Windows Explorer Auto Arrange - Disable

How to Disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 Explorer to have Free Sorting​

   Information

In Windows 7, auto arrange is enabled by default so that all file and folder names in Windows Explorer are sorted alphabetically no matter what folder view you used.

This is basically like having how you can arrange icons how you like on your desktop in every folder in Windows Explorer now.

This will show you how to disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 to be able to sort your files and folders in any random order and position you like in each opened folder in Windows Explorer and in the Pin to Start Menu area at the top of the Start Menu without it having to be sorted alphabetically by name. Windows 7 will also remember these random folder sortings (order and position), and open as how they were when the folder window was last closed.

   Note

When You Disable Auto Arrange:

• While using Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Extended Tiles folder views, you can arrange files/folders in any random order and position.
• While using Details folder view, you can only arrange files/folders in any order and not in any random position.
• While using Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Extended Tiles folder views, you can click on View (Menu bar) and check Auto arrange to have the black indicator line back inbetween files/folders when arranging files/folders in any order. This turns off the ability to arrange files/folders by random positions though.
• While using Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Extended Tiles folder views, you can click on View (Menu bar) and uncheck Auto arrange to be able to arrange files/folders in any order and random positions.
• The Auto arrange and Align to grid options can be turned on and off at will in the View (Menu bar and right click context menu) when available (not grayed out) while using Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, or Extended Tiles folder views.
• If you have items arranged by random positions and switch from a Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Extended Tiles folder view to a List, Details, Extended Tiles, or Content folder view, the random positions will be reset but still placed in a order of arrangement instead.
• If you unzip a file in a folder, move a folder, or rename a folder, it will refresh and auto arrange the files in that specific folder only after each time you do this. Auto arrange is still disabled for that folder, but you will need to arrange the files back to whatever non-auto arranged order you like again after unzipping a file in a folder, move a folder, or rename a folder.

   Warning

DO NOT USE this tutorial in any other OS than Windows 7.

• While this tutorial will allow you to disable auto arrange in the main Libraries folder itself, it will not disable auto arrange in any of the other library folders (ex: Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos).
• Free sorting is not available if you use "Group by" folder views instead of only "Sort by" folder views.
• Free sorting is not available in the List and Content folder views.
• When you disable Auto Arrange, you will have Extend Tiles folder view instead of Tiles available in all folders except the Computer windows.

EXAMPLE: Auto Arrange Enabled and Disabled
NOTE: Notice in the screenshot with Auto Arrange disabled, the files can be dragged around the Windows Explorer window to sort how you like without having to be in alphabetical order.

OPTION ONE

To Disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 Windows Explorer

   Warning

It is also recommended to create a restore point before doing this option in case you would like to undo any unwanted unknown side affects that OPTION TWO may not undo. This way, you could also do a system restore with this restore point to undo this option completely.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.
Disable_Windows_7_Explorer_Auto_Arrange.bat

Download


2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

3. Close everything that you have running first, then run the downloaded .bat file.

4. If prompted, click on Run.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

5. You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt open as the explorer process is restarted.

6. Let the command prompt count down to finish on it's own without pressing a key.

7. When it's finished, you will see the Computer window open.

8. Auto arrange in Windows Explorer is now disabled.

OPTION TWO

To Enable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 Windows Explorer

NOTE: This is the default setting.
1. Click on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.
Enable_Windows_7_Explorer_Auto_Arrange.bat

Download


2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

3. Close all opened explorer windows first, then run the downloaded .bat file.

4. If prompted, click on Run.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

5. You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt open as the explorer process is restarted.

6. When it's finished, you will see the Computer window open.

7. Auto arrange in Windows Explorer is now enabled again.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Back Up and Restore Your Folder View Settings in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Disable Auto Arrange in Vista Windows Explorer to have Free Sorting
• Make Windows 7 Start Menu User Folder Buttons Open to Users Instead of Libraries Location
• How to Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in Windows Explorer
• How to Reset All Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 7
• How to Reset the Folder View Settings for All Folders with Same Folder Template in Windows 7
• "Apply to Folders" a Specific Folder View to All Folders with Same Folder Template in Windows 7
• How to Change a Folder Template in Windows 7
• How to Set a Default Folder Template for All Folders in Windows 7
• How to Change the File and Folder View Arrangement in Windows 7 Explorer
• How to Change the Icon Size in a Windows 7 Explorer Window
• How to Change the Group by, Sort by, and Arrange by Folder View in Windows 7 Explorer
• How to Set a Default Folder View for All Folders in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove Windows Explorer Columns
• How to Change the Width of Columns in Windows Explorer
• How to Enable or Disable Start Menu Auto Arrange by Name in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Arrange Folders Included in a Library in Any Order in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[lizlio]

Hello Brink

I've read through this forum very carefully.
What I really wish to do is only arrange photos as I did in XP. I named them according to " Month and Year", ie Jan 2007 Jan 2008 etc.

When I upgraded to Windows 7sp1 (in Dec 2010), I placed all photos from xp in a backup folder on my desktop. (also backed up on external drive.). I have new pics now from Jan 2011 through to May 2011, but I cannot drag these photos to "my pictures" and create a "library".

I wish to use the "pictures" from the start menu in Windows 7.

So that is why I tried to download the 'fix' and ran into the problem of not being able to save. That's before i found your option 1 and 2.

Now I'm wondering if I'll have to disable, then reable, then disable, then reable, ie option 1 and option 2 each time I load photos (I take at least 100 / month...more like 200).

Also, if I go through with option 1, will it change all my folders, ie documents + music etc? (I still have to arrnage these folderst too, but my priority is pictures)?

also, I realize I can store on Picasa,(and have done so before), but I wish my photos to be on my main computer.

Again, thank you in advance,

 

[Brink]

Lizlio,

Disabling "auto arrange" as in the tutorial will affect all folders in Windows Explorer. You will not have to reapply it, but you may need to refresh the folder at certain times though as described in the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.

If you are referring to the tutorial below, then it's only applied to the folder that you changed the folder view in. Any change made in a library is changed in all of that library's included folders as well though.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...rangement-change-windows-explorer-window.html

What happens when you try to copy those images into your C:\Users\(user-name)\My Pictures folder? If successful, you should see them from the Start Menu's Pictures location as well.

 

[lizlio]

I haven't tried to copy the images, because there are so many.

I did try to move the images, and that is when I ran into the problem of "where did they go?". For example I moved "Jan 2011" into "my pictures" (back up folder) with the intent of then creating the library. It was then I realized that I couldn't find them where I thought I put them, so I tried to drag them....then I found this forum.

Is is possible to move images at one time into a new folder to create the picture library using "select all/ move to / create new folder /" ? If not, I will have to copy them first.

 

[Brink]

There's no need to create a picture's library since there is already one by default in Windows 7. Copying/moving those images into your C:\Users\(user-name)\My Pictures folder will automatically have them in the Pictures library by default as well.

Yes, you should be able to click on Edit (Menu bar) and Select All to then be able to copy/move all of the selected items in the folder. You might find the tutorial below more helpful for this instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/151136-select-all-add-context-menu-windows-7-a.html

 

[lizlio]

I'll work on this over the next few days.
Thank you Brink for your help.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome mate. Just let us know if you have any questions.

 

[vix5000]

Hello everyone!

I am new to this forum and I would like to ask if the solution you proposed is 100% SAFE and doesn't compromise the functionning of Windows 7! I badly need to sort my files the way I want but at the same time, I am afraid of downloading and installing new reg files that might negatively affect my windows! Can anyone please answer my concerns? I would be so grateful!

 

[Brink]

Hello Vix, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I can 100% guarantee you that it is safe to use. It will only disable (option one) "auto arrange" in Windows Explorer, and can easily be enabled (option two) back to default again if wanted.

 

[vix5000]

Wow thanks for this super fast reply!!

I will try it soon!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went.

 

[vix5000]

It worked amazingly!

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Brink]

That's great news.

 

[vix5000]

Another problem has just popped up. I arranged pictures in the order I want and asked to see them as slide show but the slide show presented in the old order (before the arrangement). What is wrong?

 

[Brink]

Vix,

Just a thought. Are you trying to view the slide show from within a library folder. If so, it will not work in it. You must view the slide show from with the actual folder (ex: c:\Users\(user-name)\My Pictures) location instead for the slide show to view them in the order that you arranged them in.

 

[vix5000]

I am viewing them not from a normal folder not a library.

 

[Brink]

What's the full path of the folder so I can do some testing on my system with the same path if possible?

While in that folder, after you have arranged the images how you like, double click on a image to open it in Windows Photo Viewer, then click on the play slide show button. For me, it plays the slide show in the same order that I have them arranged in my C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures folder starting at the image that is currently being viewed in Windows Photo Viewer.

 

[vix5000]

What's the full path of the folder so I can do some testing on my system with the same path if possible?

While in that folder, after you have arranged the images how you like, double click on a image to open it in Windows Photo Viewer, then click on the play slide show button. For me, it plays the slide show in the same order that I have them arranged in my C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures folder starting at the image that is currently being viewed in Windows Photo Viewer.

It is a folder that contains pics in the D:\ drive.

 

[Brink]

Is it an external or internal drive?

Have you tried doing it the way I described above?

 

[vix5000]

Is it an external or internal drive?

Have you tried doing it the way I described above?

Internal drive. I tried your tip without much success.

 

[Brink]

Strange, the slide show is displaying the images in the order I have manually arranged them in the folder. :huh:

When you have the Windows Photo Viewer slide show playing, right click on the slide show, and see if you have Loop selected and not Shuffle.