Grid desktop

The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your PC and sign in to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put items on the desktop, such as files, folders, and shortcuts, and arrange them however you want.

If you turn on Align icons to grid, your desktop icons will automatically be snapped into place as designated by an invisible grid on your screen. The grid keeps the icons aligned with each other to prevent them from overlapping.

If you turn off Align icons to grid, your desktop icons will no longer be snapped into place by grid.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off align desktop icons to grid for your account in Windows 10.

• Option One: To Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid using Context Menu
• Option Two: To Turn On or Off "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" using a BAT file

EXAMPLE: turned on and off

To Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid using Context Menu

If you accidently align to grid your desktop icons, then you can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons layout by restarting explorer during the current session.

Desktop icons layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons layout.

1 Right click or press and hold on your desktop (Shift+F10), click/tap on View, and click/tap on Align icons to grid to check (on - default) or uncheck (off) it. (see screenshot below)

To Turn On or Off "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" using a BAT file

The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

FFLAGS DWORD

1075839520 = Auto arrange icons = OFF and Align icons to grid = OFF
1075839521 = Auto arrange icons = ON and Align icons to grid = OFF
1075839524 = Auto arrange icons = OFF and Align icons to grid = ON
1075839525 = Auto arrange icons = ON and Align icons to grid = ON

1. Do step 2, step 3, step 4, or step 5 below for what you would like to do.

2To Turn OFF "Auto arrange icons" and Turn OFF "Align icons to grid"

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Auto_arrange_icons-OFF_and_Align_icons_to_grid-OFF.bat

Download

3To Turn ON "Auto arrange icons" and Turn OFF "Align icons to grid"

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Auto_arrange_icons-ON_and_Align_icons_to_grid-OFF.bat

Download

4To Turn OFF "Auto arrange icons" and Turn ON "Align icons to grid"

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Auto_arrange_icons-OFF_and_Align_icons_to_grid-ON.bat

Download

5To Turn ON "Auto arrange icons" and Turn ON "Align icons to grid"

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Auto_arrange_icons-ON_and_Align_icons_to_grid-ON.bat

Download

6 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

7 Unblock the .bat file.

8 Run the .bat file.

9 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.

10 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn