Home > Questions

How to Fix Folders Move Around on the Mac Desktop?

After I installed Snow Leopard, I now have the annoying problem of re-arranging my desktop every time I log in. When I put folders somewhere, they used to stay there(in a column on the left); now they boot in rows on the right side. Where can I find the command to keep them where I want them?

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Sherry Song

Sherry Song

Answered on Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Hello, it's so easy to fix:

(1)Adjust the Desktop settings.

  1. Click anywhere empty on the Desktop and choose Show View Options.
  2. Click options of Sort by.
  3. Select None or Snap to Grid.

(2)Clean corrupted Finder preferences files.

  1. Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Type Users/your name/Library/Preferences.
  3. Find these two files and right-click to select Move to Trash.
    com.apple.finder.plist
    com.apple.sidebarlists.plist 
  4. Restart your Mac.

Hope you can see your folders in the right place.

Also read: How to Clean and Organize Your Mac Desktop?

People Also Ask

Read More Questions

Read More Advice From iBoysoft's Computer Experts

create windows 10 installation media

How to Create Windows 10/11 Installation Media/Bootable USB?

This post provides three ways to create Windows 10/11 installation media, you can follow the detailed steps to create a Windows 10/11 bootable USB via the windows media creation tool, Rufus, and CMD.

icloud backup

iCloud Backup: A Feature for iPhone and iPad to Back Up

This post is an introduction to the iCloud Backup function on iPhone and iPad, including what the iCloud Backup is, how to back up iPhone/iPad with iCloud, how to restore from iCloud Backup, etc.