macOS Sonoma desktop items won't move from top right corner

Same here. Waiting for a fix.

Not for me. Still having downloads that are supposed t go to the desktop fall on top of each other over my HD icon. Just updated to 14.1.1 with high hopes. Alas. They're dashed.

This issue is just flat out ridiculous and even more ridiculous that Apple has known about this issue since Sonomas initial release and they still haven't fixed the issue.

That’s only a temporary fix. The issue will resurface.

This isn't usual behaviour nor is it Stacks turned on. I suggest turning off Snap to Grid for a second, moving all files from the desktop to your Documents folder, restarting the computer and then moving them back. After that, download a new file and see how it works. This isn't expected behaviour in any way.

They have Stacks turned off in the screenshot and that isn't Stack behaviour as the names are overlapping and clearly not in a filetype group. It can also be seen by the text they give us, where they explain ALL files fall into that spot.

I also noticed that changing from Monterey to Sonoma impacted the icon locations on the desktop. My Macintosh drive and TM drive would not stay at the location I had previously. By moving them around and using lock to grid on and off several times I managed to lock them in a location. But if I turn off grid then they move again which is not the way it was with Monterey.

AARGH!! Of course, it immediately began again a minute after I posted this. Just moving any file on the desktop shoots it to the top right. At least now what I do is just bring up the sub-menu and select “Clean Up” and the desktop fixes itself immediately, with the offending icon moving somewhere else.

Sorry…..

Same here. All since updating to 14. After I upgraded, I hit clean up and had, well, unexpected results. I did much trying of the usual things as noted already here, and managed to get it working for almost 2 days. Restrated that way, worked, etc. And randomly it started doing this same crap again. Saving anything from any app to the desktop lands it on the HD icon. I'm too scared to try "clean up" again, since it took me an Nour to fix it last time...

I just ran the above in Terminal, then held me breath as I hit "clean up" after rearranging my desktop for what feels like the 40th time... It worked! I then even had the temerity to "save image to desktop," and that landed where it should, too. Thank you, Pete, and I'll update also if something changes.

I take it all back. I just dl'd something in Safari. My default dl folder for Safari is my desktop. Guess where that file icon landed? Yup. Right on top of my hard drive icon. All I did between now and my last post was put my laptop to sleep.

Sigh. This sucks.

@PeteBradford:

I tried that two or three times, yesterday, and got a "usage" message (which I assume means something was wrong with the command string) every time.

In frustration, I just tried it again, and it appears to have worked: with Snap To Grid enabled, icons no longer stack in the upper right corner.

Fingers crossed it continues working. :-)

THIS ACTUALLY FIXED IT. At least o far. I will report back if it changes. Thanks, jskoizumi.

In the meantime, C'mon Apple! You have a donut-shaped megaplex and billions. THIS is your OS desktop?!? LOL

Try repositioning the dock back and forth between the bottom of the screen and the right side of the screen.

Also, try turning on and off hiding the dock when it is on the right side of the screen.

The problem both started and stopped for me while I was doing the above, trying to decide how I wanted my dock to be displayed in macOS Sonoma after recently upgrading to it.