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How to Automatically Arrange Desktop Icons
How to arrange desktop icons automatically on Windows, and how to sort them by name, date or size.
- Right-click any empty area of the desktop.
- "View" → turn on "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid".
Tip: to sort by a specific criterion all at once (name, size, date), right-click → "Sort by" → choose the option — all icons get rearranged by that criterion immediately.
Note: with "Auto arrange icons" turned on, you won't be able to freely place icons wherever you want — Windows will always snap them to the grid. Turn it off if you'd rather have full manual control over each icon's position.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose the sort criterion (name, date, size)?
Yes, right-click → 'Sort by' lets you choose the specific criterion to rearrange all icons at once.
Does 'Auto arrange icons' stop me from moving icons freely?
Yes, with that option turned on, icons always snap to a tidy grid. Turn it off if you'd rather place them freely wherever you want.