Clean up desktop icons?

make icons clean up without clicking view clean up with finder?

+This works for me in Mac OS 10.4.11:+
*tell application "Finder"*
activate
*tell application "System Events"*
*tell process "Finder"*
try
*click menu item "Clean Up Selection" of menu "View" of menu bar 1*
*click menu item "Clean Up" of menu "View" of menu bar 1*
*end try*
*end tell*
*end tell*
*end tell*
Note that the menu item under the Finder's View menu can be "Clean Up Selection" or simply "Clean Up" depending on whether some, all, or none of the desktop icons are actually selected at any given time (at least this is the case in Mac OS 10.4.x). Hence the two *click menu item* commands are included inside a Try block in order to catch one or the other of these possibilities.
The script requires GUI scripting to be turned on. Under System Preferences > Universal Access, make sure that "Enable access for assistive devices" is checked.
The script can be saved as an application and run from the Dock, or run from the Script Menu whether saved as an application or saved as a compiled script.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

Similar Messages

Desktop Icons have vanished, have tried many solutions offered in forums with no results

I'm at a complete loss as to what to do after searching high and low for answers to this problem.
My desktop icons have mysteriously vanished as I switched it on last night. I had been using it with no issue earlier that day, but for some reason, switching it on last night, I was greeted with a completely clean desktop.
This has happened once before, so I figured simply rebooting the computer (like the last time this occurred) would bring back the icons. No such luck, even after restarting it or shutting it down, and reopening it 15 minutes later. When this problem last occurred, I think I was using Snow Leopard; I'm now running Mountain Lion (if this makes any difference).
I searched a few forums, and tried every solution listed in these topics with absolutely no success. List of things I've tried, as suggested by users on other forums (that seemed to work for people with similar problems):
Checked to see if the "Desktop" folder was renamed to something else, it wasn't;
Relaunched Finder several times
Restarted the computer, shut it down for hours and restarted
View>Clean up by/Sort by all tried, nothing happens
Changed the resolution several times, nothing happens
Quit iTunes, nothing happens
Verified the disk in Disk Utility, no problems (so repair disk was greyed out);
Verified the permissions, repaired the permissions successfully, nothing happened;
Checked Macintosh HD>Users>(username)>Desktop, nothing in the folder (0kb when I check Get Info);
Searched for and tried to remove via Terminal the following preferences: com.apple.finder.plist AND com.apple.FolderActions.plist but they are non-existant on my account OR guest account
Booted in safe mode, still no icons
Logged into guest account, no icons on administrator Desktop (I overrided permissions to see the desktop, and still no icons)..
Tried to "killall Finder" in Terminal, no response.
I did not recently:
download any new software, games, etc (with the exception of FluidApp, which was installed 3 weeks ago and frankly I don't see how it would affect my computer weeks later);
connect my MacBook to an external/additional monitor (have never done this, so icons can't be off-screen)
Additional info:
When in Finder, most functions in my View menu are greyed out. Available options: "Clean Up By", "Sort By", and "View Options". Selecting any of these do nothing.
I checked this article (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1916) and my Computer Name actually DID contain an illegal character (a dash) so I removed it; however it did not correct my problem even after reboot/logging out and in/relaunching Finder. (I'm running Mountain Lion though, so not sure if this even applies, but it was the closest thing I could find).
Nothing but the contents of the desktop seem to have been compromised. I can open applications, install software, use any application, view/open/access files everywhere else on my computer.
I can save new files on my desktop and they don't disappear.
I can put files from other places in my computer on the desktop and they don't disappear.
I DID do a system update to the latest version of Mountain Lion AFTER encountering this problem, in hopes it would correct the problem somehow, but it did not.
I installed one application in hopes of figuring out a fix after the problem occurred (TinkerTool) but after playing with the options (and in the end, not changing anything) I still have the problem. The "Disable Desktop Features" thing was not checked. I checked it, relaunched finder, and what I put on the desktop disappeared, so I unchecked it and relaunched and they reappeared, but my old desktop did not.
It's seriously as if someone did a "Select All > Delete", and overpassed the Trash bin somehow (because it still has a few items I had put in there previously).
Does anyone have any other suggestions in how to retreive my lost desktop icons? I'm going crazy..

If you have a backup, try restoring your Desktop folder from there.
You should have a Finder and a FolderActions .plist. Have you tried looking in your user library folder manually instead of using Terminal?
If you prefer to make your user library permanently visible, use the Terminal command found below.
http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/04/show-library-directory-in-mac-os-x-lion/
You might want to bookmark the command. I had to use it again after I installed 10.8.4. I have also been informed that if you drag the user library to Finder it will remain visible.

I've lost the finder and desktop icons

Purchased new iMac 10 days ago but did not immediately transfer data from old computer. When I did, I transferred from a Backup on Time Machine using Migration Assistant . I did not merge the two users I had the New Jon (new computer) and the Old Jon (old computer transferred to the new one). I transferred applications and documents but did not transfer the computer and network settings. My reason for two users was that I knew there were programs on the old iMac (10.9.5, early 2008) that did not work on 10 and I was hoping to cherry pick.
However, the new iMac (10.10.2) wasn't seeing any of the desktop files in either user from the old Mac. I decided to delete Old Jon keeping New Jon and starting over again. When I did that, none of the Old Jon applications were deleted and are usable for both users AND the Finder is missing. Clicking on Finder it says that the Finder can't be opened. The finder had been working on both users on the new computer up to the point at which I deleted Old Jon.
Interesting to note that at one time (I don't remember if I was upgrading from 9 to 10 or it was a 10 upgrade) but the Finder on the old Mac also disappeared. I was on forums and seemed to be a problem that many people had. For me, the only thing that seemed to work was opening Activity Monitor and force quitting Window Server and after that the finder and desktop icon showed up. So I'm thinking it must be a program or file I have on the old computer. So, I thought I'd try downloading 10.10 figuring if I reinstalled I would get where back to an "out of the box" computer.
Even though it said I was downloading 10.10 the new install said it was still 10.10.2. All of the applications from the old Mac were still there and there was still no finder. I created a couple of new identities in the New Jon computer. Both of them have access to the finder but the Main identity does not. I have noticed that if you log under under one of the new identities and then go to the Main identity the Finder is there - but not if you log into the Main Identity first.
Can anyone give me hint as what I might do to where I might look or steer me to another forum? Hope this isn't too confusing. Thank you so much

Re-install the OS.
Do a backup. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair and Repair Permissions until you get no errors. Then re-install the OS.
OS X Recovery
OS X Recovery (2)
Clean install.
Do a backup. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair and Repair Permissions until you get no errors. Reformat the drive using Disk Utility/Erase Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click the Option button and select GUID. Then re-install the OS.
OS X Recovery
OS X Recovery (2)
When you reboot, use Setup Assistant to restore your data.

Reader 8.1.2 won't open desktop icons

I have had previous versions of Adobe installed. If logged in as a network administrator on my pc, I can open any pdf, no matter it's location. If I log in as a general user on our network - w/limited network access, I can open adobe reader 8.1.2 and go through the file menu to open a document. If I try to click on the pdf icon on my desktop, it won't open. It's like it doesn't know which program to use. I've tried: 1) specifying the target location & program via right clicking on pdf icon and selecting "open with" ...doesn't work, 2)uninstalling adobe & reinstalling...doesn't work, 3)registry cleaner...doesn't work, 4) gave administrator privileges to my general user access and tried to open desktop icon...doesn't work. If I try to open a pdf in an email, it won't open either. The ONLY way I can open pdf is if I log in as administrator OR if I first open Adobe Reader 8.1.2 and then choose the file I wish to open by going through the file>open menu. If I can't find a fix, then I will be redoing my pc. Please let me know if there is a 'fix' out there. Thanks!

I regret the moment I thought that installing Adobe reader 812.I had had a blissful relationship with all previous versions and apart from the interfering busybody (ie account control) giving me dire warnings about known compatibility problems - which ive not had - all was fine ; until I tried to download and install 812.I have had the same experience as others with the processgoing smoothly.However,each time ive ried to use it sends a record up with the message "invalid plugin detected adobe willcease workining.I disabled the plug ins and still he is on strike.Indeed,On one occasion I think he must have had his militant friends round as not onlydid he refuse to work but my whole system refused to work and I ended up having to disconnect the power.I would have made him redundant but I had already sacked his predecessor.I suppose I could try to tempt him back with higher wages but the real issue is that the longer people carry on using older versiond the more likely it is that version 7 will fall in with the wrong crowd and be a likely candidate for corruption.(why did he have a copy of woodworker monthly and has been talking to fellow conspirators about wooden ponys?).You have to retain a sense of humour but to end on a serious note - if solution is not found soon I can envisage the trial seperation becoming a permanent divorce!

My desktop icons are not displaying properly

After powering up my MacBook Pro, some of my desktop icons show as archives instead of an actual pic of the icon. I have restarted and that does not change the icons.

Thanks abwhite57 for the suggestion. I was able to fix the problem before seeing your reply.
As I went thru the process of cleaning up the desktop icons, I noticed that moving one to the trash or to the finder would change the thumnail view back to it's proper appearance. So an icon would go from one that said "archive" back to thumnail view of it's webpage. So I then dragged the icon back onto the desktop. Problem solved.

Screen wallpaper snapshot without desktop icons appearing in it?

Greetings:
I wish to create a screen snapshot for wallpaper without the desktop icons appearing in the shot. You see, on Tiger I use VirtueDesktop with MenuShade to create a wallpaper that uses fonts and won't display the menubar. However, Leopard rejects MenuShade and doesn't allow VirtueDesktop to start up with each screen having its own fonts. My thought is to take a screenshot of my wallpaper screens in Tiger and have VirtueDesktop view them in Leopard with fonts "intact", though there's nothing I could do to eliminate the menubar as in Tiger. I need to know if there's any program that can take a "clean" screen snapshot in Tiger without the standard desktop hard drive icons appearing in it.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated!
JimWG

In Tiger and other OS X versions, you can hide the Hard Drive icon from the
Preferences menu selection under Finder. You can also hide the Dock from
the preference setting for Dock under blue Apple in the menu bar.
Your screen shot options, given keyboard choices, can also include the
main Finder menu in the screen header if you choose Full screen. With
the default screen capture as .png, that can be changed to .jpg if needed.
A second edit in Preview with Crop can remove the menu bar.
Good luck & happy computing!

Desktop Icon problem

Since upgrading to Lion on my Mac Pro, when I start up, all the desktop icons appear on top of each other in a stack, I then have to select all and go to view clean up. they then appear normally. I have 2 monitors connected therefore I am in extended desktop mode. Also with the change desktop box in desktop and screen saver panel de-selected, my desktop picture keeps changing.
Mike

You are probably playing WoW with a smaller screen resolution than your normal setting. This moves the files and folders on the desktop to the centre to make them fit on the "smaller" desktop. When going back to the normal resolution they simply stay where they were before (=more towards the centre). That's not a serious problem.

How do I hide the 3 desktop icons? [RESOLVED]

I wanted to hide (not delete) the 3 desktop icons. I think I can do this by altering one of the kde files, but I don't know which one. Please can someone tell me which file+path I need to alter?

Thanks! My desktop is now just that bit cleaner. However, it causes Beryl not to work. I'll have to file a bug report with the Beryl Project.

Some of my desktop icons have turned white

Some of my desktop icons(.docx and .json files) have turned white. They open alright, but the icons have turned white. I have Windows 8.1 OS. Please help me out.

Hi,
This might be caused by service conflict, I suggest to perform a clean boot in this way:
1.Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
2.Type msconfig in the search box, and then tap or click msconfig.
3.On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then tap or click Disable all.
4.On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager.
5.On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.
6.Close Task Manager.
7.On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click OK, and then restart the computer.
Details as below:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
Regards
Wade Liu
TechNet Community Support

Install a desktop icon

Install desktop icon so I can scan documents.

Hello @jb-007,
Welcome to the HP Support Forums!
I would like to assist you today with installing the Full Feature Software and Driver package for your HP ENVY 4500 e-All-in-One Printer on your Windows 8.1 computer so you will be able to scan through the HP Printer Assistant software. The HP Printer Assistant software installs at the same time as when you install your printer. If you simply went to 'Add a Printer' under the Devices and Printers folder on your computer the basic print only capabilities will be added in, but no software. Therefore, I am going to have you start troubleshooting by temporarily removing the HP Envy printer icon from Devices and Printers. Once we have a clean slate to work with I will be walking you through installing the Full Feature Driver and Software package for your printer. Once the installation is complete you will have all the capabilities for your device. Please follow the steps below.
Step 1: Remove Device:
This step will only temporarily remove your printer from your computer. If you fail to remove the copy of the printer from the computer, once we run the installation of your device you will have multiple copies of your printer installed. Therefore, to avoid future confusion I am going to have you start by deleting the copy currently installed.
Open your Start screen by selecting the Windows icon on the bottom left of your computer screen or by selecting the Windows key on the bottom left of your keyboard, to the right of the Ctrl button
Once the Start screen opens type Devices and Printers. Click Devices and Printers to open the window
Under Devices and Printers look for your HP Envy. Once you see your printer please right click on it and select 'Remove Device' or 'Delete'
If you're using a USB Cable connection between your printer and computer, please disconnect that cable now.
Close Devices and Printers once your printer is deleted
Step 2: Clear Temp Files:
Open your Start screen by selecting the Windows icon on the bottom left of your computer screen or by selecting the Windows key on the bottom left of your keyboard, to the right of the Ctrl button
Once the Start screen opens type Run. Click Run to launch the Run dialogue box
In the Run box type %temp% and click OK
Once the Temp folder opens, select Ctrl + A at the same time on your keyboard. Everything in this folder will now highlight.
Select the 'delete' button on your keyboard. The Temp folder contains temporary internet files. No actual files or folders on your computer will be affected by deleting the Temp files. Should a Temp file still be used than you will automatically get the pop up to 'skip' that item.
Close the Temp folder once it is emptied
Right click the Recycling Bin on your desktop and select Empty Recycling Bin
Step 3: Install Device:
Please click here to download the Full Feature Software and Driver package for your printer
Once the download is complete please follow the onscreen instructions to install your printer
If using a USB Cable connection, do not plug in the USB Cable until the installer prompts you to
Once the installation is complete you should have an HP Printer Assistant icon on your computer desktop. Click on the HP Printer Assistant icon. Once the software opens click Scan a Document or Photo to launch the HP Scan software. For full instructions on how to utilise the HP Scan software on your computer please click here.
Please respond to this post with the result of your troubleshooting. You can also click the 'thumbs up' icon at the bottom to say "thanks for responding!". I look forward to hearing from you!
X-23
I work on behalf of HP
Please click "Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the "Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the right to say "Thanks" for helping!

Lost quicktime desktop icon

I updated i-tunes to 7.5.5 version. When computer was done updating my i-tunes icon disappeared and reappeared again as it always does with an update. My quicktime icon disappeared too but never reappeared. I had many problems with quicktime on my old computer. I am trying to keep it all clean and working on my new laptop. Is there a way to get my icon back? Is this a sign that my quicktime is going to begin having problems again? Someone please advise! My i-tunes seems to be working fine at the moment.

The Desktop icon is merely a shortcut and most modern installers have a simple check box to allow one be made (or not).
Don't worry about it or make one.

Windows 8.1 Moving Desktop Icons Problem

I just installed Windows 8.1 and I'm very happy with it. There is just one problem I have and I hope you can help me resolve it.
I can't move my desktop icons. Windows is newly installed and I don't have any third-party software that could mess up everything. I searched across the web for different solution but none of these work. I tried to install all the updates but that didn't
change anything. They said I should try pressing Escape button three times. I pressed Escape three times, but that also didn't work. Then somebody said that possibly the Esc button on keyboard may be stuck. But this problem continued even after I plugged out
my keyboard!
I can't think of another solution to try so I hope you can help me.
EDIT: I'm really sorry, I saw Win 8.1 Visualization, but it says
Virtualization :S I don't know what to do.

boot in safe mode
If you are able to arrange the desktop icons in safe mode, I would suggest you to perform clean boot.
Refer to the link to perform clean boot.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
start as normal after troubleshooting
Hope this resolves the issue.

View\Clean Up screws icon allignment

Hi everyone!
I have MAC OS X Mavericks 10.9.5
when I right-click "Clean-Up" in order to align my desktop icons to the grid
sometimes it works, but often it SORTS all my icons by name!!
Very annoying thing since I do have a lot of folders on my desktop
Anyone in here had expeienced this kind of issue?
Any advice to solve it?
Many Thanks
Michele
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

You are welcome.
Do a backup.
Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library. Then go to Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist and com.apple.desktop.plist. Move the .plists to your desktop.
Re-launch Finder by restarting the computer and test. If it works okay, delete the plists from the desktop.
If the same, return the .plists to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.
Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

Desktop icons rows screwed up help!

Hey on my powerbook g4 12 inch, the desktop icon rows seem to be off line. For example, i have Macintosh HD on my desktop in the top right corner and if i clean up the rows by going to view>clean up and the Macintosh HD icon goes halfway under the finder bar. I tried making a new user and that worked for a bit but then started again. How can this be fixed?
Thanks

Its running 10.5.8 and another thing, when i press F7 the display goes to a blank background as if there was a secondary display. How can i remove this because i dont need it and its annoying when i hit the F7 key and it takes a sencond to go to my wallpaper. If i go to displays in settings and arrangement, there is one display slightly higher and to the left of another. (i will try to add a picture but i am new to this) it also happens in desktop and screensaver.

Desktop icons get mixed up after reboot

The file and folder icons on my desktop get mixed up after reboot. The problem does not appear always but quite often. It cost me much time to arrange the desktop icons back to their original state. The problem aready exists since MacOSX 10.6.2 (or previously).

Hello KXsig,
thank you for your quick response and welcome greetings!
Yes, I use an application which interacts with the desktop: Safari for example when I use Drag&Drop to copy a picture from Safari to my Desktop. With MacOSX 10.4.11/Safari and MacOSX 10.5/Safari this problem never appeared. My girl friend who uses the same system (MacOSX 10.6.4) on the same Mac has the same problem!
I like the Stacks in the Dock but they are no substitute for the Desktop. I also do not want to have to adjust my behavior to my computer to get it work properly.
In my experience, the probability that the symbols are mixed up after a restart, is bigger, especially if there are already a number of icons on the right bottom of the Desktop. Perhaps the programmers of the new Finder decided to "clean up" the icons in this case. Older versions of the Finder started to stack the symbols about one another in this case. I prefer this behavior. In my opinion it is a bug. Is there a workaround ? In a German forum I have read that it helped to do something with the file ~/Desktop/.DS_Store. However, I do not know any more what this was.
Any ideas ?

Clean up desktop icons?

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