Restore Lost Icons Fast with Solway’s Desktop Icon Layout Saver

Solway’s Desktop Icon Layout Saver — Keep Multiple Desktop Layouts ReadySolway’s Desktop Icon Layout Saver is a lightweight Windows utility designed to help users save and restore the positions of desktop icons. Whether you switch between different monitor setups, present with a projector, use different virtual desktops, or simply like to keep themed icon arrangements, this tool makes it easy to capture and reapply icon layouts so your desktop stays organized.

What it does

Solway’s Desktop Icon Layout Saver records the exact positions of desktop icons and stores those positions as named layouts. You can create multiple layouts (for example: “Work”, “Gaming”, “Presentation”, “Dual Monitor”) and switch between them instantly. When you restore a layout, the utility moves icons back to their recorded coordinates, even after screen resolution changes or when monitors are disconnected and reconnected.

Key features

• Simple, minimal interface — focused on saving and restoring icon positions without unnecessary extras.
• Multiple named layouts — save different arrangements for different tasks or setups.
• Handles resolution and monitor changes — attempts to re-map icon positions when display setup changes.
• Lightweight and portable — often available as a small executable requiring no heavy installation.
• Fast restoration — quickly repositions icons without needing a system restart.

Who benefits

• Remote and hybrid workers who switch between laptop screens and external monitors.
• Presenters who need a clean desktop layout for meetings.
• Designers, developers, and gamers who use different toolsets or shortcuts depending on the project.
• Anyone frustrated by icons rearranged after changing resolutions, using multiple displays, or accidentally toggling “Auto arrange” in Windows.

How to use it — step-by-step

1. Download and run Solway’s Desktop Icon Layout Saver (check the publisher/source for safety).
2. Arrange your desktop icons the way you want for a particular purpose.
3. Click “Save” (or equivalent) and give the layout a descriptive name.
4. Repeat to create additional layouts for other setups.
5. When you want to switch, select a saved layout and click “Restore.” Icons will snap back to their saved positions.

Note: If Windows’ “Auto arrange icons” or “Align icons to grid” is enabled, it may affect exact placements. Disable these options if you need pixel-perfect positions.

Tips and best practices

• Create a layout immediately after arranging icons — that way you capture the exact positions.
• Name layouts clearly (e.g., “Laptop 13-inch”, “Desktop 2x4K”, “Presentation”) to avoid confusion.
• Keep a backup copy of the configuration files (if the program stores them as files) so you can transfer layouts between machines.
• If the tool offers export/import, use those features to move layouts to another PC.
• Periodically re-save layouts after making small adjustments.

Limitations and cautions

• Not an official Microsoft tool — verify the download source and scan for malware.
• May not perfectly restore icon positions across very different resolutions or scaling settings; results vary.
• Some system events (major Windows updates, user profile changes) can invalidate saved positions.
• If Windows settings like “Auto arrange” are enforced, the utility cannot override them.

Alternatives

• Native Windows methods: manually arrange icons or use third-party shell extensions.
• Other third-party tools: several utilities exist with similar functionality; compare features like portability, UI, and support.

Conclusion

Solway’s Desktop Icon Layout Saver is a practical, no-frills solution for anyone who needs to preserve multiple desktop arrangements. It’s especially useful for users who switch display setups often or want themed desktops for different activities. As with any third-party utility, download from a trusted source and keep backups of important configuration files.