Merica Studio

Join Date 10/2025

Fences 6 Bug: Desktop Folder Rename Also Renames Icon Inside Fence Tab

Reproducible Renaming Bug in Fences 6 – Needs Review

I’m experiencing what appears to be a bug in Fences 6 and wanted to report it for review.

When I create a new folder on the Windows desktop and immediately rename it, an icon inside one of my Fences tabs also changes its name to match the new folder name. The icon inside the Fence is unrelated to the new folder and should not be affected.

Steps to reproduce:

Right‑click desktop → New → Folder
Immediately type a name for the new folder
After the folder is created, open my Fence tab
An existing icon inside the tab has been renamed to the same name I gave the new folder

This issue happens frequently. I have not found any settings that would cause this behavior, and I have not seen this issue documented in the Fences 6 troubleshooting resources.

Could you please advise whether this is a known issue, and if there is a fix or workaround?

Thank you for your help.

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Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need more information.

Windows 10 or 11? Also need its full version and OS Build number.
Fences full version number installed.
Post a video showing us the issue.

I've tested your steps on my Windows 11 25H2 OS Build 26200.7462 system with Fences 6.20, but I can not reproduce your issue on my system.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 25H2

OS build 26200.7623

Fences 6.20

Hello,

It appears that Fences keeps the last‑selected icon inside a tab in a locked/active state. When I create or rename a desktop folder, the name change is applied to that icon instead of the new folder.

I performed a full clean uninstall, removed all leftover Stardock/Fences data, and reinstalled with fresh settings. The problem persists even after a clean setup.

Thank you,

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Thank you for the video. Unfortunately, I can't reproduce your issue on my system. Perhaps something is conflicting with Fences on your system. Would like to suggest to try purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002

+4590

Quoting basj,

reply 3

Would like to suggest to try purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

I think this will solve it, also, basj (fwiw).

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Quoting DrJBHL,

reply 4

I think this will solve it, also, basj (fwiw).

I hope so Doc.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I’ve run into this before and have now found something useful to help understand and test the issue.
Try selecting any icon inside the fence first, then create a folder. See if the behavior changes with Roll‑up Fence turned on or off.

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On my last test I did select an icon but it did not change it when I rename a newly created folders. Refer to my video below.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I thought I had already mentioned that this behavior in Fences 6 isn’t consistent. Sometimes the icon renaming happens, and sometimes it doesn’t. You can see this in the videos I uploaded. If I didn’t mention this clearly before, I apologize.

Did you click on that Excel file first before making the new folder?

If you believe this behavior isn’t caused by Fences, then I’m not sure why it only happens inside a Fence. When Fences is disabled, I don’t experience this issue at all.

I trust your testing and analysis, and if you’re confident there’s nothing wrong with Fences, we can keep this topic open so others can report if they experience the same issue.

>> I ’ve been using Fences for about a year without any issues, and this problem only appeared after the latest update. Could you provide a link to the previous version so I can test it?

Thank you,

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If you see my video again, I did specifically click and drag the files from another fence into that new created fence, so if should still be active, no? Than I right click on the desktop to create a new folder etc. Not sure why you have not see that.

Anyway, I would still suggest if you can do the purge and reinstall (reply#3) just to make sure Fences was properly installed. If the issue still appear, there are few another steps that I would like to suggest next.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I didn’t see you deselect and reselect that file, but it’s not a big deal. I just wanted to confirm that the issue actually occurs. When you have a moment, please take a look at the edited version of my last post.

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I’ve had problems every time I’ve run this script, and I kept ignoring the warnings, but now I’ve noticed why.

I checked the script "Purge_Fences.bat", and it’s not written for Fences 6 at all, it’s a legacy remover for Fences 1–3.
Running it on Windows 11 can cause real problems because it force‑kills Explorer and deletes registry keys and system files that modern versions of Fences don’t use. I’d strongly avoid running it on a current system.

I’ll write a proper purge script specifically for Fences 6 and try again.

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The purge script is by Support himself. And, it is one script for all Fences version. I believe lots of users have use the script to removed traces of Fences from their system. That is why the script need to remove registry keys and files that was get installed when you install Fences.

If you have the know how and wish to do your own, please do so.

Just report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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I created a full purge script specifically for Fences 6, and it works exactly as intended. Unfortunately, even after a complete clean‑out and reinstall, the issue is still happening. If it helps, I can share the script here so you can review it or pass it along to other customers running into the same problem with the latest Fences update.

As part of troubleshooting, I also tested Fences 5. After doing a full purge and installing Fences 5 fresh, I’m seeing zero issues so far. I’ve uploaded a new video showing the behavior.

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I tested more time still i can not reproduce your issue. Here a suggestion for you to try.

If you have Windows Pro version, you will have Windows Sandbox. Please do a Sandbox test and see if the issue appear while in the sandbox. Refer here for steps: https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1416560645/Testing+Fences+in+Sandbox.
You could also do a Clean boot https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1332445272/Fences+Clean+Boot. Do note Clean boot need to be done with care.

Try these and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Windows 10 Pro | VMware Player 17

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I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience. Thank you.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Hi Merica Studio,

Thanks for posting.

Quoting Merica Studio,

reply 2

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 25H2

OS build 26200.7623

Fences 6.20

I've reproduced this and logged it for review.

Internal Reference: ODNT-11922

Best regards,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Support Specialist

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I confirm that there is a problem; resetting the settings and reinstalling Windows or the program does not solve anything.

Most often, folders or executable exe files are renamed. Most often, files that were recently added to the block fences are actually changed.

This is very inconvenient. One evening, I was afraid that I had lost my work documents! An entire folder simply changed its name, which was scary.

I don't know if the problem occurs when there is only one Fences block on the desktop. I have several of them. The author of the topic also has several. Perhaps the problem does not occur when there is only one block on the desktop. You need to create and fill in at least three. Two blocks should be collapsed, and one block can be expanded permanently. The recent file should be in one of the collapsed blocks.

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 25H2

OS build 26200.7623

Fences 6.20

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When will this problem be fixed? I'm tired of losing my work files! What did I pay for?

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This post has been machine-translated for international users.

I’m also experiencing the same issue with Fences S6.20 (ja-JP), which I purchased on Steam.

In my setup, this occurs when the “Roll-up” feature is enabled.

It appears that this problem arises because when a roll-up is closed, the folder within the Fence remains selected even though it’s hidden.

It seems that if you select or double-click a folder inside a Fence with the Rollup feature enabled, and then rename the folder or file on the desktop, the folder inside the Fence—which remains selected—will also be renamed simultaneously.

You can avoid this renaming bug by clicking on an empty area of the desktop before renaming, which deselects the folder inside the Fence that is currently hidden, but this workaround is very cumbersome.

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Quoting tatJP,

reply 20

This post has been machine-translated for international users.

I’m also experiencing the same issue with Fences S6.20 (ja-JP), which I purchased on Steam.

In my setup, this occurs when the “Roll-up” feature is enabled.

It appears that this problem arises because when a roll-up is closed, the folder within the Fence remains selected even though it’s hidden.

It seems that if you select or double-click a folder inside a Fence with the Rollup feature enabled, and then rename the folder or file on the desktop, the folder inside the Fence—which remains selected—will also be renamed simultaneously.

You can avoid this renaming bug by clicking on an empty area of the desktop before renaming, which deselects the folder inside the Fence that is currently hidden, but this workaround is very cumbersome.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you’re experiencing issues. As noted in reply #17 above, this has already been logged internally and the Development Team is investigating. In addition, I’ve added your post to the Support Team’s internal thread for their review of your situation. Please continue to monitor this thread for updates. We truly appreciate your feedback and patience. Thank you.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Quoting kailleah1486,

reply 18

I confirm that there is a problem; resetting the settings and reinstalling Windows or the program does not solve anything.

Most often, folders or executable exe files are renamed. Most often, files that were recently added to the block fences are actually changed.

This is very inconvenient. One evening, I was afraid that I had lost my work documents! An entire folder simply changed its name, which was scary.

I don't know if the problem occurs when there is only one Fences block on the desktop. I have several of them. The author of the topic also has several. Perhaps the problem does not occur when there is only one block on the desktop. You need to create and fill in at least three. Two blocks should be collapsed, and one block can be expanded permanently. The recent file should be in one of the collapsed blocks.

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 25H2

OS build 26200.7623

Fences 6.20

Quoting kailleah1486,

reply 19

When will this problem be fixed? I'm tired of losing my work files! What did I pay for?

Hello,

I understand how frustrating this must be, especially with the impact on your work files. As noted earlier, the issue has already been logged and the Development Team is actively investigating. I’ve also flagged your post in the Support Team’s internal thread so they can review your case directly. While I don’t have a timeline to share yet, please keep an eye on this thread for updates as soon as they’re available. We truly appreciate your patience and feedback as the team works toward a fix.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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