Solved [Windows 7 Pro] How do I unlock icons on the desktop?

[EmilyAdler]

My computer has decided to lock all the icons on the desktop e.g. they can not be moved.

Some info:

• Align to or from grid does nothing.
• Restarting doesn't help.
• The icons can be selected, used and renamed.

I simply can not move them. Never had this happen before.

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

R/Click on Desktop>View>Remove check mark from "Auto Arrange Icons"...that it.

John

 

[EmilyAdler]

R/Click on a blank area on the Desktop>View>Remove check mark from Auto Arrange Icons...that it.

John

As I wrote above, this does nothing. Besides, with align or auto arrange you can still move the icons around, and they will realign to a new position on the grid. My icons are not aligned to any grid, and yet they can not be moved at all.

 

[mitchell65]

Hi EmilyAdler and welcome to the Forum.
Try just pressing the Esc key three times!

 

[EmilyAdler]

The problem has suddenly disappeared. Weird. I have done nothing. I will restart and see if it comes back.

 

[mitchell65]

That's what I call "Long distance problem solving"

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

We can consider this issue solved.