Desktop icons keep rearranging after dock/undock


  1. Posts : 9
    Windows 10
       #1

    Desktop icons keep rearranging after dock/undock


    I have a Dell laptop and a Dell external monitor. I am running Windows 10 version 1607 build 14393.1884
    I have seen other posts about this but nothing recent. I am new to using a laptop with a second monitor. Every time I dock or undock the laptop, the desktop icons rearrange themselves. I have autoarrange off and have tried toggling "display desktop icons".

    Was this issue every actually fixed? Or just something we have to live with. Its a big waste of time to arrange my icon on the big external monitor only to have them change after an undock/dock cycle. Also, when I undock, the icon location are very different on the laptop builtin screen.

    Is there a way to have two desktops that don't change, one for the external monitor when docked and one of the built-in when undocked?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,680
    X
       #2

    When you dock and use a full-size monitor the resolution might be 1920x1080.
    In that state, let's assume you have icons all over the desktop.

    Now undock the laptop. In this mode the display resolution might be 1600x900.
    In this situation any x-axis coordinate above 1600 no longer exists.
    And any y-axis coordinate above 900 no longer exists.

    So any icon that had been in those locations must be moved in order to keep them on screen.
    Windows moves them around into seemingly random locations. You cannot prevent that.

    However, you can use a program (such as Icon Restorer) to record the location of your desktop icons.

    In full 1920x1080 mode ... push your icons into "nice" places and then "record" their locations using Icon Restorer. He will remember icons locations for this 1920x1080 screen. (One button click.)

    Undock into 1600x900 mode ... fix the now-scrambled icons into "nice" places and then "record" their locations using Icon Restorer. He will remember icons locations for this 1600x900 screen. (One button click.)

    Thereafter ... whenever you go from dock to undock (or vice versa) just "restore" the remembered icon positions using Icon Restorer. (One button click.)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,020
    Windows 10 Pro 20H2 19042.572
       #3

    The reason you don't see many post anymore is not because its been fixed, its just that most users that see this problem, have taken alternate solutions. IE: backing up their desktop icon positions via 3rd party software. Its been broke, MS will never fix it so the best solution is to backup the locations and when Windoz decides to re-org them, you can restore to the previous locations. Lots of programs out there I use "DeskTopOK" it works.

    Have a Great DAY !
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 9
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    ok. I have Desktop OK loaded and it seems to work great. Thanks for the tips.
      My Computer


 

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