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

 

[freebond7]

OK, thanks. Finally, is there ANY folder, default or created, that I can store folders and files in AND save a folder or file to that wont automatically rearrange the arrangement I created AND place that latest saved folder or file as the last one in the saved to folder..?

 

[Brink]

Not when you are saving like this. The only way to save them in an arrangement you like it to drag and drop or cut and paste the file in an opened folder. Otherwise, you'll need to arrange them how you like afterwards.

 

[freebond7]

OK, at least now I know I haven't been doing something wrong. I think Ill just save everything to the Desktop, then cut & paste or drag & drop into the Documents folder. Im guessing the same is also true for a folder I use for downloading from the internet or email attachments in that Ill have to save them all to the desktop and do the same as above. Many many thanks for all your help and advice AND for creating the Auto Arrange Disable download .bat file in the first place. At least with that, Win 7 is useable.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Dogway]

Will this method work for stopping explorer to automatically relocate files I copy over the folder? by means of copy, extract compressed files or creating new files...

 

[Brink]

Hello Dogway,

I'm afraid not. It'll only stop those that are manually pasted into the opened folder.

However, you can still arrange them how you like after copying over the folder though.

 

[Dogway]

I'm just checking ATM in VM and with create new files, they stack at bottom (good), also by pasting (while in folder) and extracting as well as long as you don't extract folders along... except this last bit I think this is the XP behaviour.

I spent a fair amount of time configuring folder types (music, documents, video, etc), do you know how can I backup those while applying this registry?

 

[Weboh]

When I applied the registry file, the only thing it did was change Tiles to Extended Tiles. I don't even want that. I followed the directions exactly. Is this just not fully compatible with an up-to-date Windows 7 Ultimate?

 

[Brink]

Hello Weboh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, the tutorial is fully compatible with all editions and versions of Windows 7 without issue other than Extended Tiles instead of Tiles afterwards.

Are you in a library by chance? This will not work in libraries.

Are you able to arrange files how you like in File Explorer?

For now, please check through the blue note box at the top of the tutorial to see if any listed items may apply.

 

[susiemargaret]

shawn, you are a treasure

hi, shawn --

i nearly went crazy trying to rearrange my files today until i stumbled upon your wonderful forum, and the way i found it was thru someone referring to it in their response to someone else's inquiry about rearranging files that was on the microsoft website! i made sure to point this out in my responses to microsoft's survey about how much i liked their website, by the way. when they asked for suggestions to improve their website, i said that they should provide a link to yours!

i haven't yet tried your tutorial but plan to do so tomorrow when i have more time and am not tired.

reading thru all of these threads, i have been absolutely stunned by your patience with all of us newbies and by your extraordinary ability to explain things in plain english (rather than technojargon). i hope you are independently wealthy, because it is obvious that you devote a tremendous amount of time and energy to this forum.

thank you, thank you, thank you!

-- susie margaret

 

[Brink]

Thank you Susie, and welcome to Seven Forums. I hope the tutorial will provide what you are wanting.

 

[MilesAhead]

Does this work on W8 by any chance?

 

[Brink]

Does this work on W8 by any chance?

Hey Miles,

It does, but there's a separate tutorial for Windows 8 below that should be used instead since there are a few differences in how it works.

Windows Explorer Auto Arrange - Disable in Windows 8

 

[MilesAhead]

Does this work on W8 by any chance?

Hey Miles,

It does, but there's a separate tutorial for Windows 8 below that should be used instead since there are a few differences in how it works.

Windows Explorer Auto Arrange - Disable in Windows 8

Cool. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

De nada.

 

[denwilliam]

Thanks but no thanks to your suggested solution as I am quite satisfied with the normal filing of photo's.It was just a couple of photo's I wanted to place at the end of my album for record purposes so am now storing them in documents.

 

[Brink]

Thanks but no thanks to your suggested solution as I am quite satisfied with the normal filing of photo's.It was just a couple of photo's I wanted to place at the end of my album for record purposes so am now storing them in documents.

Uh??

 

[VagabondINC]

So, I tried this solution for being able to move folders like I should, and while it worked, now the sort by ascending/descending buttons are greyed out. Win 7 changed this default to descending from XP's ascending. I want my folders to look like they did in XP with the newest items (sorted by modified or created date) at the bottom of my folders, not the top.

Any reason why they would be greyed out, or is there a method to change the default here?

 

[Brink]

Hello VagabondINC, and welcome to Seven Forums.

They should not be grayed out in the Sort by context menu item. You should also be able to click on the title bar of the column you want to sort by to toggle the arrow up (ascending) or down (descending).

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3952-file-folder-arrangement-group-sort-arrange.html

 

[noms78]

Option 1 screwed up my text size and line spacing EVERYWHERE. I ran option 2 and it did not fix this.

Text is now too small (and line spacing appears to be single spacing now) in folder view. How can I fix this?