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Running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit v1803.

Missing context menu items View > Auto arrange and View > Align to grid have been restored (using the tips in this article). View > auto arrange is switched off, and View > Align to grid is on.

I've set up a special "Work-Shortcuts" folder and want to arrange the icons to specific locations. This dramatically improves productivity and was a great feature in Windows XP. For example, here is the initial position:

Initial position

Now I move the icons to where I need them:

Icons are now in the perfect position!

Everything looks good...but after closing and re-opening the folder (or just hit F5) all the icons return to the position shown in the first image! It appears that Auto arrange is on (even though it is not ticked) or Windows has failed to save the folder settings (I believe these are called ShellBag).

How do I force Windows to save my icon positions?

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

The Windows Desktop has the ability to retain icon position information, File Explorer windows do not.

There have been other similar questions asked elsewhere online and so far there is no utility I am aware of that adds this ability.

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2
  • Has Microsoft really broken or removed this crucial functionality? This was a major productivity feature of early versions of Windows 10 (certainly v1607) and Windows XP (I'm assuming Windows 7 too).
    – AlainD
    Commented Oct 26, 2018 at 15:45
  • Unfortunately, this answer appears to be correct. Microsoft has removed this useful feature of earlier versions of Windows. A shame. My workaround is to use the ability to retain icon positions of the desktop and Windows > Start menu. In each sub-folder from the desktop, select View > Medium icons and View > Algin to grid (the latter may be redundant).
    – AlainD
    Commented Oct 30, 2018 at 16:25

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