How to save icon positions in Windows File Explorer. Promise left nut

I know this might be a difficult question to answer.
For the past few weeks, I spent hours and hours researching on how to save the location of desktop icons so it's exactly they way that I want them on multiple monitors. (I can even can save the locations on virtual desktops like Dexpot!)

So my desktop icons are always arranged the same exact way when I boot up my computer which is really awesome. (Btw, how to do it is: First, download a batch file floating around that disables auto-arrange by default and also defaults a specific view like medium icons. Then, you use DesktopOk or IconRestorer to save the icon positions.)

The FINAL hurdle for me is this. Can anyone figure out a way to save the location of icons in EACH folder in Windows Explorer (not just the desktop)? Right now, I can sort of get DesktopOK to save the icon positions in Window folders but it's very temperamental. Kinda' buggy actually.)

Anyone has a good solution on how to do this? If someone can figure this out, I'll donate any of my body parts to them when I happen to die.

CerebralFreeze said:

I know this might be a difficult question to answer.
For the past few weeks, I spent hours and hours researching on how to save the location of desktop icons so it's exactly they way that I want them on multiple monitors. (I can even can save the locations on virtual desktops like Dexpot!)

So my desktop icons are always arranged the same exact way when I boot up my computer which is really awesome. (Btw, how to do it is: First, download a batch file floating around that disables auto-arrange by default and also defaults a specific view like medium icons. Then, you use DesktopOk or IconRestorer to save the icon positions.)

The FINAL hurdle for me is this. Can anyone figure out a way to save the location of icons in EACH folder in Windows Explorer (not just the desktop)? Right now, I can sort of get DesktopOK to save the icon positions in Window folders but it's very temperamental. Kinda' buggy actually.)

Anyone has a good solution on how to do this? If someone can figure this out, I'll donate any of my body parts to them when I happen to die.

I don't think there is anything you can do about it. The Desktop is an actual virtual folder, it's gonna snap back to the grid after reboot or restart of Explorer.

Try Stardock Fences

There's gotta be a way to do this. It just seems like it will just take some time until someone comes along and decides to make a batch file that will do this. I'll even pay for this a program that can do this. Or, my one of my organs when I die. The solver's choice!

The problem with Fences is that it only works with the Desktop Fences, I believe. I want to arrange the icons that are in the folders after you open up one of the desktop icons. I would also love if the size of that window was memorized as well. It's a tall order but it would make a HUGE difference to productivity I think.

Edwin said:

I don't think there is anything you can do about it. The Desktop is an actual virtual folder, it's gonna snap back to the grid after reboot or restart of Explorer.

Try Stardock Fences

Browse through these two tutorials and related content at the bottom:

Auto Arrange in Folders - Enable or Disable in Windows 10

Desktop Icons Auto Arrange - Turn On or Off in Windows 10

Have you looked at DesktopOK 4.55 Save and restore the desktop icon positions. ?

You didn't misunderstand. That's was the part that I had resolved. I used a batch file supplied on this website to disable auto-arrange and then defaulted the view to medium icons.

Combining this with DesktopOk, IconRestorer, or DesktopRestorer all allowed me to save the position of the DESKTOP ICONS.

But now I want to save the position of the ICONS WITHIN EACH WINDOWS FOLDER after you click open a desktop folder.

So, for example, you open a folder named Schedules on your desktop, I want the folder to open to an exact size and location, AND then, the icons within that folder to be in specific positions.

This would truly increase productivity. I used to just name each file inside as 1. Monday 2. Tuesday 3. Wednesday....in details view (you get the idea). But this is actually very inconvenient and goes against the idea of using icons to represent a body of work.

I want the icons in the Windows folder to be able to be arranged in a specific arrangement. It would make my life so much easier!

RolandJS said:

"...location of desktop icons so it's exactly they way that I want them on multiple monitors..."
If I understand this portion correctly, I kind of, sort of, solved this on my Windows 7 by using 1366x768 on the TV/computer monitor at home [hdmi-connected] and 1600x900 on the laptop. Essentially, the desktop folders and icon remain, like a spreadsheet - same "fields and records", same rows across and down on the desktops. Is this what you meant, or, did I miss-understand?

I actually use that program. It's actually intended to save the position of the DESKTOP ICONS. But it does save the positions of icons within Windows folders as well to a certain extent. But it's buggy. After clicking a few other windows, it'll have saved various arrangements and sometimes auto-delete the arrangement that you want.

I think it's because this program was intended for saving Desktop icons, not the icons within Windows folders.

Wullail said:

Have you looked at DesktopOK 4.55 Save and restore the desktop icon positions. ?

I UseShellFolderFix "http://www.shellfolderfix.com-about.com/" It's an old program now I think last updated around 2010, it works fie with windows 10. It will save icon layout for a single or multiple monitor setups. I use it with my laptop it will store the info if I am using just the öaptop display or also when i have multiple monitors attached via the laptop hub. it adds 2 options into the context menu when you right click on your desktop "Save Desktop" saves current layout & " Restore Desktop". It will automatically know what setup to recall there is a third option just incase "Custom Save/Restore"

Hope this fits your needs.

I also use Dexpot so I was wondering if it would smoothly work with that. (Just in case you didn't know, Dexpot allows you to make additional desktops.)

There actually TONS of programs that allows you to arrange the icons and window layouts but when you start getting multiple desktops involved, they seems to stop memorizing the layouts. It seems to only memorize the first desktop.

DavidGBUK said:

I UseShellFolderFix "http://www.shellfolderfix.com-about.com/" It's an old program now I think last updated around 2010, it works fie with windows 10. It will save icon layout for a single or multiple monitor setups. I use it with my laptop it will store the info if I am using just the öaptop display or also when i have multiple monitors attached via the laptop hub. it adds 2 options into the context menu when you right click on your desktop "Save Desktop" saves current layout & " Restore Desktop". It will automatically know what setup to recall there is a third option just incase "Custom Save/Restore"

Hope this fits your needs.