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
    2017-11-25T16:13:21+00:00

    This was driving me mad but I think I figured it out:

    Right-click your desktop, click on 'Personalise'

    > Themes

    > Desktop Icons Settings

    > de-select 'Allow themes to change desktop icons'

    > shift your icons around and restart your computer, they should be in the same place you left them.

    I know very little about Windows but I played around with it and this worked for me, I restarted four times and the icons stayed put. I'm on Windows 10 and my desktop settings are:

    'Auto-arrange icons' - off

    'Align icons to grid' - on

    Let me know if it works for you, then I can call this post my good deed for the day  ;)

    I used a  different route, like R- click desktop-personalize-change desktop icons-uncheck allow themes to change desktop icons. works for me on win 7. thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-11-04T03:47:32+00:00

    Still seems to be some confusion.

    With Windows 7 the "align icons to grid" option is enabled by default. You may experience that when you arrange your icons the way you want them on your desktop and then shutdown your computer, then turn your computer on and log back in that all the icons are "rearranged", that's due to this option being enabled.  To disable this, right-click in the empty space on your desktop and in the menu, choose view(1st option on the menu), uncheck Align icons to grid to disable this option and while you are at it, uncheck the Auto arrange icons option as well if it is enabled, by default this option isn't usually enabled.

    ![](http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff363/ej2012/aligniconstogrid.gif)

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-04T22:00:26+00:00

    I think we are making it harder than it has to be. Right click on an empty space on the desktop. Mouse over to "view." Unclick the "auto arrange icons" and "align icons to grid." This should do the trick.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-04-02T07:14:37+00:00

    What do you mean by  "highlight desktop icons"?  And, where is 'lock icons in place'?  I just see 'lock web items in place'.  I have tried all the suggestions except Security Guy's, and none work.  If I change the size of icons in Appearance in Properties, all my icons move to the left.  I enjoy changing my Desktop's appearance periodically, and also have my icons stay around the edge of the screen in groups where I can find one quickly.  Doesn't appear to be possible on XP?  Thanks.

    Actually it is possible to have Windows XP to save the position of the icons, the registry edit that I listed above tells the system to save the placement of icons

    Dennis ,, Owner: !\[\](http://dbsecurity.net/templates/rt_nexus_j15/images/header/dark/logo.png)Please dont forget to mark any post(s) that helped as helpful or answered EMAIL ME:: PERSONAL EMAIL :: BUSINESS EMAIL

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