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]

Ok, I see what you mean now.

I'm not aware of a way for it to work from the shell folder location.

As a workaround, you could add your "C:\Users\<user name>" folder location as a link under Favorites in the navigation pane to open it from there instead to be able to arrange items.

:ar: Favorites - Links - Add or Remove in Navigation Pane - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[As9999]

Well, I just wanted to have my main folders following a personal logical order instead of the alphabetical one. Dragging them into the right positions (where a black separator comes in) is a feature removed from Windows 7 as we all complain here, and it cannot be brought back for this particular main user folder. So since this is just one folder with less than 20 folders in it, and since I'm not going to change it frequently, the least intrusive solution that I found was...

To give comments to each folder and then use the native feature to sort the folders (alphabetically) by commentary. The comments just repeat the folder name, but are prefixed with a number that corresponds to the desired position of the folder. So for example, to the folder "Games" I gave the comment "5. Games," putting it in position number 5. This is way less intrusive than having the numbers in the actual folder names, which is very hard to look at: it exposes the regression that the operative system has made, it shouts out loud how much of a caveman we need to be. So the actual folder names have no numbers on them and will never need renaming for reordering (which would reset sub-folder customizations).

And... How to give comments to folders? That's not a feature, right? Well... It's kind of explained here. I used "InfoTip=" to add the commentary. It's advanced-ish but not a problem here.

 

[Hashim]

Hey there,

First of all, thanks for a great tutorial, I managed to follow it successfully on Windows 7 x64 and get the auto-arrange functionality back. The problem that I'm now having is that the fix also seems to modify the spacing of icons in Explorer, especially in Details view, which looks a lot like the old XP view - funnily enough, I've gotten used to Windows 7's spacing, and would much prefer it. Does anyone know how I can keep the auto-arrange option there and still use the default Windows 7 spacing for details view? If necessary, I'm happy to edit the .dll files manually, I just need to know all the values that the .reg files change.

Thanks!

To be honest, I'm not sure the spacing can be changed.

I see. :/

I'm gonna try and figure out whether it can be done - judging by a thread I've come across, it looks like the only options are to manually modify the corresponding .dll file, or to find some purported registry keys that hold the values. This is the thread, the posts I've linked to in particular talk more about the problem as it relates to this registry edit.

possible to change list item height/spacing?

possible to change list item height/spacing?

Maybe those'll make more sense to you than they do me.

I'll look and see.

Appreciate it, thanks.

For the sake of documentation, the issue only seems to affect List and Details - all other views seem like they normally are in Windows 7, whereas those two are as vertically close as they were in XP.

I've also checked my own ExplorerFrame.dll and the height attribute for the style resid="details" section is 22rp, which is what the thread I linked to claims is the default height for that section on Windows 7. Could indicate it's being changed by registry values... or the lack of them.

I'm surprised there haven't been more people on this thread asking about this issue tbh, I'm clearly not the only one that's had this fix cause this unintended side effect... maybe people just prefer how XP looked, haha.

LOL, yeah some like the XP tighter spacing, but I like the default wider spacing in Windows 7 as well.

It took a bit to jog my memory for this since it's been a while, but I think I have it sorted. Changing the FFLAGS DWORD decimal value date to 1092616209 (7 style) instead of 1124073476 (XP style) makes it wider.

If you like, test the .bat below with the new value. Using OPTION TWO in the tutorial will also undo it if needed.

View attachment 381422

No such luck, unfortunately - it rectifies the spacing problem, but then there's no sign of the Auto Arrange options, so basically takes it back to default.

Back to the drawing board.

Hey there Brink.



I know it's been a while, but I came full circle to this thread once again in yet another hope that I could get my auto-arrange functionality back in Windows 7 without sacrificing on the less-compacted file names in Details and List view. Has there by any chance been any progress on making this possible? Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Hashim,

You could test to see how it looks for you using the current method in the tutorial. If no luck, Option Two will restore it back to default.

 

[saintjacklondon]

Does it works on Windows10?

Does it works on Windows10?
I have tried another method popular on internet and it works on windows10 order version ,but it doesn't work on windows 10 1909.

 

[Brink]

Does it works on Windows10?
I have tried another method popular on internet and it works on windows10 order version ,but it doesn't work on windows 10 1909.

Hello Jack, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work anymore in Windows 10.

Enable or Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10 | Tutorials

 

[Lisa9]

Is this the last word on Disabling auto-arrange in W10?

I'm so lost in this alfabetical valueless new world ... (teary)

 

[Brink]

Is this the last word on Disabling auto-arrange in W10?

I'm so lost in this alfabetical valueless new world ... (teary)

Hello Lisa, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear it is ever going be fixed or supported again in Windows 10.

 

[Lisa9]

Yes, you wrote that. That is what i responded to

I thought you were the person who made the disable-fix, and could possibly fix the fix.
Not so?
Lisa

 

[Brink]

Yes, you wrote that. That is what i responded to

I thought you were the person who made the disable-fix, and could possibly fix the fix.
Not so?
Lisa

I'm afraid this is too deeply embedded in the OS to be fixed.

 

[Lisa9]

Thanks for replying.

As former versions of W10 didn't have this issue, it seems intentional.
Might there be a reason why Microsoft wants to arrange my files?
Lisa

 

[Lisa9]

Auto-arrange issue

I contacted a Dyslectics support website, asked if there were more people having trouble finding things by name or date. And if it would make sense to contact Microsoft about the issue.


(meanwhile I'm grudgingly adjusting to the for the time being inevitable)


If fans of your auto-arrange fix want to start a petition with Microsoft, i'm in.
Lisa

 

[Brink]

 

[linuxlad]

When creating new folders or files inside any directory (except for network shares as they are not affected); they immediately auto-arrange while in "detail view".

The batch did not work for me so I re-enabled it by restoring the system.
This immediate auto-arrange has been my one and only annoyance from windows 7 since I have been using it.

 

[linuxlad]

Brink,

In the tenforums under your post "Enable or Disable Auto Arrange in Folders for Windows 10" you have a workaround for disabling "auto arrange" in "file explorer details view" until the folder window is "closed/opened or refreshed (F5)" (from 1703 forward), which is basically what I prefer; Is this not possible with Win7?

 

[Brink]

When creating new folders or files inside any directory (except for network shares as they are not affected); they immediately auto-arrange while in "detail view".

The batch did not work for me so I re-enabled it by restoring the system.
This immediate auto-arrange has been my one and only annoyance from windows 7 since I have been using it.

Brink,

In the tenforums under your post "Enable or Disable Auto Arrange in Folders for Windows 10" you have a workaround for disabling "auto arrange" in "file explorer details view" until the folder window is "closed/opened or refreshed (F5)" (from 1703 forward), which is basically what I prefer; Is this not possible with Win7?

Hello,

Disabling Auto Arrange in Windows 10 is broken and doesn't work anymore.

Disabling Auto Arrange in Windows 7 should still work for you, but do read the notes and warnings at the top of this tutorial for known limitations to see if any may apply in your situation.

 

[linuxlad]

Brink,

The batch file made no difference and the results are the same with or without it.

See screenshot below for an explanation and difference of immediate auto-sorting of folders and files between the local system/drives and all network shares when creating and renaming folders and files. "Sort by" is the same for both local folders/files and network shares. Changing the "Group by" makes no difference.

 

[Brink]

Brink,

The batch file made no difference and the results are the same with or without it.

See screenshot below for an explanation and difference of immediate auto-sorting of folders and files between the local system/drives and all network shares when creating and renaming folders and files. "Sort by" is the same for both local folders/files and network shares. Changing the "Group by" makes no difference.

Basically, any action that causes a refresh of the window will cause an auto sort.

This is one reason why Microsoft never officially supported disabling auto arrange.

 

[linuxlad]

So I guess there has never been a workaround for local folders/files for the past 12 years since the release of 7.
It's strange that this works properly for any/all network shares but not for any local folders/drives.

Is this also the same case with Win10 where local files/folders immediately rearrange the same way as 7? On the tenforums you mentioned that files/folders stay unsorted until it is refreshed, or is that only the case for network shares as well?

 

[Brink]

So I guess there has never been a workaround for local folders/files for the past 12 years since the release of 7.
It's strange that this works properly for any/all network shares but not for any local folders/drives.

Is this also the same case with Win10 where local files/folders immediately rearrange the same way as 7? On the tenforums you mentioned that files/folders stay unsorted until it is refreshed, or is that only the case for network shares as well?

In Windows 10, it disabling auto arrange just no longer works effectively. There hasn't been a way found to get it to work again for quite some time. I don't think it ever will.

I'm not sure why it's working perfectly for your network shares, but not for local. I can only assume something with refreshing.