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 Aphis,

Unfortunatly, it's a either or setting. You will not be able to arrange a file in any arrangement/position if Auto Arrange is enabled. If Auto Arrange is disabled, then Windows will not automatically arrange the files unless you switch between a icon view to say a "Details" view and back to icon view, unzip a file in the folder, move the folder, or rename the folder.

 

[williamwclee]

Brink,

i haven't give your workaround a try. i want to ask some questions beforehand.

i wonder if your workaround would still work when files are displayed in "LIST" view.

people usually set the display to "LIST" when there are huge number of files in a directory or when a large number of files are being copied into a directory.

i now copy a number of files into a directory and the directory is set to "LIST" view.
auto-arrange is disabled with your workaround.
will those number of files just copied be placed at the end of the LIST so i instantly know what have just been copied and the number of files just copied are correct? (we used to have this in XP system, but not in windows 7 now.)


William
Hongkong
31 July 2012

 

[Brink]

Hello William,

Sorry, but no. The workaround to disable auto arrange doesn't work while using "List" view. It will in "Details" view though.

If files are copied into a folder with "List" view set, they'll be auto arranged automatically as usual.

The red warning box and blue note box at the top of the tutorial can give you more details on the usage of this. This also shows how to be able to easily reset the sory order without having to enable auto arrange.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[williamwclee]

Hello William,

Sorry, but no. The workaround to disable auto arrange doesn't work while using "List" view. It will in "Details" view though.

If files are copied into a folder with "List" view set, they'll be auto arranged automatically as usual.

The red warning box and blue note box at the top of the tutorial can give you more details on the usage of this. This also shows how to be able to easily reset the sory order without having to enable auto arrange.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

thankyou for your reply

it might help a bit if the workaround works when using "Details" view.

i will give it a try.

see ya another time

cheers

 

[williamwclee]

Hello William,

Sorry, but no. The workaround to disable auto arrange doesn't work while using "List" view. It will in "Details" view though.

If files are copied into a folder with "List" view set, they'll be auto arranged automatically as usual.

The red warning box and blue note box at the top of the tutorial can give you more details on the usage of this. This also shows how to be able to easily reset the sory order without having to enable auto arrange.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

thankyou for your reply

it might help a bit if the workaround works when using "Details" view.

i will give it a try.

see ya another time

cheers

Brink,

gave the workaround a try ...
not work on my windows 7 professional ...
files copied into a folder are still auto-arranged (sorted) even in "Details" view;

William

 

[Brink]

Correct, when copied into a folder. You will still be able to arrange them how you like afterwards though.

 

[gunthere]

unfix, please!!

My sister downloaded this on our shared laptop. Now when she signs in all she gets is her background picture. No start menu, no task bar, NOT ANYTHING. She had to CNTRL/ALT/DEL so I could send this to you. THATS JUST NOT RIGHT!! What is she supposed to do now?

 

[boohbah]

tel her to try this,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

though i dont see how downloading/installing the disable auto arrange file could affect the laptop to that extent

 

[Brink]

Hello Gunthere, and welcome to Seven Forums.

There's nothing in the .reg file in this tutorial that would cause an issue like that, so this must be related to some other previously existing issue.

I agree that doing a system restore at boot using a restore point dated before this happened will hopefully undo and fix this.

 

[Scotts]

One problem I've discovered after disabling the Auto Arrange option is that now when I open a folder Explorer does not remember its previous size and position.

Now every folder opens in the same size and position of the most recently opened folder which is not particularly useful.

I preferred to be able to set a folders size and position on the screen and then have it open in exactly the same spot every time.

Anyone know how to restore this functionality to Explorer?

 

[Brink]

Hello Scotts, and welcome to Seven Forums.

When you disable Auto Arrange using OPTION ONE, it will also reset all previous set folder views and positions in the process.

However, Windows 7 will still remember each new folder's view settings from the exact same location it was opened from (ex: "My Pictures" opened from Start Menu vs Windows Explorer). A window position will open from the same position as when last closed as well. A folder uses Windows Explorer, so whatever the position was of the last Windows Explorer closed is how the next one will open.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Scotts]

Thanks for the reply Shawn.

I should have clarified that I'm opening folders that reside directly on my Desktop or from shortcuts that are on my Desktop. Either way each folder's size and position was being retained prior to disabling the Auto Arrange feature. Now whenever I move or resize an open folder all susequent folders are opened in the same location and size as that original folder. For some reason Explorer is only able to retain the size and location of a single folder now and then uses that information to open all other folders.

When I restored my registry settings to a state prior to disabling Auto Arrange, Explorer once again retains each folder's individual size and position as expected. If I reapply the disabling Auto Arrange registry settings Explorer again fails to remember each folders size and location. There is definitely a change in the way Explorer opens folders after disabling the Auto Arrange feature.

Prior to trying your solution I tried a different Auto Arrange fix that I found at:
How to Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 7? - The Winhelponline Blog
but I encountered the exact same side effects that your solution is also causing.

There must be some additional registry tweak that is needed to allow Explorer to retain the ability to remember each folders location.

Thanks, Scott.

 

[Brink]

Scott,

I'm not sure what to tell you other than that for me, Windows Explorer has always opened to whatever size and position it was when last closed from any open folder before and after using this tutorial.

Folder size and position is a universal setting by default. Only the folder views (sort by, icon/details view, etc..) are a per folder setting.

 

[Scotts]

Shawn,

Sorry, but I have to disagree with your last post. The default behavior for Win XP, Vista, 7 is to remember the size and position of each folder.

Here is the link to the MS support page that addresses this problem and has a tool to fix it: Changes to the size, view, icon or position of a folder are lost

After running the tool Win7 once again remembers every folders size and location, but the auto-arrange option is missing on the view menu. Maybe there is a way to disable auto-arrange without breaking Win7's ability to remember each folders location settings.

- Scott.

 

[Brink]

Scott,

I'm just stating my experience with folder size and position for every default Windows 7 installation I use.

I'm afraid that I'm not aware of a way to continue to have size and position remembered with having Auto Arrange disabled.

 

[Brink]

Scott,

You might see if this may be able to help with the size and position.

http://www.sevenforums.com/customiz...rfix-manage-folder-window-positions-size.html

 

[mangomick]

How to Disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 Explorer to have Free Sorting
Have had lots of problems with this and found you on Dogpile Search.
I have already passed it on to other Grey Nomads here down under and this is just to say thanks.
mangomick new member

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome mangomick, and welcome to Seven Forums. I'm glad it was able to help.

 

[Scotts]

Shawn,

I just saw your last post about the ShellFolderFix utility. It does appear to remember each folders position and size as advertised, but now each time I open a folder it flashes briefly in a different location before appearing in the proper location. A minor annoyance I'll have to live with I guess.


Thanks for the tip,
Scott.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Scott.

That is odd though. It shouldn't be doing that. If you create a new user account and log in to it, does it do the same in it as well?