Please bring back the ability to freely arrange icons within folders "DISABLE AUTO ARRANGE"!

In the meantime, I tried this hack, but it also doesn't work after update 22H2. :-(

https://technastic.com/disable-auto-refresh-auto-arrange-windows-explorer/

Sorry to interfere in the thread. I previously made a correction in the registry, where I could then sort manually, but after update 22H2 Windows 10 Home, the method no longer works.

The idea of being able to sort images/folders/icons manually is that you can put them in a certain order and then 'mass' name them so that they always keep this order. An example. I receive photos from 3 different photographers about the same event, the photos of course have different names, I then want to put them in chronological order and 'mass' name them so that the order is subsequently maintained. It is a huge job if you have to do this manually. So that's why manual sorting is very important, at least for me.

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. I thought was the only one going crazy. To have Microsoft change the OS to DEMAND the way IT wants files and folders sorted is just beyond my common sense reasoning. Because Mac OS will let you do what you want, ergo leaves files just the way you left them (DUH!) I am going to have to give up and go to them. I need my data exactly the way I left it when returning to it. Who would not? Extremely surprised there isn't protest or banning. I have no understanding why MS would make an update worse and so backward primitive. At least there are two of us that understands the insanity.

If you ever find a work around, please post a reply and let me know. Thank you again for your thoughts.

Yes, Microsoft is a control freak. It turned off the option to freely arrange documents/pdf in a folder after Window XP. It does my head in. It is particularly annoying because I need files in a particular order and need to add files to the list in the order that I need them.

I AM very surprised you say many users don't use icon view. I've found the opposite. And there are so many users I've discovered that are angry that MS removed the option. Maybe programmers were lazy in the updates? It's only logical to me that the Desktop arrangement should be consistent with the rest of the computer file arrangement. Why different? This current arrangement seems so haphazard and patched.

This IS crucial to me.  I'm continually now fighting and searching for data and files that I KNOW where they were, but were changed behind my back when I go back to look for them. I don't regularly have memorized the name of a file or the date I created it. I myself like the freedom and control to locate my data and not have a modern computer dictate where they want it. Seems backward and crude, and very unfriendly. To me, data should stay exactly where you put it, period. Really hard to understand otherwise, but everyone is different.

I've looked into trying to revert to the (superior in my eyes) older Windows version, but I had been forced to update, (tried to stop it!), to the more current ones, and as you know, even if successful, many of your other apps and system functions will be adversely affected by trying to go back. It would probably more easy to start over with a new or reformatted computer.

  Putting up with this ridiculous forced arrangement and searching endlessly for my data is not an option for me.

I've been testing the Mac OS and reading many users and reviews now because of this Windows issue. Mac gives you freedom and choice and seems far superior and common sense when using it. I think it may be the best way to go since MS doesn't seem to care enough about it's users. So disappointed. Not worth struggling with a computer UI, better time spent doing what you want to do with your data.

   I am grateful and appreciate forums such as this that have real user opinions and suggestions. Thanks very much for your continued thoughts. I'll keep this conversation alive just in case one of the frustrated users does create a program to allow manual sorting again.