Icons move inside folder
 

Linux Mint 18.2 Xfce

Is there a way to stop icons moving inside a folder?
Whenever I place an icon in a specific location inside a folder, it moves back to where it was.

I am afraid not. Files and folders are displayed according to the display setting in your file browser.
Typically the available options are something like "detailed list", "compact list" and "icons". However, in all of them, they will arranged top to bottom and left to right (if applicable).

What is it that you want to achieve? If this is about structuring your data you might rather want to create subdirectories...

I like to place icons in specific locations on the desktop and in folders.
The desktop retains the location but folders do not.
I know where icons are by the locations I place them.

as far as i know this is only possible on osx within folders, most linux fm's have set ordering of items inside folders, the desktop is different