If you try to re-arrange files or folders in Explorer in Windows 10, then you will see that they will be automatically auto-arranged and aligned to a grid. In previous Windows versions, you could freely arrange icons inside folders in Explorer, but this feature is not available in Windows 10. By default, you could not disable auto arrange and align to grid option in Windows 10 File Explorer but don’t worry as in this post we will show you how to disable auto arrange in Folders in Windows 10.

Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10 - 1
  • Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10
  • Step 1: Reset all the folder views and customizations
  • Step 2: Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10
  • Step 3: Test if you can Disable Auto Arrange in Folders

Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Step 1: Reset all the folder views and customizations

  1. Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
Run command regedit | Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10 - 2
  1. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

  1. Make sure to expand Shell , where you would find a sub-key named Bags.

  2. Next, right-click on Bags then select Delete.

Right-click on Bags registry sub key then select Delete - 3
  1. Similarly go to the following locations and delete the Bags sub-key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

  1. Now restart Windows Explorer to save the changes, or you could restart your PC.

Step 2: Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10

  1. Open Notepad then copy & paste the following as it is:
REM --- 1. Step: Add keys

REM --- 1a for General Folders

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}" /v FFlags /t REG_DWORD /d 0x43000001 /f

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}" /v Mode /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000004 /f



REM --- 1b for Documents Folders

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{7D49D726-3C21-4F05-99AA-FDC2C9474656}" /v FFlags /t REG_DWORD /d 0x43000001 /f

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{7D49D726-3C21-4F05-99AA-FDC2C9474656}" /v Mode /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000004 /f



REM --- 1c for Music Folders

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{94D6DDCC-4A68-4175-A374-BD584A510B78}" /v FFlags /t REG_DWORD /d 0x43000001 /f

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{94D6DDCC-4A68-4175-A374-BD584A510B78}" /v Mode /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000004 /f



REM --- 1d for Picture Folders

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{B3690E58-E961-423B-B687-386EBFD83239}" /v FFlags /t REG_DWORD /d 0x43000001 /f

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{B3690E58-E961-423B-B687-386EBFD83239}" /v Mode /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000004 /f



REM --- 1e for Videos Folders

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{5FA96407-7E77-483C-AC93-691D05850DE8}" /v FFlags /t REG_DWORD /d 0x43000001 /f

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{5FA96407-7E77-483C-AC93-691D05850DE8}" /v Mode /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000004 /f



REM --- 2. Step: Export everything under the key AllFolders in a separate file AllFolders.reg

REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders" AllFolders.reg



REM --- 3. Step: Delete everything under the key Bags

REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /f



REM --- 4. Step: Import again exported file AllFolders.reg

REG IMPORT AllFolders.reg



REM --- 5. Step: Delete exported file AllFolders.reg

del AllFolders.reg
  1. Now from Notepad menu, click on File then select Save as.
From Notepad menu click on File then select Save As - 4
  1. The “ Save as type ” drop-down select All Files and name the file as Disable_Auto.bat (.bat extension is very important).
Name the file as Disable_Auto.bat in order Disable Auto Arrange in Folders - 5

  1. Now navigate to where you want to save the file and click Save.

  2. Right-click on the file then selects Run as administrator.

Right-click on Disable_Auto.bat file then select Run as administrator | Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10 - 6
  1. Restart your PC to save changes.

Step 3: Test if you can Disable Auto Arrange in Folders

  1. Open File Explorer then navigate to any folder and switch the View to “ Large icons “.
Open File Explorer then navigate to any folder and switch the View to Large icons - 7

  1. Now right-click in an empty area inside the folder then select View and make sure to click on “ Auto arrange ” to uncheck it.

  2. Try to drag the icons freely wherever you want.

  3. To undo this feature run a system restore.

Recommended:

  • Add Open command window here as administrator in Windows 10 Context Menu
  • Enable or Disable App Notifications on Lock Screen in Windows 10
  • Change Compatibility Mode for Apps in Windows 10
  • How To Change Default Programs in Windows 10

That’s it, and you successfully learned How To Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10 but if you still have any queries regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.