Windows 11 Desktop icons rearrange and re-sort themselves

Anonymous
2023-07-21T01:09:08+00:00

Lately, my Windows desktop icons have periodically and at random rearranged and re-sorted themselves.

It looks like at arbitrary times, This PC and the Recycle Bin, which are traditionally at the top left hand corner of the desktop now shift downwards. The icons re-sort themselves into alphabetical name order. It usually happens after a boot or reboot.

I also have icons spread out randomly over a two-screen desktop. At an arbitrary moment, again associated with a reboot, all icons suddenly snap to the left hand side of the left-hand screen.

There are many posts on the web about the "Autoarrange Icons" and "Align Icons" settings. Changing those settings do not resolve this problem.

This may have something with the ""Sort By" setting. If that is it, the setting does not stay that way for long.

I don't know if this is a new bug that has appeared in a recent build. I use Windows 11 Home, and the current Version is 22H2, and the Build is 22621.1992.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-07-21T13:04:06+00:00

    Marco,

    The suggestions you list are the same suggestions I have seen on multiple web searches. They do not resolve the problem.

    I have not installed any new software recently, so that rules out uninstalling "Problematic Software."

    The closest I have some to a resolution is Delete IconCach.db. But that's only temporary, putting a bandaid on the problem. After awhile, the problem reappears.

    That might point you to the problem in the operating system, that IconCache or whatever controls that is corrupted or faulty, or otherwise needs fixed.

    I will try your additonal "scannow" options this weekend and see if these do anything.

    Again, this is a NEW problem. Something has changed recently. I suggest that it came down as part of a Windows Update.

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  2. Reported
    Anonymous
    2023-07-21T05:00:52+00:00

    Hello Gregory, sorry about your problems. My name is Marco and I will do my best to help you.

    There are some solutions you may not have tried at the link below, even if it's for Windows 10.

    https://tencomputer.com/desktop-icons-keep-rear...

    You can run System File Checker, which will scan your system for missing, corrupt or damaged files and attempt to fix them1. This may repair any system errors that affect your PDF files.

    Step to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) (DISM)

    Note: Respect the spaces or simply copy / paste the commands.

    • Click on windows start button, type CMD
    • Right click on " prompt command " and " run as admin "
    • Now type this commands

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

    • Press Enter.
    • Then, this command and Enter.

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

    • Then make the following commands.

    sfc /scannow

    When the scan is finished, check if there are any errors detected.

    Restart the computer and check if it is now fixed.

    Otherwise, check that you do not have software that could cause this problem.

    You can do a Clean Boot for that, that is to say, start Windows with only Microsoft services activated.

    If the icons behave well, it means that it is a program that is in question.

    So you will have to reactivate one at a time to determine which one it is.

    Here's how.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-t...

    _________________________________________________

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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