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]

Hello noms78,

Could you post an example of this compared to what you wanted instead?

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

 

[mattihase]

i've run the remove auto arrange batch, when the command prompt runs my libraries folder opens and when the computer folder opens i have to open the rest of explorer (as in the taskbar) with either the task manager or the program in the windows folder. and it doesn't seem to have any effect. no auto arrange option in right click or view. help please?

 

[Brink]

Hello Matti, and welcome to Seven Forums.

When you run the Disable_Windows_7_Explorer_Auto_Arrange.bat file from OPTION ONE, are you letting it sit not doing anything else on the computer until finished?

Please post a screenshot showing this to see what the issue may be.

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

 

[denwilliam]

Your system must have developed a nervous breakdown as I have never ever asked for advice on the above subject.This sort of thing has also occurred before.

 

[mattihase]

yeah, after running it i leave it till it brings up my computer. i remember the prompt saying that certain registry tags weren't found (or something along that line)
i tried it on my 32bit laptop and had the same result.

 

[Brink]

It's normal for it not to find some of the registry keys. They are just included to make sure they get deleted if they were there.

Do you have anything running that could be interfering with restarting explorer?

Are you able to arrange icons how you like in Windows Explorer like in the example screenshots?

Just to make sure, this doesn't affect inside a library.

 

[mattihase]

i've logged on today and it's working. must have just been doing something wrong.
or maybe it had something to do with the update i just had.

 

[Brink]

Great news Matti.

 

[andypandy65]

This 'Fix' for Explorer to disable auto-arrange didn't work for me ..
What I want when downloading or copying a file; XP saves the file at the bottom of the ../Downloads folder (folder in 'Details' view). However, it saves in alphabetical order, and makes finding the file a huge problem when I have the 'Download' folder already open. This is the same in Win8 and Win10.
This 'feature' in XP has been permanently disabled in future OS's by Microsoft it seems.
Really, really sad ...
Rich
(still using XP Pro for productivity .. and pleasure!)

 

[Brink]

Hello Andy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That can't be changed by this. Instead, it allows you arrange them anywhere you like afterwards.

I like to save to my desktop to make it easier to spot, then move the file to where I like afterwards.

 

[Mope]

Hey brink, using this changed tiles to extended tile just like listed in warnings but is there a way to get back tile enable tile did not do the trick. is there any way to get back tile even if it removes auto arrange

 

[Brink]

Hello Mope, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Using OPTION TWO to restore the default settings should restore it as well after a restart.

 

[Mope]

Thnx for the quick reply the second option didnot restore it even after restart but it is fixed for me now by system restore ... the thing i did not liked was that files didnot show full name in medium or large icons (e.g mopeada..) and it showed complete when highlighted but now its back to normal

 

[autolycus]

Please forgive me if this is a repeat, but there are 50 pages. I used the disable bat file, but auto arrange still happens (i use details view in my folders). Also the appearance of my desktop icons has changed. They had changed to medium size after the update, but even after reverting to small, they still don't look as sharp.

 

[Brink]

Hello Autolycus,

For now, please double check the blue note box and red warning box at the top of the tutorial to see if any of it may apply to why you still have auto arrange enabled.

 

[autolycus]

Thanks for the reply.

I do struggle with the whole concept of 'libraries' so i'm not completely sure if this mod is suitable. Perhaps i could explain what problems I want to solve. For example, if i download a zip file into a folder (anywhere on any drive) that has some files in it. If i 'unzip here' the files are immediately arranged with all the others in the folder and i can't tell which ones are new. Another problem is renaming a file which then shoots off and i have to find it again. I guess what i really want is XP without the 'improvements' or 'workarounds' but i dare say i'm not alone in that. But do the examples i have given fall outside the parameters in the blue and red boxes? It's possible they do but i'm not bright enough to see how.

 

[Brink]

Autolycus,

I'm afraid that those actions will always auto arrange.

 

[autolycus]

Bummer - never have so many babies been thrown out with so little bathwater Still this is one of very few strike-outs thanks to the work of people like yourself. Would you recommend running the enable routine or doesn't it matter? I'm not sure what benefits I have gained.

 

[Brink]

It depends on what you would like to do. If you like being able to arrange files in any order and position in Windows Explorer, then it would be better to leave it disabled. Otherwise, you can enable and go back to the default settings.

 

[Xp4me]

Brink,
First off, I love it when people take the time to try and fix what Microsoft broke when designing Win 7.
I'm a big XP fan , can't stand Win 7, but trying to find ways to actually be able to use it. I installed your Auto Arrange Disable fix and I can now move photo icons around just like I did with XP.
However, Windows Photo Viewer will not play the slideshow in the order of the icons.
I saw years back in this thread that someone had the same issue, but never got it working. I figured I would check to see if you ever came up with a fix yet.

I don't have any options selected in Sort By or Group By, but yet the slideshow always plays the photos in alphabetical order.
I don't use libraries and in fact have them disabled. All my photos are on a separate HDD and already in the order that I would like to view them in.

Any suggestions would be helpful,.........Thanks