If your desktop icons in Windows have become scattered and you'd like to restore them to a previous arrangement without manually dragging each one back into place, there are a few approaches you might consider. However, it's important to note that Windows does not natively provide a simple "undo" feature for desktop icon arrangements once they've been moved or if the arrangement has been automatically altered (for instance, due to a change in screen resolution). Here are some strategies you can try:
Right-click and Sort
While this won't restore your icons to a custom layout like having them arranged around the edges, it can help organize them quickly. Right-click on the desktop, hover over "Sort by," and choose an option like "Name," "Date modified," or "Item type." This isn't a custom arrangement but can bring some order to the chaos.
Auto Arrange Icons
Right-click on the desktop, go to "View," and see if "Auto arrange icons" is checked. If it is, and you prefer to manually place your icons around the desktop edges, make sure to uncheck this option. This will stop Windows from automatically aligning icons to a grid. However, this won't restore your previous layout; it just allows you to move icons freely again.
Align Icons to Grid
Similarly, under the "View" menu (accessed by right-clicking on the desktop), you can choose "Align icons to grid" to snap icons to a grid layout, which may help in manually reorganizing them quicker but won't automatically restore your previous layout.
Desktop Restore Tool
There are third-party applications available that can save and restore your desktop icon layout. Tools like "DesktopOK" or "IconRestorer" can be useful for this purpose. You can save your desktop layout once you've arranged it to your liking, and then restore it anytime it gets messed up. Unfortunately, this solution requires foresight and doesn't help after the fact unless you've previously used such a tool to save your layout.
System Restore
If your icons were rearranged due to a system change or update and you haven't made significant changes to your system since then, you could consider using System Restore to roll back your computer to a previous state. Note that this could affect installed programs and system settings made after the restore point and should be used cautiously.
Manual Rearrangement
If none of the above solutions work, unfortunately, the most straightforward method may be to manually drag and rearrange your icons to your preferred layout. For the future, consider using a desktop icon layout saver tool once you have your icons arranged to your liking.
Given the situation, the manual rearrangement might be your immediate solution, and for the future, utilizing a desktop layout saver tool could prevent similar frustrations.
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This article is part of our general tech support series to ensure that you get the best support possible even if it's not for OneLaunch.