Can't move shortcut icons on my desktop to different locations on the desktop

Anonymous
2010-08-17T01:53:34+00:00

I cannot move my desktop shortcut icons around on my desktop.  Think it has something to do with the auto-allign feature - how do I fix this ?

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
Ramesh 181.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2010-08-17T04:46:39+00:00

Right-click desktop, click View, and uncheck Auto arrange icons.

Ramesh Srinivasan | The Winhelponline Blog

Microsoft MVP, Windows Desktop Experience

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

136 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-05T00:57:41+00:00

    I was having this issue as well... mashed the ESC key for all i was worth but didn't fix anything (no it's not stuck, tried that too). Then, for no reason, the desktop did a double refresh and everything worked again. NOTE: I have desktop icon toy (AND I CAN'T UNINSTALL IT IT'S DRIVING ME MAD) but I don't think that was the problem if you guys had the exact same one.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-20T14:13:32+00:00

    This worked for me! Thanks!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-19T04:22:41+00:00

    ESC worked for me too - no idea what caused the icons to lock....  did the kill explorer and restart, no avail - read MikeBald's post and hit ESC a couple times and was good to go again, Thanks MikeBald!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-06T04:39:10+00:00

    I was having exactly the same problem; on the desktop I ended up hitting escape a few times and I was able to move my icons again.

     As a note this was occurring everywhere in Explorer as I couldn't move icons from one folder to another either.

    Ha..ha..ha.. Seriously I was going anxious as I'd never experienced this behaviour of my system before.  Checked all over the place to make the changes and process for correcting it.  Eventually, read your post and  my mind thought "This can't work anywayzz" 

    Ha..hahaha..I was wrong, Tried it and it worked great!  Unbelieveable!  

    hitting ESCAPE key 3 times made it possible...don't know wahat happened but MIKE your trick really works...:)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments