Windows 10: Desable auto arrange inside folders

I just moved back to windows after 16 years of mac. Very happy until finding that, apparently, windows in the 21st century doesn't allow users to manually sort their files the way they see fit (inside folders)... imposing on you whichever ways they think are best. This would be a real deal breaker has it would really hurt my work flow.


Am I missing something? Is there a way to disable auto arrange inside folders?

:)

 

How to disable auto arrange on folders in Windows 10 ?

Hi Microsoft community

Previous versions of Windows 8 came with the ability to freely arrange icons inside a folder.

You were able to drag and drop icons inside a folder anywhere you wanted ,but now with windows 10 I cannot freely arrange icons inside a folder

This screenshot from windows 8 , see there is an auto arrange ,but unfortunately I cannot find it on windows 10.

 

Disable auto-arrange

Hello, thanks to contact the Microsoft Community. My name is Israel Torres, I am an independent advisory

Microsoft intentionally removed the option to disable Auto Arrange, but it's still possible with a workaround.

If you want to disable auto arrange inside a folder you need to do the following:

1. Open Registry Editor by pressing Windows Key + R and typing regedit in the input field.

2. Navigate to the following key on the left pane:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesLocal SettingsSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsShell

3. Now delete the Bags subkey.How to Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10

4. Navigate to this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsShell

5. Delete the Bags subkey here again.

6. Navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsShellNoRoam

7. Delete the Bags subkey here as well. After that close Registry Editor.

8. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Locate Windows Explorer from the list of processes, and click the

9. Restart button.

10. Download disable-auto-arrange.zip. (https://winaero.com/download.php)

Extract the files from the archive you just downloaded.

11. Run disableautoarrange.reg to add it to your registry.

12. Open This PC and close it.

Auto arrange should be disabled now and you can freely arrange files inside folders. We have to mention that this method works only for the large icons, medium icons, small icons and extra large icons icon views.

In the following link you can find more information:

https://windowsreport.com/disable-auto-arrange-...

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.

 

auto arrange icon desktop , why ?

Hi,

I would suggest you to try the steps and check if it helps.

a) Right click on Desktop.

b) Click on View.

c) Uncheck both "Arrange icons to grid" and "Auto arrange icons".

d) Restart the computer and check if it helps.