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
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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