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

 

[Brink]

Did you have auto arrange enabled before? That's when it shows tiles instead of extended tiles.

 

[syb]

I had before my hdd broked auto arrange disabled but I don't know how I did ... (((
Now I cant move,drag my music how I want
Really hate this auto arrange option...on pictures,music A-Z (((

 

[Brink]

Are you in the Music library by chance instead of your actual "C:\Users\(user-name)\Music" folder?

Auto arrange cannot be disabled in a library. Only for folders.

 

[syb]

Do you have Teamviewer so I can show you what I mean ?? or yahoo messenger,steam .... so we can communicate

http://i60.tinypic.com/2isia8w.png
I can't move the song in that place...

 

[Brink]

Sorry but I only post here in the forum. If you like, it would be best to upload and post your screenshots directly here to view better.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Merge the .bat file from Option One in the tutorial on the first page, and see if you are able to arrange them how you like afterwards while using extended tiles.

 

[syb]

Auto Arrange Enabled with Tiles View




Auto Arrange Disabled with Extended Tiles View



I want Tiles instead of Extended Tiles like pic 1 & 2

 

[Brink]

That's the problem. It's a catch 22. You will have extended tiles with auto arrange disabled, but you will not be able to move the tiles around unless you have auto arrange disabled.

 

[syb]

so it's not possible to have like in pic 1 & 2,to arrange myself music and other folders ?

 

[Brink]

Not that I'm aware of unless you disable auto arrange and arrange them how you like with extended tiles.

 

[syb]

I'm so sad because win7 it's not letting me arrange my files like in the old windows xp..... (((((((((


This reg is the same you posted here ??
Link

 

[freebond7]

Brink, I have a question. Ive read much of this thread and have downloaded the disable program which works well BUT every time I add a new file or folder to Documents, I expect it to be the last file/folder in the Documents folder but it isn't. Win 7 puts it where it wants to and I have to go looking for it. Ive disabled the Auto Arrange, Align to Grid and anything else I could think of but still cant get it to put that new file/folder at the end of the Documents folder. Can you please help..?? thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello freebond,

Usually when you disable auto arrange, the new item is placed wherever you right clicked or dropped it at.

 

[freebond7]

Yes, I understand that to be the case IF the folder is open and one drags and drops it into the folder. My problem is when I create a word doc or create a pdf from another doc and save it, it automatically goes into the My Docs or Docs folder. Im used to going to the last doc in the Docs folder to find it BUT if I create a doc now in Win 7, even with the auto arrange disabled, its is placed somewhere other than the last doc in the folder. Try it yourself by opening say Word and click Save As, give it a name and save it. It will go to your documents folder but probably wont go to the last spot. Also, if I have a number of docs, say Doc1, doc2, doc3, etc, in Documents folder AND I take a folder from within the Doc folder and move it to the last spot, when I create Doc4 and save it to Documents folder, it is placed in the position where the folder I moved to the last spot used to be...?????? Between all of the help Ive received from YOU and SevenForums, Classis shell, etc., Im almost at the point where I can work with Win 7 but this problem creates a lot of trouble for me as Im always creating documents and saving them to Documents folder. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Fred

 

[Brink]

I see. This would be a default setting in Word instead.

You should be able to specify a default save location in Word's settings. File -> Options -> Save -> "Default local file location".

 

[freebond7]

But the Documents folder on my desktop (which I placed there by opening my default "Fred" folder on my desktop, RC on the Documents folder and C on send to Desktop (create shortcut) is the folder I want these items to go to. Im starting to think that maybe I cant do that because your "Disable Auto Arrange" function doesn't work on this type of folder even though I can move the folders and files around in this folder unlike I can do in the Library Document folder. Is this correct..? Do I need to create a new folder and treat it like I would the old XP My Documents folder..? I want one folder to hold most ALL of my folders and files. Sorry for the constant questions but this is a MAJOR issue for me. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

If I understand you correctly, you'll need to go into the settings of Word and other programs to have them save to this folder on your desktop by default. Otherwise, you'll need to select the folder first before saving.

When you save to a folder like this, it will auto arrange into it. You'll have to manually arrange the files how you like in the folder afterwards.

 

[freebond7]

OK, that's what I was afraid of because the Documents folder is a default folder in Win7. So I guess there is no way to do what I want in Win 7 like I did in XP which is a shame because this is what I do daily...

What are your thoughts on XP 64 bit or XP Pro 64 bit..??

And, Im using MS Office XP (2002) and cant find "Word's settings. File -> Options -> Save -> 'Default local file location' that you suggested to change my "default save location". Any other way to do that OR am I doing something wrong.? I click on File but there is no "Option" option listed.

Again, Thanks for the help...

 

[Brink]

XP is pretty much a dead OS now that it's no longer being supported.

If you like, you could run XP in a virtual machine in Windows 7 with Office XP 2002 installed in the XP VM.

As for the settings in Word 2002, you should see File in menu bar at the top.

 

[freebond7]

Yes, I see the File menu at the top but there is no option to set the default save to location..??

 

[Brink]

Yes, I see the File menu at the top but there is no option to set the default save to location..??

When you open File, you'll need to look for something like "Options", "Settings", or "Preferences" to click on for it's settings.

What I posted was for Word 2013, so it'll be a bit different in Word 2002. I don't have Word 2002 to be able to give you exact details.