Windows Explorer Auto Arrange - Disable in Windows 8

How to Disable Auto Arrange in File Explorer to have Free Sorting in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

In Windows 8, auto arrange is enabled by default so that all file and folder names in File 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 Files Explorer now.

This will show you how to disable Auto Arrange to be able to sort your files and folders in any random order you like in File Explorer without it having to be sorted alphabetically by name in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1. Windows 8 will also remember these random folder sortings, and open as how they were when the window was last closed.

   Note

• When auto arrange is disabled, you can arrange items in any order and position using Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Extended Tiles folder views.

• When auto arrange is disabled, and you are using Details folder view, you can only arrange items in any order and not in any position.

• When auto arrange is disabled and you switch from a Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Tiles folder view to Details folder view, it will reset auto arrange to list all items in the folder in the order that you had them arranged in instead of any position. You will have to rearrange the positions how you like again afterwards.

• When you disable auto arrange, and either 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.

• The Auto arrange and Align to grid options, when you right click or press and hold on an empty area in the folder and click on View, are only available (not grayed out) while using the Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, and Tiles folder view.

• To enable or disable auto arrange for a specific folder, you can right click or press and hold on an empty area in the folder, click/tap on View, then click/tap on Auto arrange to uncheck (disable) or check (enable) it for that specific folder.

• If you use Apply to Folders, it will reset auto arrange to list all items in the folders in the order that you had them arranged in instead of any position. Using Apply to Folders will also have View -> Auto arrange checked (enabled) afterwards for all these folders. You will need to uncheck Auto Arrange in each folder affected by "Apply to Folders" to be able to arrange in any position in these folders again.

   Warning

DO NOT USE this tutorial in any other OS than Windows 8.

• While this tutorial will allow you to disable auto arrange in the Libraries folder itself, it will not disable auto arrange inside any of the other library folders (ex: Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos).
• Free sorting is not available if you use "Group by" views instead of only "Sort by" views.
• Free sorting is not available in the List and Content folder views.

EXAMPLE: Auto Arrange Enabled and Disabled
NOTE: Notice in the screenshot with Auto Arrange disabled, the files can be dragged around the File Explorer window to sort how you like without having to be in alphabetical order.

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OPTION ONE

To Disable Auto Arrange in Windows 8 File Explorer

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   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.

   Warning

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1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.​

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Disable_Windows_8_Explorer_Auto_Arrange.bat​

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2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.​

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3. Close everything that you have running first, then run the downloaded .bat file.​

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4. If prompted, click/tap on Run. ​

NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.​

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5. You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt open as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.​

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6. Let the command prompt count down to finish on it's own without pressing a key.​

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7. When it's finished, you will see the This PC window open.​

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8. Auto arrange in File Explorer is now disabled.​

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OPTION TWO

To Enable Auto Arrange in Windows 8 File Explorer

NOTE: This is the default setting. This option will also reset all folder views back to default.

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1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.​

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Enable_Windows_8_Explorer_Auto_Arrange.bat​

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2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.​

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3. Close everything that you have running first, then run the downloaded .bat file.​

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4. If prompted, click/tap on Run. ​

NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.​

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5. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.​

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6. Auto arrange in File Explorer is now enabled again.​

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7. You can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Back Up and Restore Your Folder View Settings in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change Icon Size and Layout Folder View in Windows 8 File Explorer
• How to Change the Template of a Folder or Drive in Windows 8
• How to Set a Default Folder Template for All Folders in Windows 8
• How to Set a Default Folder View for All Folders in Windows 8
• "Apply to Folders" a Custom View to All Folders with Same Template in Windows 8
• How to Reset Folder View Settings Back to Default in Windows 8
• How to Change the Width of Columns in Windows 8 File Explorer
• How to Change the Order of Columns in Windows 8 File Explorer
• How to Add or Remove Columns in Windows 8 File Explorer
• How to Sort, Group, and Arrange Items by a Column in Windows 8 File Explorer
• How to Arrange Folders Included in a Library in Any Order in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer

 

[Teetee Aych]

Hello to the forum,

I just ran the "Disable..." batch file from the tutorial, made a couple tweaks to how my folders display their contents, and I'm thrilled that this arbitrarily removed feature has been restored.

For Yarders above, and perhaps for others that may be hesitating in confusion, I offer the following re-statement of what is being said here with an adjustment to the language. These things always confuse me, maybe someone else is confused too...

The display of pre-Win7 folders in "windows explorer" (and the current Win8.1 desktop) could be said to have three properties that are relevant here: Sorting, Arranging, and Align-to-Grid. "Sorting" is typically alphabetical by file name, and Post-Vista Windows seems unwilling to allow unassisted mortals to turn it off. "Arranging" is the propensity to show a "packed" display of folder contents, without gaps. "Align-to-Grid" forces items to be displayed in neat rows and columns, but does not address the sequence of items or any white space between them.

The "Disable..." batch files globally turns off both "Sorting" and "Arranging", and does not affect "Align-to-Grid".
From the white space of a folder's contents, the right-click menu has a View option that will allow turning "Auto arrange" on for that folder. This arranges, or "packs" the display, but it does not Sort!
Within the Folder Options menu, on the View tab is a button for "Apply to Folders", which applies these display qualities to (nearly) all folders.

I expect that I have left out a detail or two, and I apologize for that.

A note on odd behavior of Windows Photo Viewer in Win8.1 after running the "Disable..." batch file: With "Auto arrange" left off at the folder level, Windows Photo Viewer will follow _columns_ of photos that have been manually arranged and sorted. It skips over white space nicely though. When I turned "Auto arrange" on at the folder level, the icons are shown "packed" again, and Windows Photo Viewer follows _rows_ of photos, just like it did pre-Win7. It may be relevant that I am not using the Windows-provided "Pictures" folder. I keep my photos sorted in my own hierarchy of folders under C:

Many thanks for providing these batch files that repair the damage done by what I hope was only carelessness at MS. Sorry I got so long.

 

[Yarders]

Hello to the forum,

...........

Thanks for the input, but still gap-filling does not happen in my W8. When I turn of AA (auto-arrange) and then drag files, then turn it on again to fill the gaps, it does fill gaps, BUT ALSO just puts everything back to its original position, i.e. AA'd alphabetically.

What I (and most users, I should think) want is the beautiful XP system, where dragging files automatically filled the gaps, but left everything in the order into which you had dragged them. A hopeless wish?

Happy New Year to everyone, by the way!

 

[Teetee Aych]

Thanks for the input, but still gap-filling does not happen in my W8. When I turn of AA (auto-arrange) and then drag files, then turn it on again to fill the gaps, it does fill gaps, BUT ALSO just puts everything back to its original position, i.e. AA'd alphabetically.

I tried it as you described above and got the same results on Win8.1. You're not going crazy. I have left AA on in the folder I am working in, and I get nearly XP-like results as I manually sort. No need to go back and forth between AA on and AA off.

(Are you using one of the "special" folders noted in the tutorial at the beginning of this thread?)

 

[Fitzdenis]

Not an ideal solution for file arranging due to the gaps being left when arranging but this disable worked for me. Thanks very much.
Fitz

 

[Brink]

Hello Fitz, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you like, you could also change the folder view to one that may work better.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Fitzdenis]

Hi Shawn, thanks.

Changing the folder view undo's my manual arrangement. EG from large icons to list view. Well for photo files anyway. I haven't tried other files yet. Is there any way to save the manual arrangement?

I have a new laptop and was previously using XP so I'm floundering badly with Wins 8.
Fitz

 

[Brink]

I'm afraid there's not a way to save your folder views like that.

If you're using large icons view, you should be able to arrange them how you like without a gap anymore larger than the normal spacing between icons.

 

[Fitzdenis]

Aaaarrrggh.... okay. Thanks for your help
Fitz

 

[Brink]

You could use this below to backup all folder views and restore them all later though.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/32105-folder-view-settings-back-up-restore-windows.html

 

[Fitzdenis]

Ah, okay thanks. I'll give that a bash.
Fitz

 

[ConScience]

Hi, first post on this forum...

Not a huge issue but I've noticed that after disabling auto-arrange the details view changes a bit. The column headings now have a coloured box around them and the columns are separated by grey lines.

As I say it's not a big issue, but as I prefer it the other way, is there anyway to stop this from happening?

This screenshot should explain what I'm talking about.



Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello ConScience, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Sorry, the example screenshots in the tutorial were from Windows 8 and not 8.1. They are a tiny bit different in 8.1.

I've update the screenshots for 8.1, and the column lines in "Details" view are barely noticeable with auto arrange disabled now.

 

[ConScience]

Hi Brink, thanks for the reply.

The different version screenshots I used probably didn't help. The column lines weren't really bothering me too much, to be honest.

I've now noticed that the rows become more bunched together and the "additional file info" columns change to black instead of grey. This just seems to make the folder seem more 'cluttered' than before.



Again, not a huge deal, I was just curious if there was a way of changing back and still be able to manually arrange things.

 

[Brink]

I'm not sure about the darker text, but you are able to adjust the column width and other folder view settings to what you like afterwards.

 

[ConScience]

It's the row height that's the problem, not the the column width.

I think I'm just gonna have to get used to it and hope I stumble across an answer at some point.

Thanks for your help though

 

[SoloDolo]

i disabled auto arrange using the tutorial but now i want to undo it

how can i enable auto arrange if i did not create a restore point?

 

[Edwin]

i disabled auto arrange using the tutorial but now i want to undo it

how can i enable auto arrange if i did not create a restore point?

Option two of the tutorial.

 

[weardo05]

im not sure this is working anymore

 

[Brink]

Hello Weardo05, and welcome to Eight Forums.

This tutorial still works. What issues are you having? Please post some screenshots showing this to see if it may reveal what the issue could be.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[Tomek]

Hello all,
I have a problem with saving the settings in folders.

After refreshing folder or launch it again - the folder view back to the previous setting (of course Auto Arrange is still off)


please help.

Tomek

System Windows 8.1