How can I lock desktop icons?

Anonymous
2009-12-08T03:27:27+00:00

I am unable to LOCK the icon items on my desktop. I have clicked right on the desktop and via properties checked lock items, yet they are easily moved and NOT locked. I've tried locking them thru 'Appearances and Themes', yet they will NOT lock. How can I get them to stop moving around and stay put by locking. Any help would be graciously appreciated. And, no I am not changing my resolution which I know moves them.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-12-08T12:17:08+00:00

Hi there,have you tried this?Right click an empty space on your desktop,highlight desktop icons,place a check  on 'lock icons in place' and uncheck'auto arrange,?

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T20:35:35+00:00

    I tried:

    right click on empty space on desktop

    click on "personalize"

    click on "themes"

    click on "desktop icon settings"

    delete checkmark before "allow themes to change desktop icons"

    hit "apply"

    rearrange your icon the way you want

    restart computer

    This worked for me so I hope it works for you. I looked at a lot answers before I found this fix on another person's answer. So if they read this answer, THANK YOU!!!

    I saw your posting yesterday and drilled down through and did your settings.  We'll see if that stops this.  Microsoft did not make it easy to change settings on alot of things unfortunately.  Thanks for the post and alot of people hopefully will try this out before using third party software.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T13:04:12+00:00

    I don't believe this even always worked on earlier versions of Windows as my experience was that even w/ 7, the next update or new software caused them all to move.

    But... as the advice says THIS DOES NOT WORK ON WINDOWS 10 !

    What this does mean is that the whole world STILL waits for Microsoft to fix this problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T06:28:03+00:00

    Thanks; yes. That was the first thing i tried before dicovering that option was no longer aavaiable on windows 10 :(

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-21T03:59:39+00:00

    Hi there,have you tried this?Right click an empty space on your desktop,highlight desktop icons,place a check  on 'lock icons in place' and uncheck'auto arrange,?

    This option is not available in Windows 10.

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