Desktop icons position lost at each boot

Hi,

I just upgraded to Windows 11 Pro and I face an annoying issue: after each boot, the position of the desktop icons is lost.

Do you know why and is there a workaround for this?

Thanks a lot, your help is very much appreciated,

I run Microsoft Windows Version 24H2 (0S Build 26100.6584) with latest ExplorerPatcher.

I haven't had that problem in a long time but it was common for me at first.
Try arranging icons as you like then hit f5 key. If that doesn't keep them in place, you can also save the positions into a little standalone app called DesktopOK and easily restore them at any time.

Hi,

Thanks.
When I hit F5, all my icons move!
I installed DesktopOK, thanks for that, it works well.
It's just a bit annoying having to use this software at every boot
Any idea what is causing my icons position to be lost at each boot?

Edit: actually my icons seem to not move anymore since I installed DesktopOK

Make sure your setting is right. Right click in empty spot of desktop. Click View. Uncheck Auto Arrange and check align icons to grid. Mine looks like this?

You're going to have to use process of elimination. Things to try:

Are you per chance using any 3rd party app that alters the GUI? Like ExplorerPatcher, StartAllBack, Open Shell, etc? If so uninstall it and restart See if it makes a difference.

Perform a clean boot to eliminate software conflict causing the issue. If it doesn't happen in a clean boot, you have some software conflicting with Windows. You have to use process of elimination to find which one. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

Another thing you could try is create another user account to test with. Make it a local account with type of administrator.
Restart and you will see 2 users on start screen. Login to the new user. Create a few desktop shortcuts and see if they will stay in place through a restart. This will prove whether it's a user account problem or a windows problem.. If everything works as it should in another account, it proves there is some kind of corruption in YOUR user account.

If it happens in another account, too. It would point to be a Windows problem.
Make sure you have no corrupt system files that is causing this problem. Open a command prompt as administrator and type
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
When complete restart. Then open command prompt as admin again and run sfc /scannow
Pay attention to the scan results to see if SFC found anything it could not repair

Last resort if it points to a windows problem -Repair install Windows 11 with an inplace upgrade Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

Thanks for great support @glasskuter but I edited my last message and you may have not seen it: as I said, my icons are now fine, their position is automatically saved as it should.
Strangely it happens since I installed DesktopOK: I'm not sure this is why things are ok now, but I will keep it installed just in case.
Thanks again.

Jambon29 said:

Strangely it happens since I installed DesktopOK: I'm not sure this is why things are ok now, but I will keep it installed just in case.
Thanks again.

Click to expand...

The icon locations can sometimes go bananas even with DesktopOK installed. Luckily, DesktopOK will restore their positions.