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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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
    2018-02-02T16:58:52+00:00

    I did as you suggested and the icons did stay in place when I rebooted.  However they usually do.  They rearrange whenever I change themes and also at the end of each month.  I changed themes after trying your suggestion and they stayed put.  Hopefully the same thing will happen at the end of the month.  

    Thanks for your help....Judi

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-01T22:18:15+00:00

    I just found the following solution by trial and testing:

    Arrange the icons on your Windows 10 desktop, then right-click on an empty space of your desktop and choose Refresh in the right-click context menu (it does not matter if Align Icons to Grid is checked or not). Then reboot your computer.

    This works fine for me repeatedly - all icons stay there where I have put them even after rebooting.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-23T21:55:29+00:00

    I AM IN AGREEMENT!  There is no FIX for my problem until Microsoft respects out abilities as well as the lesser-computer-educated 'lack of abilities'.

    I am currently using Windows 10, I had this and several other settings before I took my 2 yr old Asus to Geek Squad last June as it had frozen up. When I got back, took me days to get half of "my" settings back in order. Icon Settings and several others had disappeared from my computer.

    As 'they' "dumb down" computers for the part-time computer operator, they take OUR access to settings away.

    Hiss Boo Microsoft!

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-22T05:12:25+00:00

    Problem can't be resolved until Microsoft decides to correct this terrible problem. I have windows 10 but sounds like others have the same problem. It was so easy with other systems in the past....just click on any space, menu would show desktop icons, lock in place. Now I never know where my icons are going to be. Makes it very difficult when you have a lot of icons.

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