Can I Reserve the First "Slot" of my Desktop?

I've noticed something while using Windows 11 that wasn't an issue in previous versions of the OS.

Lets say I have two files occupying the top left portion of my desktop. I want these here, and in this order. I like to use the top left spot for "priority" things I need to follow-up on or do. And keeping things Aligned to Grid so they are cleanly sorted.



Now lets say I create/save a new file to the desktop. Windows used to do the logical thing, and just place it under these. But now I'm finding it bumps them down, and puts the new file in the first top left slot (which is supremely annoying).



Why is this happening, and is there anything I can do about it?

Right Click desktop >Sort

Windows is better these days at honoring your choice of icon placement when you drag it where you want on the desktop, but every once in a while it acts up. Sometimes hitting F5 after placing an icon's position will "lock" it in place.
For @Rollback_Jockey suggestion you do NOT want anything checked under "sort by".
If your icons still won't stay where you put them, I recommend a neat portable app called DesktopOK. I've used it for years. It saves your icon placement and you easily restore that placement with 2 clicks. It's especially helpful for me since I have a number of icons organized in a method of madness that works for me.

win9598xp7 said:

that wasn't an issue in previous versions of the OS

Click to expand...

Yes, it is.
It certainly behaves in the same annoying way in Windows 10.

This thread
Desktop icons keep rearranging -TenForums
also suggests
DesktopOK

See also
How to Restore Your Desktop Icon Positions - MUO
Download Iconoid - MajorGeeks

OR
Arrange your icons on the right-hand side of the desktop instead.


Denis

glasskuter said:

If your icons still won't stay where you put them, I recommend a neat portable app called DesktopOK.

Click to expand...

If we're naming apps, then I use AlomWare Toolbox for that, because it can save an unlimited number of desktop icon layouts by name. So I use one layout when I'm using App A, and another layout when using App B. The layouts get done automatically when those apps start, so I don't even need to hit a hotkey to switch them.

I know exactly what you mean as currently I have 3-4 columns on the left, 1st column is full so any created Icon is fitted to a left aligned space nearest to the top.

That has been broadly similar going back 25 years thru various Windows versions.
The bottom line is always moving the created Icon to a chosen area. For me Priority is centre bottom. It is only a simple drag and drop so no problem.
Seems Windows is doing closer to your placement requirements as is.

That arrangement has never changed in 2 years, actually Windows 11 seems pretty good at maintaining those positions.

I always use Shortcuts to Apps/Folders/Files on the Desktop, when deleted it is the Desktop Shortcut rather than the actual File/Folder.