How do I unlock the desktop icons on my iMac?

Question

Level 1

9 points

How do I unlock the desktop icons on my iMac?

I have had my iMac for about 5 months and things have been moving slowly but quite sucessfully.

Today, however all of the icons on my desktop are locked. I cannot move them. I can double click them and they open up but they will not move at all. I did a search but nothing I've read online helps. I have clicked onto the icons and checked file/get info but the locked section under general is not checked. I am at a loss as to why I cannot move anything. Any suggestions?

OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), i just purchased my MAC

Posted on May 31, 2014 3:35 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

XENiCraft

Level 2

272 points

Jun 1, 2014 4:46 AM in response to catonpub

Hmm that's unusual.

Try clicking on your Desktop, then press Command-J on your keyboard.

It should bring up a little window.

Move the sliders for Icon Size and Grid spacing.

Do your icons move?

If they do, then move on.

At the bottom of that same pane, there is a drop down list of options called "Sort by:"

Select "snap to grid".

Close the window (either by pressing the X button or pressing Command-J again) and try moving the icons.

Did this fix it?

If it didn't, I have a couple more tricks up my sleeve 😉

Reply

Answer 2

catonpub Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 1, 2014 10:52 AM in response to catonpub

Thank you so much for your suggestions.

When I turned my computer back on this afternoon I was able to move the icons around like nothing happened. I have no idea what I did or why it happened but I guess I should have learned from my PC days that when all else fails - Reboot.

I do have another though... Could I have picked up a virus or something and that is what caused my icons to freeze? I was told we don't have to do a virus/spyware/malware check on the Mac but I'm just wondering.

Thanks again. I will keep your information in the event I need it sometime in the future.

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 18, 2017 9:57 PM in response to catonpub

None of the Five answers worked for my Sierra OS-iMac. I stumbled on the solution as follows.

Taking another look at "Command J", I noticed above all of the listed options - at the very top - was the word "none"(appearing like the Header for the subjects below), figured I would click on it. Did that, low and behold 'I could move Icon's anywhere, anyplace at anytime where they where shown. Problem solved!!

I believe that Apple should provide that procedure in there "Icon Preferences"

Reply

Answer 4

Jun 1, 2014 11:00 AM in response to catonpub

I've noticed that when my son plays video games on Window (have Windows 7 loaded) on my iMac, sometimes my Desktop icons will move and be locked in place. I've found that by using force quit (Command-Option-Escape simultaneously) and restarting my finder it will unlock the frozen desktop icons. I'm not certain of your configurations on your iMac, but hopefully the tip will help in the future.

Reply

Answer 5

XENiCraft

Level 2

272 points

Jun 1, 2014 3:38 PM in response to catonpub

Don't worry too much about viruses on the mac.

As long as you don't click on ads, visit shady websites, or install software that advertises itself as "MacKeeper" or something similar to clean your mac and make it faster, you should be fine.

All of that software is malware, just so you know.

Also always make sure to only download/install software from trustworthy sources.

In all my years of using my beloved macs (15 years), i have never had any viruses, nor any anti-virus software.

Just keep your wits about you when online, and you should be fine 🙂

Reply

Answer 6

catonpub Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 6, 2014 9:39 AM in response to catonpub

Thanks for all of your help. My icons are working fine now.

Reply