How can I lock desktop icons?

From the lack of MS support reflected by the pile of continuing problems of desktop icons migrating to the left margin...

A few comments suggested different adjustments to the info windows opening when right clicking a blank desktop area and creating a new blank desktop icon and rearranging the icons as wanted.  Doing so worked for a while and then for no apparent reason the icons would again return to the left margin.  Nothing else suggested seemed to work at all.

The same happened here.

Another responder thought left margin collection might be caused by an overloaded  desktop stack. That too would work for a while and then for no reason, the icons would again migrate left.

Here is a modification to that process that  might work for some of you.  It has worked for many weeks now for me with never a desktop rearrangement. 

Accepting the overload theory, my goal was to reduce the number of initial desktop icons to general categories of the original icons and moving as many of the existing icons into one or another of these newly general icons.  One can do so readily by right clicking on the desktop and selecting "new" to open a new blank icon; the icon can be renamed.  Just drag and drop the original desktop icons into these new general icons.  Each of these newly relocated icons will have a properties window (right click) where all the properties of these moved icons can be adjusted, size, picture, list, etc, to suit your pleasure. 

Doing so requires a double selection, one to select the general group, the next to select the desired program.  The greatly diminished number of desktop icons have never relocated for me for months.  This double selection has never been more than a minor irritation.

In the absence of an "official" MS upgrade/correction, have at it.  Good luck.

GW

I am not "tech savvy" so I tried to set up a new shortcut and I highlighted the link provided and copied it.  However I couldn't paste it into the shortcut.  When I tried to set up the new shortcut I was given a prompt to select the location,  there wasn't an e-mail option.

I have written REG files that locks Icons in place even if you use a projector or change resolution on your screen. Create a new shortcut and place following code in and name Lock.reg and unlock.reg. Use at your own risk as it works on Win7, 10 and I haven't tested on any other versions.

Disable changing "Lock" Icons;

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

"NoDispBackgroundPage"=dword:00000001

Enable changing "UnLock" Icons;

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

"NoDispBackgroundPage"=-

Hackker,

1. Right-Click on "Start" & look for "Settings", also noted as a "gear" icon.

2. Left-click on "personalize."

3. Scroll down to "Themes." - Left-click.

4. Scroll own to "Desktop icon settings." - Left-click.

5. Desktop Icon window pops up: :Un-check the box for "allow themes to change desktop icons."

6. OK

7. Snips are attached!

I'm using Windows 10 Pro, Version 1709, OS Build 16299.214.

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