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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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,?

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

216 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. 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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-25T19:57:04+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

    it's seems to work.  Thank you! 😊

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. 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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2017-09-03T11:32:31+00:00

    wouldn't it be nice if there were an actual option to "lock desktop icons" when you try this method with Windows 10?   

    That's the first thing I tried since I was a long time XP user and this was normal.

    But, actually, its only been like the last 2 weeks or so that the icons started moving every single time I turn on the computer... must have been a change in a recent update.

    either way, it's a mess, and this "simple and easy" solution is no longer available in Windows 10.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments