4
I want to be able to arrange files in the file explorer in a certain order. Is there a way to disable the automatic sorting feature for folders?
It is possible to disable automatic sorting on the desktop (in fact it is disabled by default) so there must be a way to do so for folders.
Yin
Posted 2016-01-31T22:07:15.363
Reputation: 43
3
Yes, it is possible.
How to Enable or Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 10
Information
When you drag and drop icons in a folder in Windows 10, they will automatically be aligned to a grid and auto arranged. By default, disabling auto arrange and align to grid is not an available option in File Explorer.
This tutorial will show you how to disable auto arrange and align to grid to be able to freely arrange icons how you like inside folders in File Explorer for your account in Windows 10.
Notes
When auto arrange is disabled, you can arrange items in any order and position in a folder using the extra large icons, large icons, medium icons, or small icons view.
When auto arrange is disabled and you are using details view, you can only arrange items in any order in a folder, and not in any position.
You will not be able to freely arrange items in a folder that are grouped. You can select Group by -> (None) in the View tab of the ribbon to no longer have items in a folder grouped by a column.
You will not be able to freely arrange items in an opened library.
You can turn Auto arrange and Align to grid on or off as you like for individual folders while using the extra large icons, large icons, medium icons, or small icons view. You would right click or press and hold in the open folder, and click/tap on View to do so.
The source link includes detailed instructions and several batch files are available for download to:
Disable Auto Arrange and use Details View by default
Disable Auto Arrange and use Medium icons View by default
Enable Auto Arrange and Reset Folder Views to Default
Source Auto Arrange in Folders - Enable or Disable in Windows 10
DavidPostill
Posted 2016-01-31T22:07:15.363
Reputation: 118 938
0
The hack of setting the FFlags has some side-effects that most sites don't tell. The following happens:
Tiles view option goes missing When Preview pane is enabled in a folder, you’ll need to select a file first before you can double-click to open the file. (total 3 clicks). If you don’t use the Preview pane always, then no problem. When you right-click an empty area in the folder when a file is selected, the right-click menu closes. You have to deselect the file first by clicking in a blank area.
The pros and cons of the method is is explained here (Windows 10 - Disable Autoarrange). Bonus: It also disables full row select.
w32sh
Posted 2016-01-31T22:07:15.363
Reputation: 8 611
This seems to be exactly what I wanted, however can this site be trusted? I feel a bit queasy just downloading a batch file that does who knows what. – Yin – 2016-01-31T23:31:32.587
I can't guarantee anything, but I've never heard of any issues with tenforums.com or any of it's co-sites. For what it's worth the author or the article and of the batch files is Shawn Brink (https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/PublicProfile/4025086?fullName=shawn%20brink) a Microsoft MVP.
– DavidPostill – 2016-01-31T23:38:25.003You should of course back up your registry first. For more information see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.
– DavidPostill – 2016-01-31T23:41:51.7571@Yin And you can inspect the batch files before running them. – DavidPostill – 2016-01-31T23:42:34.267