Icons move when Auto arrange is on, displays change, or the icon cache breaks—turn off Auto arrange, lock your display settings, and rebuild the cache.
Your Windows 7 desktop looked tidy yesterday. Today the icons jumped to new spots or stacked on the left. This guide lays out what causes that shuffle and the steps that stop it for good. You will set the right menu options, keep a steady resolution across screens, and refresh the icon cache when it goes stale.
What Triggers Icons To Shift In Windows 7
Windows places shortcuts and files on an invisible grid. When layout rules or display details change, the grid recalculates and icons snap to new cells. The most common triggers are the desktop “View” menu, a screen change, or a broken icon cache file. Less common triggers include quick changes in icon size, an Explorer crash, or themes swapping default icons.
| Cause | Where To Change | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|
| Auto arrange is turned on | Right-click desktop > View | Remove the check beside “Auto arrange icons” |
| Align to grid shifts positions | Right-click desktop > View | Toggle “Align to grid” after placing icons |
| Resolution or scaling changes | Control Panel > Adjust screen resolution | Pick the native resolution for each screen |
| Monitor order switches | Screen Resolution layout map | Set the correct “Make this my main display” |
| Icon size changed by scroll | Desktop (Ctrl + mouse wheel) | Set size back to Medium Icons |
| Icon cache file is corrupted | %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db | Rebuild the cache and restart Explorer |
| Theme replaces default icons | Desktop Icon Settings | Uncheck “Allow themes to change desktop icons” |
| Explorer crashed and reloaded | Task Manager > Processes | Restart Explorer cleanly and re-place icons |
If you need a quick refresher on the built-in menu options, see Microsoft’s guide on how to arrange icons on the desktop.
Stop Desktop Icons From Moving In Windows 7: Step-By-Step
Turn Off Auto Arrange
- Right-click an empty spot on the desktop and open View.
- Click Auto arrange icons to remove the check.
- Place your icons where you want them, then press F5 to refresh and confirm the layout sticks.
Auto arrange sorts and repacks items to the grid each time a change occurs. With it off, Windows keeps your manual positions.
Use Align To Grid Wisely
“Align to grid” keeps icons lining up neatly. It can also nudge icons to the nearest cell when you drop them. If you see tiny jumps after you place items, turn it off, place your icons, then turn it back on. The setting is in the same View menu.
Set A Stable Resolution And Primary Display
Icons recalc when a screen drops below the size used to place them. A projector, a dock, or a TV can change the layout map. Keep each screen at its native resolution and mark your main screen so the left edge stays put.
- Open Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Adjust screen resolution.
- Select each display in the diagram and set the correct resolution from the drop-down list.
- Pick the screen you use as home base and tick Make this my main display.
Microsoft’s Windows 7 steps for this panel are outlined in the “Adjust screen resolution” article; the same flow appears in this Windows 7 screen resolution guide.
Freeze Icon Size Before You Place Items
Holding Ctrl while rolling the mouse wheel changes icon size. That silent change can trigger a repack. Pick Medium Icons on the View menu and leave it there while you arrange the grid.
Rebuild The Icon Cache When Thumbnails Or Icons Look Wrong
If icons swap images or go blank, the icon cache is usually stale. Windows stores a database file named IconCache.db. Rebuilding it clears the stale map and restores the link between files and their pictures.
- Close apps and save your work.
- Open Start, type cmd, right-click cmd.exe, and choose Run as administrator.
- Run these commands in order:
taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
attrib -h IconCache.db
del IconCache.db
start explorer.exe
The official Microsoft article on this fix explains why the cache causes icon mix-ups and shows the same steps to rebuild it. You can open it here: rebuild the icon cache.
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