how can i lock desktop icons in windows 8

Hi Herbert,

Let us work together to resolve this issue.

To lock to desktop icons, so that they don’t re-arrange themselves after reboot, please follow these steps:

**a.**On the desktop, right-click on an empty space.

**b.**In the drop down options, select View.

**c.**Uncheck the option: Auto arrange icons.

Please get back to us with the results and any other questions you might have regarding Windows operating systems. We are happy to assist.

BAD ANSWER

Known issue for a long time and auto arrange has absolutely nothing to do with it.  If you want to custom arrange your icons why would you have auto arrange selected.  "Shoot from the hip and miss"

YES - BAD ANSWER.  I have 'Auto Arrange' unchecked, but the bl**dy icons return to the nearest empty space on the left when I close the item (eg, a word document icon, say, a letter or something.)  Absolutely appallingly annoying.  Keith Woods

Let's keep the jousting about what/who is on track out of this. Yes, saying your auto arrange is unchecked IS relevant, sorry.

The issue has migrated to a similar, but very specific situation.

But BOTH issues seem to still be unresolved, that is the biggest issue. Luckily for me, I have the display driver that lets you turn off "autoscroll", and my issue is resolved.

It would still be nice to get a registry entry to turn it off for those who do not have a driver with the "check box".

Microsoft must be using robots to answer the questions, as it just repeats the same thing over and over.

Greg

Here is some more info. The only thing I have checked is "align to grid". All my icons are on my left monitor, on the left side. I also have a right monitor used as #2 monitor.

The issue I was having was the icons re-arranging their order from time to time which drove me batty. Even just a restart after a standard update would move them around to a new order, though still all on the left side of the left monitor. Just in a different order. I'm not sure what else I did. Something I read here about unchecking and then doing something else like a save or restart or something... but to this day they have stayed put.

I unchecked the "Auto Arrange Icons" option.  However, my laptop plugs into a docking station connected to a mainframe at work.  When I undock my laptop, the icons rearrange themselves.  Is there any way to stop this from happening>

Microsoft did not completly answer the question. On windows 8  right clik on an empty area on your desktop. From the drop down menu click  view. Uncheck ,, Auto arrange icons,,  AND ,, Align icons to grid,,. If you do not uncheck ,,Align icons to grid,, as well, then you will go back to the previous desktop settings of your icons. Hope this help.