How to Turn On or Off Auto Arrange Desktop Icons in Windows 10
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your PC and sign in to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put items on the desktop, such as files, folders, and shortcuts, and arrange them however you want.
If you turn on Auto arrange icons, your desktop icons will automatically be arranged in columns along the left side of your screen.
If you turn off Auto arrange icons, you can arrange your desktop icons how and where you like on the desktop.
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off auto arrange desktop icons for your account in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: To Turn On or Off Auto Arrange Desktop Icons using Context Menu
- Option Two: To Turn On or Off "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" using a BAT file
EXAMPLE: Auto arrange desktop icons turned on and off
If you accidently auto arranged your desktop icons, then you can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons layout.
1 Right click or press and hold on your desktop (Shift+F10), click/tap on View, and click/tap on Auto arrange icons to check (on) or uncheck (off - default) it. (see screenshot below)
The .bat files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop
FFLAGS DWORD
1075839520 = Auto arrange icons = OFF and Align icons to grid = OFF
1075839521 = Auto arrange icons = ON and Align icons to grid = OFF
1075839524 = Auto arrange icons = OFF and Align icons to grid = ON
1075839525 = Auto arrange icons = ON and Align icons to grid = ON
1 Do step 2, step 3, step 4, or step 5 below for what you would like to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Auto_arrange_icons-OFF_and_Align_icons_to_grid-OFF.bat
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Auto_arrange_icons-ON_and_Align_icons_to_grid-OFF.bat
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Auto_arrange_icons-OFF_and_Align_icons_to_grid-ON.bat
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Auto_arrange_icons-ON_and_Align_icons_to_grid-ON.bat
Download
6 Save the .bat file to your desktop.
7 Unblock the .bat file.
8 Run the .bat file.
9 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.
10 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10
- How to Hide or Show All Icons on Your Desktop in Windows 10
- How to Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Drop Shadows for Icon Labels on Desktop in Windows
Turn On or Off Auto Arrange Desktop Icons in Windows 10
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New #4
Shawn,
Is there a way to save the position of the icons (program, subfolder icons, links, etc.) that are in the folder? I have been looking for a long time looking for a solution. I don't think there is a solution.
By the way, thanks for the awesome batch file you made that disabled auto-arrange. I actually used it and my productivity skyrocketed! No joke!
After moving my icons around in my folders, they will usually stay in its position for some time but after a while, they will go back to being all lined up in one row again. And, I HATE IT.
I will give you almost anything if you could figure out a way to save the position of the icons. NAME YOUR PRICE!
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New #5
Hello CerebralFreeze, :)
You might see if the free program "DesktopOK" may help to save and restore the positions of icons on your desktop.
DesktopOK 4.55 Save and restore the desktop icon positions.
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New #6
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New #7
Ah, ok. You could back up and restore your folder views using this below. :)
Folder View Settings - Backup and Restore in Windows 10
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New #8
Thanks for the suggestion. I was hoping that it would work but this only saves the folder views, not the actual icon positions. Actually, I can get the folder view to save to the same exact folder view. But for some reason, the icon arrangement changes after a while.
For example, I'll have an Windows folder opened titled, "Project Site Alpha". And, I'll have all the different project task lists arranged in a pyramid shape. The more important tasks lists are arranged higher up.
As I open other folders and come back, the arrangement sticks. But, if I go to too many different windows, folders, open applications, this pyramid icon arrangement starts to change. Sometimes an icon moves one grid to the right. Don't know why. It just does. Soon, the icons are scatterred.
I want to rip my hair out! Help me please. I'm about to throw my computer out the window. PLEASE!!!@
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New #9
I'm afraid that I'm not aware of anything for remembering the positions like that.
As a workaround, you could rename the files to include a number at the beginning of the name to have them listed in the order you want when they are sorted by name.
Turn On or Off Auto Arrange Desktop Icons in Windows 10
How to Turn On or Off Auto Arrange Desktop Icons in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: General Tips
12 Dec 2019
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