Sonoma 14.0 - How to clean up custom desktop icon locations

I have the same problem. After some research, I found that this issue only occurs when you update to Sonoma from an older version of MacOS.

I suspect the problem is related to the grid position settings, which are not the same as in the older version, system cannot define the correct position. So the desktop icons are displaced to the top right when you try to Clean Up with Sort by SNAP TO GRID or even just moving a single icon.

The solution is to delete the desktop view settings. Note that this will reset all your desktop settings, including icon size and position and displace it to their defaults in the top right. Do not proceed with this if you do not want your desktop settings reset.

Open Terminal and type:

rm -f "${HOME}/Desktop/.DS_Store" && defaults delete com.apple.finder DesktopViewSettings && killall Finder

After executing this command, relaunch Finder or simply restart your Mac. Ensure that it's Sort By SNAP TO GRID.

I received your post before you changed it. I assume you have "Use Stacks" unchecked now. I don't know what else the issue may be. If I have any files/folders scattered randomly on the Desktop, "Clean Up" just moves them to the nearest grid location.

Try booting into Safe Mode then restart normally. Sometimes that will fix anomalies.

Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Make sure "Snap To Grid" is checked in "Sort By".

I've had the same issue and its beyond annoying that my entire desktop

gets rearranged every time I hit "clean up" - clean up is supposed to do

just that...simply organize the desktop....not re-arrange everything. I shouldn't

have to fix Apple's bugs - for the amount of money we pay for Apple

products - I would expect the employees of Apple to do the coding - not outsource it to the customer.

Appreciate your help @joepher - and thanks for figuring it out...the issue I have is with Apple on a

whole. Don't force us to upgrade to new systems until you work out the

bugs - it makes for a miserable customer experience.

You're welcome.

You are a hero.