How to Lock Icons on Desktop Windows 10

As a Windows 10 user, you know the hassle of arranging and re-arranging your desktop icons every time you switch on your computer. Have you ever wished for a way to lock those icons in place and save yourself the trouble? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll show you how to lock your desktop icons on Windows 10 quickly and easily. So, let’s get started!

How to Secure Icons on Desktop Windows 10

The Windows 10 desktop allows you to customize the arrangement and looks of the icons on the desktop. Icons can be moved, rearranged, and even locked in place to ensure they are not accidentally moved. In this article, we will show you how to secure icons on the Windows 10 desktop.

Locking icons on the Windows 10 desktop can be done easily with just a few steps. The first step is to right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize” from the menu. This will open the Personalization window. From here, you can select the “Themes” tab and then click on the “Desktop Icon Settings” button. This will open the Desktop Icon Settings window. Here, you can check the box next to “Lock desktop icons” and then click “OK” to save the settings.

Once you have enabled the “Lock desktop icons” setting, all of the icons on the desktop will be locked in place and you will be unable to move them. To unlock the icons, simply uncheck the “Lock desktop icons” setting and click “OK”. This will allow you to move the icons around freely again.

Organize Icons with Group Policy Editor

If you are an advanced user, you can also use the Group Policy Editor to organize and lock icons on the Windows 10 desktop. To do this, first open the Group Policy Editor by pressing the Windows + R keys and typing “gpedit.msc”. This will open the Group Policy Editor window.

From here, navigate to the following location: User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Desktop -> Desktop. Then, double-click on the “Prevent changing desktop icons” setting. This will open the setting’s window. Here, you can select the “Enabled” option and then click “OK” to save the settings.

Once you have enabled the “Prevent changing desktop icons” setting, all of the icons on the desktop will be locked in place and you will be unable to move them. To unlock the icons, simply select the “Disabled” option and click “OK”. This will allow you to move the icons around freely again.

Organize Icons with Registry Editor

If you are an advanced user, you can also use the Registry Editor to organize and lock icons on the Windows 10 desktop. To do this, first open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows + R keys and typing “regedit.exe”. This will open the Registry Editor window.

From here, navigate to the following location: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. Then, double-click on the “NoChangingWallPaper” setting. This will open the setting’s window. Here, you can select the “1” option and then click “OK” to save the settings.

Once you have enabled the “NoChangingWallPaper” setting, all of the icons on the desktop will be locked in place and you will be unable to move them. To unlock the icons, simply select the “0” option and click “OK”. This will allow you to move the icons around freely again.

Creating Shortcuts to Lock Icons

If you prefer, you can also create a shortcut to quickly lock and unlock icons on the Windows 10 desktop. To do this, first right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select “New -> Shortcut” from the menu. This will open the Create Shortcut window.

From here, you can type in the following command to quickly lock the icons on the desktop:

REG ADD “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” /V NoChangingWallPaper /T REG_DWORD /F /D 1

Then, click “Next” and enter a name for the shortcut. When you are done, click “Finish” to create the shortcut. You can now double-click on the shortcut to quickly lock the icons on the desktop.

To create a shortcut to unlock the icons, you can use the following command:

REG ADD “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” /V NoChangingWallPaper /T REG_DWORD /F /D 0

Using Third-Party Software to Lock Icons

If you prefer, you can also use third-party software to lock and unlock icons on the Windows 10 desktop. There are many free tools available that can help you quickly manage the icons on your desktop. Some of these tools also offer additional features, such as the ability to hide and show icons, lock the desktop background, or even set passwords to protect the desktop.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to secure icons on the Windows 10 desktop. We have discussed how to do this using the Personalization settings, the Group Policy Editor, the Registry Editor, and even third-party software. With these methods, you can easily lock and unlock icons on the Windows 10 desktop to keep your desktop organized and secure.

Related FAQ

1. How do I lock icons on my desktop in Windows 10?

You can lock icons on your desktop in Windows 10 by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting View, and then selecting “Lock Web Items on Desktop.” This will prevent icons from being moved, deleted, or rearranged. Additionally, you can use the Group Policy Editor to configure settings for locking and unlocking desktop icons. To access this, press the Windows key and “R” simultaneously and type “gpedit.msc” into the Run window. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and select “Prevent users from arranging desktop icons.”

2. How do I unlock icons on my desktop in Windows 10?

To unlock icons on your desktop in Windows 10, right-click on the desktop, select View, and then select “Unlock Web Items on Desktop.” Alternatively, you can use the Group Policy Editor to configure settings for unlocking desktop icons. To access this, press the Windows key and “R” simultaneously and type “gpedit.msc” into the Run window. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and select “Allow users to arrange desktop icons.”

3. How do I prevent users from rearranging icons on the desktop in Windows 10?

You can prevent users from rearranging icons on the desktop in Windows 10 by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting View, and then selecting “Lock Web Items on Desktop.” This will prevent icons from being moved, deleted, or rearranged. Additionally, you can use the Group Policy Editor to configure settings for locking and unlocking desktop icons. To access this, press the Windows key and “R” simultaneously and type “gpedit.msc” into the Run window. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and select “Prevent users from arranging desktop icons.”

4. How do I make sure desktop icons stay in the same place in Windows 10?

You can make sure desktop icons stay in the same place in Windows 10 by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting View, and then selecting “Lock Web Items on Desktop.” This will prevent icons from being moved, deleted, or rearranged. Additionally, you can use the Group Policy Editor to configure settings for locking and unlocking desktop icons. To access this, press the Windows key and “R” simultaneously and type “gpedit.msc” into the Run window. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and select “Prevent users from arranging desktop icons.”

5. How do I prevent users from deleting icons on the desktop in Windows 10?

You can prevent users from deleting icons on the desktop in Windows 10 by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting View, and then selecting “Lock Web Items on Desktop.” This will prevent icons from being moved, deleted, or rearranged. Additionally, you can use the Group Policy Editor to configure settings for locking and unlocking desktop icons. To access this, press the Windows key and “R” simultaneously and type “gpedit.msc” into the Run window. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and select “Prevent users from deleting shortcuts.”

6. How do I keep my desktop icons from being rearranged in Windows 10?

You can keep your desktop icons from being rearranged in Windows 10 by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting View, and then selecting “Lock Web Items on Desktop.” This will prevent icons from being moved, deleted, or rearranged. Additionally, you can use the Group Policy Editor to configure settings for locking and unlocking desktop icons. To access this, press the Windows key and “R” simultaneously and type “gpedit.msc” into the Run window. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and select “Prevent users from arranging desktop icons.”

How To Lock Desktop Icons In Windows 10?

Locking icons on your desktop is an easy way to ensure that your icons stay in the same place and don’t become displaced or rearranged. With the help of this guide, you now have the knowledge to easily lock your icons in place on Windows 10. So take a few moments to make sure that your desktop is organized and secure.