Windows 10: Desktop Icons Auto Align Left When Hdmi Cable Connected

Hi,

Whenever I connect my laptop to the TV via hdmi cable my desktop icons are moved and auto aligned in vertical columns down the left hand side of the page (my desktop). I have to drag them back to where I want each time. It's a fairly minor nuisance, but is there any way to avoid this, I've searched but can't find a definitive answer.

(I've tried, right clicking and unchecking 'align icons to grid' but that doesn't make any difference, it still always happens)

Thanks

:)

 

Desktop Icons

Auto Arrange icons and Align Icons to Grid still throws all desktop icons to the top of the screen in one row. No change. This may be related to an HDMI connection to a 1080P TV. Cannot get the original desktop arrangement.

 

All New icons/Files keeps going on the left corner of desktop

Auto arrange always puts short cuts icons on the left from the top down. Use Align icons to grid. Uncheck the auto arrange item. Right click on the desktop and select View.

When you add an icon it is always added to the screen in the upper left and down the left side.

If Auto arrange is turned off you can drag the icon to where you want it.

 

I believe this is an issue with the change in resolution that is likely occurring when you connect the HDMI cable. If you can set the HDMI output to the same as the screen, then the icons should stay where you left them.
I had the same issue with icon location changes when another user signed into the PC and then signed in. My icons rearranged. After a lot of trial and error I found that if I set the resolution, scaling, etc. options in both profiles to the default values, the issue vanished. I don't think Windows 10 knows how to deal with resolution changes and desktop icon locations very well, although I vaguely recall experiencing this issue with prior Windows versions. I could not remember how I solved it then, but the resolution/scaling/etc. work around is acceptable.

 

That sounds quite likely to me, both from reading around, and because when I connect the cable, the size of font and icons temporarily changes (goes smaller), which for some reason also makes me think you're right.

Could you give me a rough idea of how I might actualise that fix? i.e. where do I go for 'hdmi output setting'. Cortana doesn't bring up anything and I poked around in Nvidea control panel but couldn't find anything ....

 

There are settings in the Nvidia control panel specifically for the resolution of each monitor. Are you cloning the main desktop (on the laptop) or what?

 

I'm not even sure what that means, but I connect hdmi cable from laptop to tv, and then laptop (desktop) displays on tv screen. So I guess that might be what's mean by 'cloning the main desktop', if so, yes.




Nvidea control panel seems to be pretty sparse.

File, Edit, Desktop, Help - along the top. First two aren't up to much, desktop just has 4 tick boxes.

Below that is a short 'tree' of 3D settings links

Then at the bottom a link to System Information





Clicking thru the Help function, there are various sections including;

Display

Which includes the following subsections;


Change the Screen Resolution

Change Display Scaling

Configure the TV/HD Format

Configure the multiple Display Configuration



Perhaps it's one of these I need to look at?

 

I don't know how to fix your icons moving around, but there is a freeware tool that can let you save their location and then reset them once they get changed. Check out Download DesktopOK 4.24

 

Try this with your icons. It works most of the time for me. Occasionally I have to redo it. I run 3 monitors, so It is different for you. You are always changing (I assume) Between laptop only and Laptop/TV. I don't know if there is going to be 1 setting that works right for both. You are changing output, scaling and probably display resolutions as has already been discussed.

Right click on the desktop, select > View > and uncheck 'Align Icons to Grid.' Move your icons to where you want them. Once you have them right, go back and check the Align Icons to grid. That works for me with 3 monitors. But, mine is always the same. What will happen when you change your screen/s I'm not sure.

 

Having had a good look through the nvidia control panel now, it seems I have a new issue. When I read in the help section about changing screen resolution it runs through the procedure which involves first clicking on 'Dsiplay' under the navigation tree pane, but unfortunately there is no such section showing. All I've got showing in my tree pane is three links concerning 3D settings, and it seems from reading around this is not an altogether uncommon issue - for the specific sections I need to be missing. Apparently it's likely something to do with updates from windows rather than the manufacturer.

Anyway, although it's quite annoying, at this stage I think I'll just have to put up with having to move my icons back each time as messing about with the drivers is above my paygrade.

 

Ok , that could be useful, I'll have a gander. Thanks.

 

I tried it but to no avail. Those suckers move everytime the tv is connected. Worth a try though, I appreciate the suggestion.