scene.

One-playthrough 100% roadmap

  1. At the title screen, enter the Kojami Code: Up, Left, Down, Right, Down, Left.
  2. On an early desktop, change the wallpaper, create and save a Notepage file, create and save a Sketchy file, and spend ten cumulative minutes in screen savers.
  3. On Halibut, open the hidden Example Puzzle folder with password123.
  4. During Cave Puzzle 10, enter father before the accepted final answer.
  5. Collect and fully open every Halibut, Max and Admin Chronolog entry; visit every unique WebSurfer address.
  6. During Max's Mall chapter, clean a terrarium, draw on the mural, pet the MineSniffer dog, buy all CabiNet prizes and use the security-guard mannequin outfit.
  7. During the late chessboard sequence, duplicate whitePawn.img until exactly six white pawn files exist before transforming the board.
  8. Finish the epilogue, then reopen Chronolog and WebSurfer to trigger any delayed collection check.

Seven story achievements

AchievementUnlock point
FortunaComplete Halibut's Cave security questions.
MerneithComplete the Temple and place all three gems on the scarab podium.
“What a Thrill...”Complete Sol Plaza's first floor during Max's chapter.
Sol PlazaFinish M4x1mus' Desktop Explorer route and Max's Mall chapter.
The TowerComplete Admin's Desktop Explorer and Tower sequence.
Desktop DetectiveComplete Guppy's Desktop Explorer sequence.
Desktop ExplorerFinish the final epilogue and follow the ending route.

General desktop achievements

AchievementExact actionMissable?
I like your style!Open Control Panel, select a different wallpaper and apply it.No
Taking NotesCreate a new Notepage, type anything and save it as a new .npg file.No
MasterpieceCreate a new Sketchy canvas, draw anything and save the .skt file.No
Screen TimeSpend ten cumulative minutes in screen savers, then exit the active screen saver so the time is recorded.No
Example questOn Halibut, open the locked Next Puzzle folder inside Example Puzzle with password123.Yes
“Clever Girl...”Open a desktop Terminal and enter UNINSTALL DESKTOPEXPLORER.No
Kojami CodeOn the main title screen, enter Up, Left, Down, Right, Down, Left. Arrow keys or WASD both work.No

Collection achievements

Lore Master

Open and finish reading all 22 collectible Chronolog entries belonging to Halibut, Max and Admin. Guppy's writing prompts are story records but do not count toward this achievement. After reading the last entry, close and reopen Chronolog so it can run the completion check.

WebSurfer

Visit all 31 unique normal WebSurfer addresses across the profiles. Shared addresses count once. Let each real page load, then close and reopen WebSurfer after the final address.

Max and NextRooms achievements

AchievementHow to unlock it
Neat FreakIn the powered Pet Store, interact with a dirty reptile tank. Erase nearly every opaque mark from the glass in Sketchy and save the cleaned file.
MuralistOn the second floor, interact with the mural, add visible paint in Sketchy and save your change.
Can I Pet Her?From MineSniffer's title screen, interact with and pet Aiko before starting or leaving the minigame.
Sold OutBuy all five rewards from CabiNet. The full counter costs 110 tickets; ticket files can be duplicated if you do not want to grind the arcade.
I am the LawAfter the Dark Room opens but before the final mannequin solution, equip the guard hat, a purple shirt and a blue tie.

Two easy-to-miss puzzle secrets

This is not your computer

During Cave Puzzle 10, the last question asks who the dead man on the boat is. Enter father first. The answer is rejected but the achievement unlocks. Then continue with an accepted story answer such as Walter or Walleye.

Power to the People

During the late G-Admin chessboard sequence, duplicate whitePawn.img until the folder contains exactly six white pawn files. Do this before transforming the pieces, and do not create a seventh pawn.

What to check when an achievement does not unlock

  • Reopen Chronolog after the final collectible entry.
  • Reopen WebSurfer after the final address and check History for failed pages.
  • Confirm a Sketchy or Notepage file was actually saved, not only created in memory.
  • Exit the active screen saver after the ten-minute total.
  • Complete Mall achievements before Max's corkboard ending changes the available interactions.

Sources and checking notes