All my desktop icons changed positions. How to I set them back?

Hello and thanks for reaching out for support. My name is Larribeau, I'm a Independent
advisor and a regular user like you. I'll be happy to help you out today.

It sounds like you're experiencing an issue with the layout of icons on your desktop. All of the icons have been moved to different locations, including icons for folders and shortcuts that you added yourself. It can be difficult to remember the exact positions that your icons were in before, and you're wondering if there's a way to restore the previous layout.

Fortunately, Windows 10 has a built-in feature that allows you to save and restore your desktop icon layout. Here's how:

Right-click on the desktop and select "View".

Make sure the "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" options are unchecked.

Right-click on the desktop again and select "Personalize".

Select "Themes" from the left-hand menu.

Click on "Desktop icon settings".

In the "Desktop Icon Settings" window, select "Save" to save the current layout of your desktop icons.

If you ever want to restore the layout in the future, simply go back to the "Desktop Icon Settings" window and click "Restore Default".

This should restore your desktop icon layout to the previously saved layout, including the positions of folders and shortcuts that you added yourself. If you have any trouble with this process, feel free to ask for further assistance

Thanks a lot for the instructions!

However, I cannot find the button "save" at the last step of the instructions/.

May be I missed something?

Thanks

Kuo-Chang

My icons seem to be locked to have a locked to grid affect. When I try to manually reposition, they go back to their x/y grid location. Why does Microsoft need to make changes to the display and not fully test? The above instructions did not help me.

The response above is incorrect. The setting mentioned has nothing to do with icons' layout. The only thing it changes is the appearance of the system icons themselves, like "Computer" or "Recycling Bin".

Windows icons tend to move around, especially when screen resolution changes, yet there is no reliable way in Windows of saving the layout.

As registry information may vary for different versions of Windows, better use a third-party utility rather than attempting to do it yourself. It's not very helpful at this point, since the topic starter already lost their setup.

Mr Ralph,

you stated "In the "Desktop Icon Settings" window, select "Save" to save the current layout of your desktop icons."

There is no SAVE option in Windows 10

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎5/‎22/‎2023

OS build 19045.3448

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19044.1000.0

It's not FORTUNATELY, THERE'S A FEATURE if you don't know the GD feature exists (user manuals would be ever so helpful but I guess it's old-fashioned to understand all the features without spending countless hours experimenting). So, if I never saved an arrangement, how can I possibly restore it????

It's enough to make me think I'm truly stupid for letting windows update my computer!

It's not FORTUNATELY, THERE'S A FEATURE if you don't know the GD feature exists (user manuals would be ever so helpful but I guess it's old-fashioned to understand all the features without spending countless hours experimenting). So, if I never saved an arrangement, how can I possibly restore it????

It's enough to make me think I'm truly stupid for letting windows update my computer!

I really had no idea - I thought someone was manipulating my computer - I don;t need help making me think i'm going crazy in this world. Thank you -leave my **** where i put it. Please.!!

Didn't work on Windows 11. Please start fixing this **** pathetic excuse you call an operating system Microsoft.

Yes, yes and more ****ing yes! Why wasn't this the default setting from the get go? Somebody needs a good kick to the teeth, just saying.

This solution does not work. I do not have auto arrange or the grid checked on the view for my desk top- I have also disabled the themes setting as well. There has to be another way to keep Windows from moving my desktop icons to the left every single time I rename one! Also, whenever I try to fix this stuff on my own, Windows will jumble and move ALL my icons to the left randomly and there is apparently no "undo" button for this either. What is wrong with Microsoft?? It's the 21st century and they still can't fix this stuff??