Windows 10: Need Help With Using File Explorer to Arrange Files and Folders

I'm running Windows 10 Home Edition, version 2004, and am having trouble using the File Explorer feature. I'm not sure just how to explain/describe the problem, but will try, hoping that it makes sense. My favorite place for saving things has always been to my desktop; that way, I can later decide where to arrange them, placing them into the appropriate folders. It used to work great, but I must've accidentally changed something, because I can no longer do it as before. Before, when I clicked on 'File Explorer,' a long column of my folders would appear at the left of the screen. Then, when I wanted to move something which I had saved to my desktop into a existing folder, I would just click on 'Desktop' and a window containing everything on my desktop would appear at the right of the screen. Finally, I would simply drag the newly-downloaded file from the desktop over to whichever folder I wanted on the left of the screen. So, for example, if I wanted to move a newly-downloaded picture of a dog, I would open File Explorer, and the list of all my folders would appear at the left of the screen. Then, I would open the desktop, where my newly-downloaded picture of a dog is. Last, I would just drag the new picture of the dog to my 'Animal Pictures' folder. Easy. However, now, when I click on 'File Explorer,' the long column of my folders appears, as before, but when I then open the desktop, that long column of folders disappears and the Desktop appears. The long column of my existing folders and the desktop don't appear both at the same time, so I now cannot just drag a file or folder from the desktop to a desired for storage. As stated, it just seems as though I must've changed some setting while monkeying around, but I sure don't know how to fix it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

:)

 

how to auto arrange PDF files in a folder

Hello,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

In which format are you trying arrange the PDF files?

By default, File explorer will sort the files and folders in alphabetical order. You can also select other sorting options to arrange your files. I suggest you to try the following steps mentioned below and check if that helps:

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Click on View.

3. Now click on the Sort by drop down.

4. Select the option that best suits your needs.

Note: All the files or folder in File Explorer will be sorted in the format that you have selected. This option will remain until it is changed manually.

Hope it helps.

Sandeep Kumar M

Microsoft Community – Moderator

 

File Arrangement

Hi,Sunshine_952! I'm Leonardo! An Independent Advisor and also a Microsoft user for several years. I'll be more than happy to assist you today!

That feature is no longer native on Windows 10. In order to freely arrange the itens within a folder, you're gonna have to disable Auto Arrange.

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 panel:

3. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

4. Now delete the Bags subkey.

5. Navigate to this key:

6. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

7. Delete the Bags subkey here again.

8. Navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\NoRoam

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

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

11. Download disable-auto-arrange.zip (https://winaero.com/download.php?view.1792)

12. Extract the files from the archive you just downloaded.

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

14. Open This PC and close it.

15. Now repeat Step 6 to restart Windows Explorer.

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

===================================

To disable auto arrange in File Explorer, do the following:

1. Open any folder using File Explorer and right-click the empty space.

2. Go to View and make sure that the Auto arrange option is unchecked.

3. If the option is turned off you can easily arrange items in any way you want.

4. Navigate to this key:

o HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\NoRoam

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

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

7. Download disable-auto-arrange.zip.

8. Extract the files from the archive you just downloaded.

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

10. Open This PC and close it.

11. Now repeat Step 6 to restart Windows Explorer.

Auto arranges should be disabled. Try to freely arrange files inside folders to check if this method worked. Again, keep in mind that this method works only for the large icons, medium icons, small icons, and extra-large icons icon views.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further concerns.

Leonardo Mesquita

Independent Advisor

 

How to arrange files in an alphabetical order

Hi Julie,

Thank you for bringing up your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand that you wish to arrange files in an alphabetical order.

Let us try the following steps, and check if it helps.

• 
  Open the folder or library that you want to sort in the File Explorer.
  
• 
  Go to View
  on the top and expand the View ribbon by double clicking on it. Click Sort by, and then select Name, then click Ascending.
  

Hope it helps.

Kindly let us know if you need any further assistance with the issue. We are glad to assist you.