Some Windows 10 users don’t like this auto-arrange feature. Here in this page, we are going to show you how to manually arrange files in a folder in Windows 10 (Disable auto arrange).
In Windows 10, all the files & folders in a folder get auto arranged automatically by default. This auto arrange feature starts from Windows Vista but there was a option to enable or disable this option in Vista/XP. Now this feature also comes with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 operating system, but this auto arrange turn on / off option is vanished. 
Although this is an enhanced feature for windows, but some peoples don’t like it and want to arrange files in a folder manually (disable auto arrange). Before this feature, you could easily arrange or move the files and folders in a folder. Some peoples missed this freedom in windows 10. If you want to get your freedom back, you can easily get back that option to disable auto arrange feature in Windows 10 / 8 / 7. You have to follow the following step by step how to do guide.
Please note, we are not talking about desktop icon’s auto arrange feature. This was only for “in folder” auto arrange feature. So don’t get confused.
How to disable Auto Arrange in Folders.
Follow the following instruction to disable the auto arrange option in folders.
Step 1: Download the default registry file of Windows to disable auto-arrange (disable-auto-arrange-in-folders.reg).
Step 2: Double-click on downloaded “.reg” file to merge into Windows registry.
Step 3: Reboot or log off your computer.
Step 4: Right-click on a folder’s empty area to open up the right-click menu and then move the mouse pointer to “view” You’ll get two new options there “Auto Arrange” and “Align to Grid“. If these both options are greyed out then its means you have to select the “Medium icons” first then these two options are active for action.
Step 4: Go to a folder and check auto arrange option should be turn off.
How to re-enable Auto-arrange in Folders.
Follow the following instruction to re-enable the auto arrange option in folders.
Step 1: Download the default registry file of Windows to re-enable auto arrange (re-enable-auto-arrange-in-folders.reg).
Step 2: Double-click on downloaded .reg file to merge into Windows registry
Step 3: Reboot your computer.
After reboot, both the options (“Auto Arrange” and “Align to Grid“) will be disappeared again.
Watch a video tutorial: How to turn off / on auto arrange in folder.
The issue should be fixed after followed the steps. If the issue doesn’t fix, please leave your message in the comment section below, we’ll discover more about it and will share with you.
after fixing the files in the folder, if I close them, when reopened, I find the files again as before and not as I had placed them
First of all thank you. It did work on my Windows 10. Thumbs up. While it is true that there are still some bugs to fix, e.g. the margins in between the icons are far too big (at least on my Dell XPS13 4K resolution) you have managed to fix a very stupid decision from Microsoft team by removing the autoarrange on/off function. I use this function a lot to rearrange my trip photos that sometimes are taken with different cameras or in different moments/locations. What I suggest is to RENAME automatically all the pictures once you have place them in your own order, and then you will always keep that order.
1- Select all JPG in that folder
2- right click on the first one of your “new own order”
3- Rename all e.g. Buenos Aires
4- All pictures will now be Buenos Aires (1) to …. Buenos Aires (99)
No more arranganging problems on any device.
Hope this help.
Sorry for my bad english.
“downlaoded” – lol it’s downloaded
Hi,
I have waited 11 months for a solution to this problem. This is so annoying and I’m really frustrated now.
Could you PLEASE find a way to fix this.
Hi
Im also having the same problem with my files being changed back again by windows once I close the folder
Please find a solution
hellow can you give my the enable program pls
oh sorry i’m blind
Hi, i tried that. And like other people say; once u close file explorer and re-open, the files are arranged by windows again. Please let me know if there is a new solution to this. I really miss arrangin my files the way i like it. Best regards
Me too, whats so hard for Microsoft to put an option there so we can disable/ enable it?!!!
It works for me on Windows 10 Home 1803 (that’s great!), but my icons (extra large, large, medium mode) are placed with extra large margins so now much less icons can be seen in the window .
Same issue here (using win10). It’s working initially, but once the folder is refreshed, closed/reopened it simply goes back to default. Need a way to save the new order-setting after it has been rearranged. Please let know. Thanks in advance!
It works but when you refresh the files fall back into the same order. How to fix it?
Arrange your folder as you want and then do close the folder window and then reboot the computer once to save the manual arrange settings. Please let us know again if the problem persists after that.
Did exactly as you said. Issue is that the arrange settings do not get saved.
I’m on windows 10-17134 build. Any idea?
I just have tested this on Windows 10 (17134) version and found that it’s not saving the settings. We are still working on this issue, and let you as soon as we found the solution.
Thanks a bunch! Sooner the better!
Hi, Still no solution?
Facing the same issue. Can you fix it? basically it’s useless since the arrange settings are not getting saved.
It is working fine on Windows 7 OS. We will have to check why it is not saving the settings in Windows10 (New Release). We’ll update the registry file and let you know about that as soon as found the fix.
Hi dear technician have u found the solution? We really like to arrange the files the way we want…
No, we haven’t found the solution yet. We’ll update here as soon as we get the solution to this problem for sure.