This wikiHow teaches you how to lock the position of the desktop icons on a Windows or Mac computer. Although Windows doesn't provide an easy option for locking icon positions, you can use the auto-arrange and alignment features to keep the icons looking neat. You can also use a third-party application called DeskLock. On Mac computers, you can sort icons by their markers to keep them locked in place.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using the Auto-Arrange and Align Features on a Windows Computer
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Step 1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop
A small drop-down window will appear.
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Step 2. Click View
This option is the first option at the top of the window.
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Step 3. Click " Auto arrange icons " until there is a check next to it
The icons on the desktop will be reordered and stored in a certain order so they can't be moved to other parts of the desktop.
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Step 4. Click " Align icons to grid " until there is a check next to it
The icons will be neatly spaced and locked into the grid.
Method 2 of 3: Using DeskLock on a Windows Computer
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Step 1. Visit the DeskLock download page in a web browser
Go to https://www.intowindows.com/lock-desktop-icons-windows in a browser and swipe to the bottom of the page.
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Step 2. Click Download Desklock
This link is at the bottom of the article.
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Step 3. Click DeskLock
This download link is labeled "DeskLock v1.2" on the page, next to the desktop icon image. The DeskLock program will download immediately.
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Step 4. Double click the " DeskLock.exe " file
Go to the downloaded DeskLock application file storage directory and double-click its icon to launch the application. DeskLock is a small program that doesn't need to be installed on your computer.
By default, all downloaded files can be accessed in the “Download” folder
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Step 5. Right-click the DeskLock icon on the workbar
When the program is not active, this icon is green with the letter “S”. Once activated, the icon is blue and white with a yellow padlock. You can find this icon in the lower-right corner of the workbar.
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Step 6. Click Enabled
DeskLock will be activated and the icons on the desktop will be locked.
If the icon is unlocked, right-click the DeskLock icon in the system section and select “ Settings " After that, make sure the box next to the “ Lock icons " already marked and click " OK ”.
Method 3 of 3: Sorting Icons By Bookmark on Mac Computer
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Step 1. Right-click any desktop content
A drop-down menu will open afterwards. On a Mac with a trackpad or magic mouse, click on desktop content with two fingers or hold down the Option key and click on the content instead of the right-click mechanism.
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Step 2. Select a colored marker
Use colored markers to manage desktop content the way you want. The icons will be arranged by color in the order they appear in the drop-down menu.
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Step 3. Right-click any desktop content
A drop-down menu will open afterwards. On Mac computers with a trackpad or magic mouse, click on desktop content with two fingers or hold down the Option key and click content instead of the right-click mechanism.
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Step 4. Click Sort By
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Step 5. Select Tags
It's at the bottom of the pull-down menu. The icons on the desktop are arranged in the order in which the bookmark was selected, then locked into place.