Desktop Icons Moving


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Desktop Icons Moving


    I have files and shortcuts that run down the left side and across the top of my screen that I keep for easy access. Whenever I save a new file to the desktop it goes to the upper left corner and moves things. I've done the usual uncheck auto arrange and align to grid checks, I don't know why it keeps happening and it's very annoying. Is there a way to fix it? I appreciate any and all assistance.
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  2. Posts : 806
    Windows 10 Home version 20H2 64bit OS Build 19042.1023
       #2

    You could pin your shortcuts to the task bar.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #3

    That is strange. When I save a new file to the desktop, it goes in the first open spot on the left of the screen, it doesn't move anything that is already there.

    Do you have any modified schemes or customized desktop themes?
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  4. Posts : 819
    10
       #4

    Ztruker said:
    That is strange. When I save a new file to the desktop, it goes in the first open spot on the left of the screen, it doesn't move anything that is already there.
    Same here --

    TheBParsons said:
    I have files and shortcuts that run down the left side and across the top of my screen.
    -- but I don't do the second thing. Only the left side. How about you, Ztruker?

    I wonder if an answer is lurking here... as in this isn't the answer but it might lead to it --

    Stop Windows 10 Desktop Icons from Changing Location After a Screen Refresh
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  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    No, nothing outside the standard install. I've only recently upgraded to Windows 10 so I didn't know if this was one of its "quirks". I never had this issue on 7.
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  6. Posts : 16,952
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #6

    I avoid the problem by leaving the left-hand column of the Desktop clear of my longer-lasting files/shortcuts and I tidy away anything that gets created in the top-left corner.

    If you are using the Desktop for some fairly permanent items, you could consider putting them in a 'Taskbar Toolbar' instead. See Taskbar Toolbars - Creating and naming, customising, moving [post #20] - TenForumsTutorials

    Denis
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #7

    You could also install a program like DesktopOK. It will remember Desktop icon locations when you tell it to, then simply right click on the DesktopOK icon in the System Tray and select the save name (display resolution - mine is called 1920x1080) it restore icons to that saved layout.

    It's small, uses almost no resources.
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  8. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I appreciate everyone's responses. I guess I'll use one of the workaround suggestions. Thanks again!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,203
    11 Home
       #9

    I keep shortcuts to the left also. I have them sorted by Date Modified (ascending) so that adding more shortcuts doesn't rearrange the already present ones. However, after I had been playing with the icon spacings and the font selection of desktop items by using Winaero tweaker, I noticed an empty gap was there, giving the illusion that a single shortcut had gone missing somehow. This gap kept always returning immediately the moment when I refreshed my dektop. (Even, after I reverted the icon spacings and font selection back to their original default settings.)

    Comparing the metrics HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics from another, clean, system revealed there were still small differences in the numbers that relate to icon spacings. So then I decided to export the whole registry key from the other system and imported it on the 'trouble' system. Rebooted after that, but still failed to remedy the problem.

    The 'trick' that fixed it for me was to go in shell:Common Desktop and delete the hidden desktop.ini file in there, and, next, cut-and-paste all shortcuts from there into a new empty folder on my desktop before cut-and-pasting them onto my desktop. The deleted desktop.ini file gets automatically regenerated after a few minutes. After it does, the gap no longer comes back when hitting refresh.

    One minor caveat is that the shortcuts that got moved off of the Common, or 'Public' desktop are no longer visible to 'All users'. But I'm the only user anyway so, it actually doesn't bother me.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 306
    Windows 10
       #10

    I used to have the icons moving around all the time with my old Windows 7 laptop but not with this Windows 10...

    I have always used Stardock Fences which allows you to save the desktop layout and if they do move you just use it to restore the saved desktop.... Stardock Fences: Organize your desktop shortcuts and icons

    You can do many other things to do with layouts but I just use it for this reason...

    When I save a new file to my desktop it just adds onto the end..
      My Computer


 

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