Desktop Icons Won't Stay Put


G

gunrunnerjohn

Member
Local time
2:14 AM
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OS
Windows 11 Pro 24H2
Since I installed Win11, I have not been able to keep the desktop icons in one place.

Obviously, I have turned off Auto-arrange, that didn't help. The odd part is, the positions will survive through a reboot or two, but then just when I think all is well, they'll be scattered all over the two monitors!

I've finally started using a program that remembers the positions and will restore them, but I'd like for them to just stay put! I never had this issue with any previous version of Windows, but Win11 seems buggier than a roach motel!

Don't get me started on the networking problems... 😞
 
Windows Build/Version
Win11 Pro 24H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two HP Pavilion 27xi 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
gunrunnerjohn said:
I never had this issue with any previous version of Windows
Click to expand...

Hi. This has been an issue across a few Windows versions for many (not all). First thing I’d try:

Try deleting the icon file, then move your icons and see if when the PC reboots and reads the new file, hopefully the icons are in the place you put them.
  • Press Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog. Type in: %userprofile% (or click on that to copy/paste) and click OK. The User folder will open.
  • Make sure hidden items are visible by clicking the View> Show>Hidden items, or in options in File Explorer, make sure hide protected files is unchecked.
  • Open the AppData folder.
  • Open the Local folder.
  • Within the Local folder select the IconCache file and click Delete.
Now arrange the desktop icons and restart the computer.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
is it when you put a new item on your desktop that they scatter? if so, this seems to be a resolution that actually works...

Placing an item on desktop (sometimes) displaces desktop icons

I have an odd issue that I cannot seem to determine a cause for. Wondering if anyone else has noticed this, and more importantly, identified a solution. Scenario: Windows 11 22H2 with the latest (Nov 2022) updates. I have no shell enhancements or programs installed that should alter the...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
The Desktop is not Static like a picture on the wall but Dynamic, always being refreshed/redrawn and any number of things can disturb it. Having 2 or more monitors can also be involved as can the amount of video RAM or System RAM. The type of connection can at times make a difference, the splitters usually duplicate/show the same thing, going through that with a computer in church office that has only 1 HDMI port so am using a USB to HDMI adapter.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
I've tried almost every solution I've found, I've finally settled on a little utility that will save and restore icon locations. I get them all set and save their positions. If they get scrambled, I just open the utility and restore them to the saved format. I've wasted enough time trying to fix this. :rolleyes:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two HP Pavilion 27xi 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
I have experienced this issue several windows versions(Win7) ago. I think it basically started when I switched my monitors(dual) from HDMI to DP. What I basically discovered was it only occurred if I had my monitors set to sleep. Once I turned off the sleep function for the monitors the issue no longer occurred. I too resorted to using a Utility to save and restore icon positions.
I assumed what was happening was the result of one of the monitors waking up from sleep earlier than the other one causing Windows to incorrectly place the desktop icons all on the monitor that woke up from sleep first while waiting for the 2nd monitor to wake. Since that time I have basically stopped using the sleep function for my monitors. YMMV
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7/10/11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    I'm a computer enthusiast so have quite a few systems that I run. More like an advanced hobby.

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteDesk 705 G5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE
    Memory
    8GB DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 11
    Hard Drives
    256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL Inspiron 15-3576
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8250U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR4 - 2400 SODIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Hard Drives
    256GB SK Hynix SC311 SATA SSD

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two HP Pavilion 27xi 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
gunrunnerjohn said:
Since I installed Win11, I have not been able to keep the desktop icons in one place.

Obviously, I have turned off Auto-arrange, that didn't help. The odd part is, the positions will survive through a reboot or two, but then just when I think all is well, they'll be scattered all over the two monitors!
😞
Click to expand...
Maybe increasing the icon cache size will fix your problem.
Here's the link in the elevenforum:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7, 265K
    Motherboard
    MSI Pro Z890-P WiFi
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Using integrated graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    512 GB SSD, 2TB M.2 SSD and 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Modular 550 watt Focus Plus
    Case
    Corsair 4000D
    Cooling
    ThermalRight Phantom Sprit
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