Icons in Folders are Listed horizonatally instead of vertically??

Most of the time icons in my folders are listed horizontally instead of vertically. However, occasionally, they are listed vertically. I usually choose the Small Icon view.

How do I always set them to be listed vertically instead of horizontally?

Please open Windows Explorer. In the View Menu you can click and choose from "Extra Large Icons" to "Content" to show the various ways the contents of the Folder can be viewed.

Please choose the one that you like best. You may then open Folder Options from the Tools Menu, then open the View Tab and click on "Apply to Folders" Button if you want your preferred view for all Folders that you open.

Wanchoo, kind of you to answer, but you did not understand the question. I know how to open a folder and how to choose any of the Sort or View options. They are not the issue. If you chose any View options in a folder with a bunch of sub-folders and files with XP or Vista, the icons use to be listed vertically by whatever sort option you selected. With Windows 7 the files are often listed horizontally as in the image below.

I want all files to be listed vertically as they use to be. My question is how to do that.

I don't know what you are going on about but it has always been horizontal. Only Details and List views are vertical.
I just went though all the view options in Windows XP as well. All horizontal except for Details and List.

Hi Cyberbiker. I just ran into the exact same problem and I've been pulling my hair out for an hour now. Google led me here and I still couldn't figure it out.

Until by accident I clicked "List" view.

Turns out that "List" and "Small Icons" are the same thing, except List sorts from upper left going down while Small Icons sorts from upper left going across.

I'm 99% certain that your screenshot is Explorer in the Small Icons view and selecting List view will bring things back exactly like you want them.

Answer to change folders to vertical

On the top right of the screen is a little book with three dots and a drop-down. On my Windows 7 it is two icons (whatever they are called) to the left of the question mark(?).

On the drop-down, choose details. It changes automatically in front of you.