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,?
How can I lock desktop icons?
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
2018-03-27T00:41:28+00:00 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
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Anonymous
2018-04-10T05:34:07+00:00 Does not appear to work in Windows 10. My icons move all over, very frustrating.
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Anonymous
2018-04-28T15:59:09+00:00 As per your instructions Desktop Icons does not show up in box that appears when right clicked have clicked on all the items in no "lock Icons in place" shows up
Gus
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Anonymous
2018-04-28T16:32:52+00:00 Hi I have tried right clicking on my desktop and choosing refresh before and after I log off or shut down. I even do it when my computer seems to be working in the background. So far that seems to help. It has been over a month (even with an update), since I have started this and so far my icons have stayed in place.