Windows 10: Placement of new icons on the desktop

Hello everyone,

I have an issue that has been nagging me for years now and through multiple versions of Windows and am hoping someone can help me finally figure it out. I use my desktop as my workspace - in addition to shortcuts it also contains files and folders I am actively working with. Likewise, it is also the default location where files are saved from my browser and where new PDFs are put when I print.

The problem is that any time a new file/icon is added to the desktop, it is place in the top left, right underneath the "This PC" icon and pushes all the existing icons down a spot. Instead, I'd prefer it to go to the bottom right corner like it seemingly always did in earlier versions of Windows. I've tried different options like turning off auto arrange and playing with the sort by options, but nothing works.

Seems kind of silly, I know - but it bugs me for some reason! Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jason

:)

 

Windows 10 Multiple desktops with different icons on the desktop

I would like to reiterate the question:

Windows 10 multiple desktops with different icons on each desktop

A solution is needed that supports virtual desktops for both window management/placement and icon management/placement in windows 10.

The window management is already available in Windows 10, which is appreciated.

The ability to select which icons to place (a.k.a. "make visible") on a given virtual desktop would be an efficiency boost for users.

(BTW - Dexpot does not support Windows 10, and has not seen any update since spring 2016).

Please let the community know about the progress in this matter.

Best regards,

DJ

 

Latest Creators update has left me with a frozen Start Menu.

Not getting any error messages but start menu completely frozen and can not access programs that way or turn off the computer.

Updates were installed on 28/4/2017.

Also noticing that desktop icons are being rearranged from my custom placement to 'all on the left side' placement with each start up.

I have not tried to create a new profile yet but have signed out, shut down and restarted several times.

The Search Bar is also frozen and I can not type into it.

 

Hi, the default behaviour should be that when a new item is saved to the desktop (rather than being dragged to it) it should take the next free space, seeking a space in columns across the screen starting in the left column.

(Maybe it's different in, say, Arabic Windows (right to left?)!)

Do you have auto arrange off and align to grid on? (Rt click on blank area of desktop, View)

The third answer here may be of interest
New files put in upper left corner on desktop - Microsoft Community

There are also 3rd party tools that preserve desktop icon positions which you will find mentioned in threads here about desktop icons rearranging.

If nothing else ...
Is the behaviour different in
a. a new user (for test purposes)
b. in Safe Mode

 

Hi Dalchina - thanks for your response.

It was set to the opposite: Auto Arrange is on and Align to Grid is off. I swapped them and everything is currently working, but according to posts in that thread, the problem comes back shortly, so I expect it will for me as well. The solution in the thread was to basically sort by date created - that would help with new file position, but it would mess up the order of the existing icons, which isn't good. And, really turning Auto Arrange off isn't ideal either as if I move or delete a file off the desktop it leaves a gap and then I have to manually move other icons around to fill it. So.... *Sad

Any other ideas?

 

Try one of the 3rd party tools mentioned in those threads (one is VERY long). You can easily search the forum e.g.
desktop arrange icons
desktop icons rearranging

(I don't find my desktop icons moving around randomly, nor settings randomly changed, but the first has been a problem for some over several generations of Windows).

 

Roger that - will do. Thanks Dalchina.