Windows 10: Desktop Icon Columns

I have lots of shortcut icons on my desktop for files and programs. That means 2 or 3 columns of small icons. It would appear the Win 10 will only allow 1 column. I've messed with the icon spacing and vertical spacing (regedit) and the vertical spacing works but horizontal spacing seems to have no effect. Is that a feature or a problem?

:)

 

Desktop icons keep moving when downloading a file

My desktop icons keep doing what they want.

I have my icons disposed in columns, from the top to the bottom of the desktop. Currently i have 2 columns, the first column is full (8 icons) while the in the second column there are 7 icons, so there is an "empty space" at the bottom.

Now, when i download a file from my browser (my default download location is the desktop) the file is usually created at the bottom of the second column (or in a new column if the second is full). What is driving me mad is that sometimes (completely RANDOM)
the downloaded file is created at the HALF of the first column (even if it's full) and all the icons from the half column on are shifted by one posisiton.

This happens with the "auto arrange icons" option enabled or disabled

I already tried to delete the iconcache file but nothing changed.

The 10 version of windows and there are problems that were not even in windows 98

That's so frustrating

 

windows 10 desktop icons won't stay in left column

Move any desktop icon, and left column is emptied of icons

 

Hi and Welcome to TenForums.

Do you mean you would like to be able do this?





If so, make sure you have Auto arrange switched off (un-checked)

Right Click Desktop >> View >> Auto arrange icons






Does that help?

Regards,
Jamie

 

I can move them anywhere I want with auto arrange turned off. In Win 8 and 7 auto arrange provides columns in Win 10 that doesn't work. Trying to keep 40 or more icons in order without auto arrange is a real pain. So... why is Win 10 different, feature or problem?

 

Are you referring to the desktop or the start screen (where the live tiles are)?

 

Desktop, see my original posting.

 

I honestly don't know what you mean by columns on the desktop?

Windows 8 had the ability of creating groups of apps on the start screen like this




As for the desktop, you just drag icons to where you want them, not sure what you mean by columns on the desktop unless you are using a 3rd party app like rocket doc etc...

 

Icons also know as shortcuts. They look like this. They don't have to be shortcuts, they can actually represent files that are located in the desktop folder.

 

I understand what an icon is however people use different terminology over the world so it's not always that simple.

From your screen shot i can see 3 columns of shortcuts/icons... whats the issue?

Here you can see i have a load of folders/icons





And now i have sorted them into columns...






Is this what you are wanting to do?

 

I want to use auto arrange. It keeps things neat and tidy for all those icons. If you turn it on it appears you can only make 1 column. When you try to move an icon to the right of the column a "line" like this appears in the existing column perhaps indicating the limit of icon placement.
|------| That doesn't happen in previous versions of Windows.

 

Ah i see, i don't use the auto arrange feature to be honest.

What OS have you been using when this works? Win 7 or Win 8?

Regards,
Jamie

 

If it works the same as Win 8

Turn off the Auto Arrange Icons
Turn on the Align Icons to Grid

See if that makes a difference, with that in 8 mine all align in rows/columns and I can move them about

 

Win XP, Win 7, Win 8. Perhaps even earlier than that, my memory is fading It appears that Microsoft decided to limit the auto arrange to one column. Perhaps that is in conjunction with the multiple desktops for some reason. I have two 24-inch monitors. The task bar is for very frequently used programs, the desktop icons are for frequently used programs and files, the start menu is for all other programs.

 

In your columns are the text labels positioned to the right of the icons ?