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
Step 1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop
A small drop-down window will appear.
Step 2. Click View
This option is the first option at the top of the window.
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.
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
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.
Step 2. Click Download Desklock
This link is at the bottom of the article.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Step 4. Click Sort By
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.
