I have started plugging in an external monitor to my new Macbook Air. The icons on the desktop automatically reset when I plug in and I've tried putting them back in place but they just reset again when I unplug the monitor and later plug it back in.
Is there any way to prevent this? It's definitely lowering my productivity.
MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)
Hi BradnBeaverton,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The article below may be able to help you with this issue.
Whether or not you are using an Apple Cinema Display, the behaviour you are describing is the same:
Apple Cinema Display: Troubleshooting steps
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2810
Desktop icons move after screen resolution change
Changing the screen resolution affects the display of information on your screen, especially changing to a smaller resolution. The operating system may automatically reposition icons after you change the screen resolution.
OS X Mountain Lion: About the Display pane of System Preferences
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5369
Cheers,
- Judy
Hi Judy,
Thanks for the link though unfortunately it didn't offer a solution to the problem. I'm not changing the resolution when I connect the external monitor. I set the resolution initially but have not altered it since.
I try putting the icons back into the right place when connected to the monitor but they just get scrambled again the next time I plug in to the monitor.
Hi BradnBeaverton,
Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issue or question you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://expresslane.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.
- Judy
Did you ever get an answer to this? This also is a seriously frustrating problem for me as well. "judysings" clearly wasn't very helpful 🙂
This problem is not specific to Macbook Air or Mountain Lion. I have a 2009 macbook with snow leopard and get the same issue. I also have a macbook pro with OS 10.5 and the problem persist there as well. It will happen with a cinema display or any other dispay.
oops,
I meant I have a macbook with 10.8.5 and the problem persist there as well.
My desktop icons scramble when using external monitor
