Xfce Forum

krumpf

Member

Registered: 2026-07-10

Posts: 4

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

I'm having the very same issue as well, desktop icons automatically arranging after a login (either from display manager, or from xflock4).
It started to happen after a system update, which included an update to libxfce4windowing to version 4.20.6, making it sound like a possible suspect (but other app/libraries were updated as well, I can provide a list if needed).
Being on Gentoo, I tried recompiling all xfce packages, with no luck; also tried the chattr +i band aid, it didn't work either.
Also tried deleting every file in .config/xfce4/desktop, the issue still occurs.

Is there any known working solution ? It may sound like a minor trouble, but it's extremely annoying

EDIT : Some people on reddit suggested it's caused by a timing issue between xfce4-panels & xfdesktop.

Last edited by krumpf (2026-07-10 08:46:36)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,644

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

Do you have a displayport connected monitor? See: https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/libxfce4wi … k_items/64 - especially Brian's comment about the fallback monitor added in libxfce4windowing 4.20.6.

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krumpf

Member

Registered: 2026-07-10

Posts: 4

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

Do you have a displayport connected monitor? See: https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/libxfce4wi … k_items/64 - especially Brian's comment about the fallback monitor added in libxfce4windowing 4.20.6.

I fall right under that exact case (single monitor on DisplayPort). Just tried using a HDMI connection, desktop icons didn't move after restart and screen lock. Thanks for pointing out that bug comment.
I suppose DP fix will have to wait for next libxfce4windowing version.

EDIT : using HDMI cable failed, just came back from groceries, unlocked the screen to find icons re-arranged :-/

EDIT 2 : I asked Gentoo's XFCE maintainers to restore previous libxfce4windowing (4.20.5) library, they kindly did.
But even after rebuilding all xfce packages with old version, issue still occurs.   

Last edited by krumpf (2026-07-10 14:57:36)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,644

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

If you're running xfdesktop 4.21.0, you might want to revert back 4.20.5 as a change was made their as well with respect to the new fallback monitor code.

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krumpf

Member

Registered: 2026-07-10

Posts: 4

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

If you're running xfdesktop 4.21.0, you might want to revert back 4.20.5 as a change was made their as well with respect to the new fallback monitor code.

Gentoo is still using xfdesktop 4.20.2 as stable version. All xfce apps/libraries 4.21 are currently masked and not available for updates, unless user forces the unmasking.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,644

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

I guess the next step is posting to that bug report to bring this to the attention of the developer.

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krumpf

Member

Registered: 2026-07-10

Posts: 4

Re: Desktop icons rearrange on reboot

I guess the next step is posting to that bug report to bring this to the attention of the developer.

Finally managed to solve all this, after the libxfce4windowing rollback, had to nuke the whole .config/xfce4/xfconf folder, I guess some preferences still included that "phantom screen". But now I need to reconfigure my whole desktop :'(

Last edited by krumpf (2026-07-12 05:11:43)