This troubleshooting guide aims to provide potential solutions and suggestions to resolve this problem. Fences is designed to help users organize their desktop icons into categorized "fences" to create a more structured and visually appealing desktop. However, it can occasionally interfere with the default functionality of icon movement.
Why Are My Desktop Icons Not Saving Positions?
If you’re experiencing difficulties moving icons on your desktop after installing Fences, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take. One common issue is the “auto arrange icons” option being checked in the “view” settings. To rectify this, simply right click on your desktop and select “view” from the drop-down menu. Ensure that the “auto arrange icons” option is unchecked, as this can prevent you from freely moving your icons.
Additionally, ensure that the “align icons to grid” option is checked. This will help to maintain a clean and organized desktop layout. Once you’ve confirmed these settings, try repositioning your icons and then hit the F5 key on your keyboard. This will refresh your desktop and, in some cases, lock your icons in place.
If these initial troubleshooting steps don’t resolve the issue, it may be worth restarting your computer. Oftentimes, a simple reset can help to resolve any software conflicts that may be affecting the movement of your icons.
In some cases, third-party software or conflicting applications can interfere with the functionality of Fences and the movement of your icons. It may be worth checking your installed programs and disabling any unnecessary software that may be running in the background. By eliminating potential conflicts, you can ensure a smoother experience when moving your icons.
If all else fails, you may want to consider uninstalling and reinstalling the Fences program. This can help to refresh any settings or configurations that may have been altered during installation. However, be sure to backup any important desktop configurations before proceeding with this step.
They may be able to provide specific guidance tailored to your situation to help you regain control over your desktop icon positions.
Troubleshooting Steps for Desktop Icons Not Displaying Correctly
- Check that the desktop icons aren’t hidden. Right-click on the desktop, go to View and make sure that Show desktop icons is checked.
- Refresh the desktop. Right-click on the desktop and select Refresh or press F5 on the keyboard.
- Restart the File Explorer. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer, right-click on it, and select Restart.
- Reset the icon cache. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following path: C:UsersYourUsernameAppDataLocal. Find the IconCache.db file, right-click on it, and select Delete. Restart the computer.
- Run a system file check. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator, type sfc /scannow, and press Enter. Wait for the scan to complete and restart the computer.
- Update or reinstall the graphics drivers. Visit the manufacturer’s website for your computer or graphics card and download the latest drivers. Install them and restart the computer.
- Perform a system restore. If the issue started recently, try restoring your computer to a previous point when the icons were displaying correctly.
- Create a new user profile. Sometimes the issue is specific to your user profile. Create a new user account and check if the icons display correctly there.
- Scan for malware. Run a full scan using your antivirus software or a reputable malware removal tool to check for any infections.
- Contact technical support. If the issue persists and none of the troubleshooting steps resolved it, consider reaching out to technical support for further assistance.
This can be done by right-clicking on the Desktop, selecting View, and then unchecking the “Auto arrange icons” option. By doing so, you’ll regain control over the arrangement of your desktop icons.
Why Do My Desktop Icons Keep Rearranging Themselves?
To do this, right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select “View” from the context menu. Then, uncheck the “Auto arrange icons” option.
Another possible reason for your desktop icons rearranging themselves is due to a third-party software called Fences. Fences is a program that allows you to organize your desktop icons into customizable containers. While Fences can be a useful tool for organizing your desktop, it can sometimes interfere with the default Windows desktop settings. If you’ve Fences installed and are experiencing issues with your icons, try disabling or uninstalling the program to see if that resolves the problem.
In addition to the above, it’s also worth checking your desktop resolution settings. If you recently changed your screen resolution, it may have caused your icons to become misaligned. To fix this, right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select “Display settings” from the context menu. Make sure the resolution is set to the recommended setting for your monitor.
Another troubleshooting step you can try is to restart your computer. After restarting, check if the issue persists.
If none of the above solutions work, you can try resetting the Desktop icon cache. The icon cache is a database that stores the location and metadata of your desktop icons. A corrupted icon cache can cause your icons to appear in the wrong location or not appear at all. To reset the icon cache, open File Explorer and navigate to the following directory: %localappdata%MicrosoftWindowsExplorer. Locate the file named “IconCache.db” and delete it. Then, restart your computer to rebuild the icon cache.
If after trying all of the above troubleshooting steps your icons still won’t stay in place, it may be worth considering a system restore. Keep in mind, however, that a system restore will revert your computer settings and installed software to a previous state, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.
How to Organize Desktop Icons Effectively
Organizing desktop icons effectively can help improve productivity and accessibility on your computer. One effective way to accomplish this is by using a desktop organization tool like Fences. However, after installing Fences, you may experience issues with moving icons on your desktop. To troubleshoot this problem, try the following steps:
1. Check Fences settings: Make sure that the settings within Fences are properly configured. Ensure that the “Auto Arrange” and “Snap to Grid” options are disabled. This will allow you to freely move icons on your desktop.
2. Restart Fences: Sometimes, restarting Fences can help resolve any issues with moving icons. Right-click on the Fences icon in the system tray and select “Restart Fences”.
3. Check for conflicts: If you’ve other desktop customization software installed, it may conflict with Fences and prevent you from moving icons. Temporarily disable or uninstall any conflicting software to see if it resolves the issue.
4. Update Fences: Ensure that you’ve the latest version of Fences installed. Developers often release updates to address bugs and improve performance. Check the software’s official website for any available updates.
5. Contact support: If the issue persists, reach out to the Fences support team for further assistance. They may be able to provide guidance or offer a solution specific to your situation.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve any issues with moving icons after installing Fences, allowing you to effectively organize your desktop for enhanced usability.
Source: 7 Ways to Fix Your Windows PC When It Keeps Rearranging …
Conclusion
Despite the benefits of implementing Fences to better organize desktop icons, there seems to be a compatibility conflict causing this problem. To troubleshoot this, users can try updating to the latest version of Fences, checking for any conflicting software or utilities, disabling any compatibility modes, and ensuring that Fences is granted the necessary administrative privileges.