Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10  

    Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10

    Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10

    How to Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    18 Jan 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid 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 Align icons to grid, your desktop icons will automatically be snapped into place as designated by an invisible grid on your screen. The grid keeps the icons aligned with each other to prevent them from overlapping.

    If you turn off Align icons to grid, your desktop icons will no longer be snapped into place by grid.

    This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off align desktop icons to grid for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid using Context Menu
    • Option Two: To Turn On or Off "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" using a BAT file



    EXAMPLE: turned on and off
    Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10-align_desktop_icons_to_grid-.jpg Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10-align_desktop_icons_to_grid-off.jpg







    OPTION ONE

    To Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid using Context Menu


    If you accidently align to grid 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 Align icons to grid to check (on - default) or uncheck (off) it. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10-align_desktop_icons_to_grid.jpg






    OPTION TWO

    To Turn On or Off "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" using a BAT file


    The downloadable .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.


    2 To Turn OFF "Auto arrange icons" and Turn OFF "Align icons to grid"

    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


    3 To Turn ON "Auto arrange icons" and Turn OFF "Align icons to grid"

    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


    4 To Turn OFF "Auto arrange icons" and Turn ON "Align icons to grid"

    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


    5 To Turn ON "Auto arrange icons" and Turn ON "Align icons to grid"

    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


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  2. DanMcD
    Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #1

    It is now Jan 2020, so does this still work for Windows 10 version 1909?

    Dan
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Golden
    Posts : 1,656
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       New #2

    DanMcD said:
    It is now Jan 2020, so does this still work for Windows 10 version 1909?

    Dan
    A single right-click on the desktop and you can find out quicker than it took you to type this question.....and the answer is "Yes"
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  5. DanMcD
    Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #3

    I am not wanting to do this for folders on my desktop.

    I wan to do it for files WITHIN any folder
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. AddRAM
    Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #4

    They align themselves automatically, you can even change the view.

    What exactly are you having a problem with ?
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  7. Brink
    Posts : 72,026
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    DanMcD said:
    I am not wanting to do this for folders on my desktop.

    I wan to do it for files WITHIN any folder
    Hello Dan, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    This setting only applies to icons on your desktop, and not for inside folders.

    For folder views, you can:

    Change Folder View Layout in Windows 10

    Change Sort by View of Folder in Windows 10

    Change Group by Folder View in Windows 10

    Set Default Folder View for all Folders in Windows 10

    Apply Folder View to All Folders of Same Type in Windows 10
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. DanMcD
    Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #6

    All my files etc. that are in Folders are being aligned automatically and I want to move them around freely werever I want. Any way to do this? Any bat files tom do this?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. Brink
    Posts : 72,026
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    DanMcD said:
    All my files etc. that are in Folders are being aligned automatically and I want to move them around freely werever I want. Any way to do this? Any bat files tom do this?
    Disabling auto arrange in folders used to be an option until Windows 10 version 1703 and higher.

    Unfortunately, we are no longer able to for File Explorer.

    Enable or Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  10. DanMcD
    Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #8

    So sad. I just hate having to live with auto arrange. I miss Windows 7 already
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

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