The default mode for Desktop is to automatically organize icons. If you move an icon or delete or add a new one, it will reorganize. Now the problem occurs when you connect another monitor, which has a different resolution. The icons are rearranged according to the resolution. In this article, we will show you how you can prevent desktop icons from moving during undocking your device.
You can see it in the picture – when I switch from one monitor to another, the location of the trash changes. If you have a lot of icons on the desktop, they will all move.
Why d0 desktop icons move when resolution changes
If you’re wondering why the desktop icons move when Windows 10 is undocked, then its simple calculations. Suppose you have a higher resolution when you are connected to a monitor while your laptop has a lower resolution. When you sign out, the coordinates of the icons are no longer available and the desktop tries to reorganize to make sure they are visible.
The worst part is that it will happen even if you have disabled the automatic arrangement of the office. It only works if you don’t change the resolution. Before you go ahead and share some solutions, make sure that neither third-party software nor Windows is responsible for rearranging the desktop icons and changing the layout.
How to prevent desktop icons from moving during undocking
We therefore need software or a parameter capable of memorizing the position of the icons according to the resolution. After research, there are two ways to do this, but it depends on the situation.
- Configure the icon layout for each desktop
- Use DesktopOK software
- Use the free Icon Sheperd software.
The first one works well if you connect to the same resolution or the same monitor every day. However, if it is random, you can use the second option, but in the end you will have to configure it according to the resolution.
1]Layout of configuration icons for each desktop
One thing I have known is that if you configure the position of the icons once on each screen, Windows seems to remember that. I have personally tried it with multiple desktops and switching to each screen as the only monitor, and it worked. So if you keep docking / disconnecting Windows 10 with the same monitor with the same resolution every day, it should work.
The screenshots you see above are from different monitors and different resolutions. I had organized a set of icons according to my needs on each monitor, and each time I change the position of the icons, it does not change. Here’s one thing about the manual method. It works now, but will it work after a feature update or a change to Windows Shell, I can’t guarantee that.
The next option is therefore these two applications. I suggest using them unless Microsoft officially launches something that can handle it.
2]DesktopOK
DesktopOK is an icon monitoring software and works very effectively with resolutions. When I say effectively, I mean that the transition is very smooth. Once the software is launched, you just need to configure your icon and save the profile using the software. The best part of the software is that you can set the layout profile of the icons to restore when Windows starts. So if you still connect directly to another monitor every day, this is useful. You can also set up an automatic save function, so you don’t have to save every time you change the icon locations.
You can also choose to save with the name with the DOK extension, and if you have a unique layout, you can share it with your friend with the same resolution.
3]Sheperd icon
Similar to our manual method, Icon Sheperd will remember the position of the desktop icons and allow you to create a profile. So once you’ve configured the icon position for the 1st monitor, save it as Monitor an icon profile, then Monitor the profile of two icons. Each time you switch to this monitor profile. You can name the profile based on resolution, meeting rooms, projector name, etc.
It may take 15-20 seconds when you change the display as it tries to align the icons but fails automatically. Hence the reason why we suggested saving the profile and then switching it manually.
The software is free to use, but there is a condition. You can use a copy of Icon Shepherd on a from your private computers at home, free. If you want to use it on multiple computers, it’s a good idea to buy one.
We can only wish that Microsoft has this functionality natively now that multiple monitors, and using a second monitor has become common. It will take care to prevent the desktop icons from moving when Windows 10 is undocked. So, until Microsoft implements it, we have these free software to help us.