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I just want to "disable" confounding Auto Arrange files within folders in Windows 10. I can't understand that when you leave file/folder icons in the position and order that you want and then Windows decides to mix them up. I'm continually wasting time trying to find lost data. It's ridiculous. Does anyone know or can create something that just allows you to arrange or sort files within folders, and Leave them alone, without the OS messing them up?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Of course this is useless. The whole point of saving positions and locations of files is having them exactly there to easily find when you come back to them. And just to be sure, without "refreshing" the window or reopening, things will stay the same, for a moment. Then Windows does what It wants, not what you want.
For excuses of Security?, safety?, whatever, they changed everything. Windows just plain got worse. Windows XP did all the things I needed. If they only updated any critical issues in XP that would have sufficed, but now it's a frustrating experience every single time I turn on this computer.
Sorry, you'll figure it out, but the registry solution you describe will not work. Not with present Windows update. As soon as you restart, shutdown, anything you save will lose that. Also, it not working for you with pictures is a great example. This hack is not an OS system wide fix. Finally, you MUST refresh often. Disabling refresh will cause other issues. e.g. if you do not refresh, either manually or when it does automatically, you cannot put files into the trash, you can't delete them, your screensavers will not show or save correctly, it' so fraught with errors. It sucks, but again Windows shortsightedness andnot listening to people is wrecking computers.
I continue to search and that hope someone ingenious programmer will come up with a permanent solution to disable auto arrange permanently and forever on the OS completely. (toggling on off of course is the holy grail, as they had it before!) I have all updates stopped now, keep pausing into future, until they absolutely won't turn on my computer. I don't ever want them to break more things and block your way back to better.
FYI, I just tested the feature and it still works, just not if a folder is formatted for 'images'.
But you are right, it would be nice if Microsoft would listen to the users and reintroduce the option to turn auto arrange on or off.
It should be very simple that the function worked in Windows XP.
Maybe the solution could be to take the solution from XP and insert the same values in the registry?
Thanks for input. However does your computer have the latest Windows software? My computer has version 21H2, OS build19044.2006, Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4180.0 which made the registry program to disable auto arrange not work (seems the older Windows 10 1703 broke this) It works in earlier even windows 10 versions. Also, does your registry program work for ALL new folders and files you create, or does it only work for just 3 folders on your entire computer (general, documents, and videos) Just 3 folders to keep your files in the order you want is not nearly enough for me. I need every file and folder to stay the same as you left them. Will the program you have do that? (excluding the images you said for some reason doesn't work)
Yes, If someone could extract the XP code that had the right click toggle for auto arrange on or off that would be the ideal solution. (or remove the code that stops this now!) I'd gladly pay for that! And I know many more would too.
