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
    2017-07-04T12:22:45+00:00

    Don't know why people insist on a fix by MS. XP also required 3rd party software to do various

    tweaks, and so it shall remain. Can't expect MS to fix all of the wants of billions of people.

    They already add enough of what many consider bloat-ware without accommodating everyone.

    .

    People are insisting on a fix because this is basic functionality that their very expensive operating system should be able to handle. It's obviously a bug, Microsoft are the developer, therefore it's Microsoft's responsibility to fix it.

    Imagine if every morning you walked outside to your car and found that all of its mirrors and the driver's seat needed completely readjusting, and when you contacted the manufacturer they simply told you that you'd need to pay extra to buy a 3rd-party ECU firmware upgrade from some other retailer because they themselves didn't deem it worth fixing. Presumably you'd be perfectly happy with this?!

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-06-20T12:34:46+00:00

    If so many people have this problem, why doesn't Microsoft just fix it?  I have Windows 10 and if has been do this for several months now.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-04-07T08:58:19+00:00

    Hi Steve,

    With respect I understand the problem can be solved with a third party software like Iconoid or fences but it does not negate Microsoft from fixing an issue with there software that leaves thousands of users with a frustrating problem, the icons should not rearrange themselves on the desktop and as one user has so rightly put it an option of "Leave them alone" would be of benefit here.

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