How to make not aligning icons to the grid default?

Francesco Angelo Lainez 20 Reputation points
2026-02-05T11:49:57.27+00:00

I changed my app display to not align icons to grid. When I shutdown the laptop and turned it on, it changed back to align icons to grid. Then I had to fix my the placement of the apps another time. How can you make not aligning icons to grid default?

Windows Version: Windows 11

Windows for home | Other | Desktop, Start, and personalization
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Answer accepted by question author
Lychee-Ng 27,955 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-02-06T08:28:46.7966667+00:00

Hi Francesco Angelo Lainez,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand how frustrating it can be when you turn off grid-alignment, but Windows still puts everything you personalized back after a reboot. The Q&A Assist has given the right path for this, so I will just add some other suggestions for you to consider, in case they might help!

1 - Refresh the icon layout after changing the setting

  • Right‑click the desktop > go to View > ensure to uncheck:
    • Align icons to grid
    • Auto arrange icons
  • After arranging your icons, right‑click desktop > Refresh
  • Right-click the Taskbar > click Task Manager to open it
  • Find and right-click Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) > Restart

2 - Temporarily turn off cloud sync app

  • These tools sometimes may restore icons automatically.
  • If you use OneDrive, GG Drive, iCloud, etc. , try disabling them to check.

3 - Disable icons for theme

  • Right-click your desktop > Personalize > Themes
  • Under Related settings > click Desktop icon settings
  • Uncheck Allow themes to change desktop icons > OK.

4 - Repair Windows with reinstallation

  • If this is not a native Windows behavior, some components might have been corrupted.
  • Open Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update
  • Click Reinstall now > follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall Windows.

Disclaimer: This reinstallation can fix update issues without removing your files or applications. However, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up.

You're not alone facing the same situation. I hope the additional suggestions above help with your issue somewhat.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-02-05T11:51:05.3266667+00:00

    To set the default behavior for icon alignment in Windows 11, you can adjust the settings in the desktop context menu. However, there is no direct method mentioned in the provided context to permanently disable the "Align icons to grid" feature as a default setting. You may need to manually change this setting each time you start your laptop.

    To change the icon alignment:

    1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.
    2. Hover over "View."
    3. Uncheck "Align icons to grid" if it is checked.

    If the issue persists after restarting, it may be a limitation of Windows 11 that does not retain this setting across sessions. You could consider providing feedback to Microsoft regarding this feature if it is important for your workflow.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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