List view on desktop no longer working in Windows 10 after Fall Creators update

Up until the Fall Creators update it used to be possible to show desktop icons in list view, which was awesome. To achieve this you could either use a little tool written in AutoIT or press Ctrl+Shift+5 on the desktop.

My question is whether there is ANY way to achieve this again since the update. Reghack, patching explorer.exe, anything is worth trying. The AutoIT tool sort of works but is semi-broken, making the icons invisible and requiring auto-arrange to not flip out completely.

Here's what it used to look like (Note: not my screenshot) Screenshot of desktop icons in list view

arboreal shark

Posted 2018-03-26T15:59:16.553

Reputation: 181

1update to 1803 and look if it works there – magicandre1981 – 2018-04-03T16:21:12.053

@guest Ctrl+Shift+5 has no effect anymore for me. Using AutoIT you are able to get a list but the icons disappear after a while (and if you refresh desktop) – arboreal shark – 2018-04-03T21:47:42.113

@magicandre1981 The AutoIT approach works a little better in 1803 actually (insider build 17127). The icons don't disappear at least but they get jumbled unless "auto arrange icons" is checked. Ctrl+Shift+5 still does nothing though – arboreal shark – 2018-04-03T22:42:53.417

17133.1 is the final 1803 version, try this build. I never used ListView and and looks like most other also never used it and sometimes Microsoft removes features that are not used very often. – magicandre1981 – 2018-04-04T15:01:27.360

@magicandre1981 No improvement from 17133 I'm afraid – arboreal shark – 2018-04-08T13:28:03.227

Answers

This option seems to be gone in the latest Windows 10 version, but can still be forced by using the free program Desktop Listview.

I have installed this product and it does what it says, although I have the feeling that it mixes up a bit the icons. This is a bit of my desktop with it running :

I don't trust this program, and would prefer to avoid using a feature that Microsoft has decided to deprecate, so I would rather recommend using Stardock Fences. You may try it for 30 days or buy it for $9.99. Stardock is a reputable company and you can trust their products to keep on working across Windows updates.

This demo desktop image is taken from the Stardock website :

harrymc

Posted 2018-03-26T15:59:16.553

Reputation: 306 093

+1 because Fences is great (as is Start 10). – None – 2018-04-04T15:43:03.127

To replicate Details or List view in Fences, I've done the following. Create a "Folder Portal" to the desktop itself; set it to Details or List view; uncheck "Allow navigation"; check "View > Exclude this Fence from quick-hide." Double-click outside it to hide everything else. Optionally resize it to max. There does seem to be a bug, when I access Desktop with Win-D it fails to render anything until I hover over it. – jcai – 2018-05-27T23:44:44.433

Right-click on the Task Bar. From the shortcut menu, hover over Toolbars>. Click on Desktop. That will give you the little vertical rectangular button that when clicked, will give you the list of your Desktop items. [image of Desktop Shortcut Button]

Diann

Posted 2018-03-26T15:59:16.553

Reputation: 1