Why does Windows 11 garble (i.e. completely rearrange) my desktop, whenever I move an icon on the desktop?


mmo

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11:10 PM
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Windows 11
Since months Windows 11 (and before that Windows 10 - for years) always rearranges my entire desktop whenever I move an icon on it. By now I have installed two different tools (DesktopOK and Iconoid) to snapshot my desktop when it's OK and allow to get my desktop back to normal after such an action, but I would be interested: Why the f^*%# is Windows doing this at all? Why is it rearranging my icons again and again and again? Which sick mind came up with the idea that users could possibly want their desktop constantly rearranged? And why is MS not asking their Co-Pilot at least for once to do something useful and fix this bug? I read that they claim that 30+% of their SW is already written by AI (and boy - this OS definitely feels like so!).

I have switched off every setting that I found when googling for this bug (auto-arrange icons, align-to-grid, etc. etc.), so I am not seeking for advice (anymore) how to fix this annoyance once it happened. I am simply trying to understand: how could anyone come up with the idea for this behavior and how come that the company's quality control (at least they claim they have one) never pinpointed this behavior and requested this to be fixed?
 

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I've never had this problem on any Windows version for more years than I care to remember and don't believe Microsoft have implemented such a feature.

Despite your comment not seeking advice, I really think it's something to do with the way your system is set up.
I would ask if you have a "Sort By" setting for the desktop? If, for example, it is by date, then some icons may get their date changed merely by being used.
Also have you installed any Windows utilities that might in some way have an effect on the desktop layout?
Do you change the screen resolution as that can alter icon layout.

Just some thoughts.

Edit: Just found this
Windows 11 Desktop icons rearrange and re-sort themselves
Unless it's yourself from 3 years ago.
 

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In addition to sort by (mentioned above), also make sure View - Auto Arrange Icons is disabled in the same desktop context menu
 

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This has been a problem for some folks for years. I am on 25H2 26200.9457 and have not encountered this problem for quite some time.
Adding icons to the desktop is the same as it always was and follow a set of positioning rules inside windows depend on one's settings. If an app creates a new shortcut, it automatically uses windows positioning rules and will automatically go to the next available vertical position on left hand side of screen. I just drag it wherever I want.

If I manually create a new shortcut I right click any empty spot on desktop and add new shortcut or file, it positions the icon where ever I clicked. It's always worked that way for me. I have 'view' set as medium icons-both align to grid and auto arrange is OFF.

I will say however, if I update my graphics driver or change resolution, my icons will scramble. I also use DesktopOK to be prepared for this occurrance.
This is a very common issue for folks who use multiple monitors of different resolutions.
 

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  • System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.9457

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