For apple users - Icons moving on desk top: iMac : os: lion 10.7.5 How do I lock my Desktop icons in place. They sometimes re-arrange themselves, while not a big problem it is...

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

iMac : os: lion 10.7.5
How do I lock my Desktop icons in place. They sometimes re-arrange themselves, while not a big problem it is aggravating.
Sometimes it only a couple moving other time all move.
I did search for previous post and only found post about Windows.
Thank you Frank

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Interesting. I haven't had that happen, although it did happen on my Windows machine. Yes, it can be annoying. I hope someone has a solution.

See if this works.
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/151375/os-x-yosemite-desktop-icon-positioning-problems?rq=1

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

1. the OP is using a very old version of the OS and should, if possible, upgrade to the current version and keep it current. Even the link that jerryc41 provided is for another version.

2. just my preference, but on a Mac, I don't see the point of desktop icons. You can arrange the display of apps that you see with the "Launcher" and it will not move around. You can get to the Launcher (icon is little Buck Rogers ship) with a single key regardless of what is on your screen. Desktop icons are actually inconvenient since they are "behind" whatever you are working on. Even Windows has a single key for getting to available apps without having to minimize on-screen windows.

3. also on the point about destkop icons, why not put the frequently used ones on the "Dock" and leave the rest to be accessed with the Launcher? BTW, keeping the Dock to only what is used frequently makes it a lot easier to use.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Mangle, I fully understand what you are experiencing. I'm using Maverick on my 28" screen, and Tiger on my lap top. The big screen behaves itself, but I've had plenty of experiences when my lap top would move the icons around. Then, they stop moving. Go figure.

And as a FYI, as a teacher, I need to have instant access to different Keynote files, to use in the lecture room with my students. Hence, keeping them on the desk top is the perfect way to access them quickly, as a teacher. There may be a time to have none on the desk top, and a time to have things there.

And before anyone suggest that I upgrade the operating system, I'll bet there are 99% of Apple users who have "lost" a piece of hardware or software when upgrading the OS. I love Apple, and will always use them. But they are not perfect.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I have never gad that happen--been using a Mac for years and years.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Well Jay, it's a mystery for me. Before spring of 2017, the Keynote icons would move frequently. But since last summer, they have stayed put where I have placed them. Happy about that. My students are particularly happy since I can access one that fills their needs.

But to anyone considering a Mac, I say DO IT. Their machines are so reliable (baring 'moving desk tip icons).

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

a6k wrote:

1. the OP is using a very old version of the OS an... (show quote)

Thank you for taking to respond.
1: I happen to like the OS I am using, and have to desire to mess with a newer one.
2: The icons are for folders and external HDs and I like them where they are.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

Interesting. I haven't had that happen, although it did happen on my Windows machine. Yes, it can be annoying. I hope someone has a solution.

See if this works.
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/151375/os-x-yosemite-desktop-icon-positioning-problems?rq=1

Thank you Jerry.
I checked the link you sent, and it seems that its a hit and miss fix.
This is a minor annoyance so I guess I'll live with it.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

elliott937 wrote:

Mangle, I fully understand what you are experien... (show quote)

Thank you Elliot
Having lost several apps.& lost the use of a couple pieces of hardware when up grading the OS on my old G5 power mac It is not an option unless I move on to a new iMac later on then I will have no choice.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

You can lock your icons to the left, right, or bottom of the desktop, they will not move. Are you sure you didn't actually touch something ?

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jeryh wrote:

You can lock your icons to the left, right, or bottom of the desktop, they will not move. Are you sure you didn't actually touch something ?

Yep sure I didn't touch something!!!

Wes Loc: Dallas

I was teaching school in Oklahoma City when Our Mister Sun came out and the newspaper came out to see how I would handle a class being taught by someone remotely. I survived. Later, when teaching in Ardmore I produced a science show for TV. Everything went well until, at the end of the program, I had mixed hydrogen and oxygen in a coke bottle (a trick I learned at Princeton) and was putting it up to the benson burner. The TV guy lower the mike to get the delicate bubbles he expected. The mike was blown up to the ceiling.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

have you gone into System Prefs on the Apple menu at the top? click on "dock". see if there's anything there for you

Largobob

Manglesphoto wrote:

iMac : os: lion 10.7.5
How do I lock my Desktop icons in place. They sometimes re-arrange themselves, while not a big problem it is aggravating.
Sometimes it only a couple moving other time all move.
I did search for previous post and only found post about Windows.
Thank you Frank

Put a small piece of transparent tape on each icon before you shut down. They won't move again.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Largobob wrote:

Put a small piece of transparent tape on each icon before you shut down. They won't move again.

If you use black masking tape instead, you can enjoy many fun hours playing "find the folder"! Sorry to the OP, but I know nothing about macs. I have had that issue on my new win10 machine, though. This used to be a big problem with windows back around win95, I remember. There was a freeware program avail which would 'save' a copy of your desktop for easy 1-key restoring. Not seen anything of that for a long time, though.