Windows 7 desktop icons keep rearranging themselves

Anonymous
2009-10-07T02:55:22+00:00

Every few days, all the icons on my Win7 desktop rearrange themselves. Usually they move to the left edge of the screen. I laboriously move all the icons back to where I like them, and 3-10 days later, they all shift left again. I've found no pattern or event that might cause this -- but it's very annoying!

I've got Win7 build 7100 running on a Dell Latitude D830 laptop. Totally standard hardware and very little non-Microsoft software. In short, it's a pretty clean system.

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Anonymous
2009-10-07T17:38:17+00:00

To supplement Reyas.M.I.'s answer, Under View is the option to select the icon size, Auto arrange icons and Align icons to grid.  The Sort by option includes Name, Size, Item type and Date modified.  I suggest you check both View and Sort by.


Corrine, Microsoft MVP (Consumer Security). This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty, and confers no rights.

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Anonymous
2009-10-07T04:51:35+00:00

Check whether "Auto Arrange" checked. To check this, right click on desktop and select "Arrange icons by".

I hope this helps.


Thanks and Regards, Reyas...

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-28T14:16:00+00:00

    Chris Lively is totally correct with this.  I've had the same problem on at least five different computers on Windows 7, 8 and 10 including the brand new Windows 10 machine I've just purchased.

    I think it's something to do with the display autodetect.  I noticed on my laptop when I closed the lid and plugged in an external monitor the icons all rearranged themselves.

    I've given up even trying to rearrange the icons on my desktop.  IT's really annoying.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-11-27T01:53:45+00:00

    Use "arrange to grid" to arrange the icons neatly/symmetrically, then uncheck "arrange to grid".  I have some games that use a different resolution than the native desktop, and the icons would be "rearranged" after using them.  This solved the problem for me so far (fingers crossed).

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-16T14:15:16+00:00

    Nope, Windows just created a new Desktop entry.

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