The invention relates to a desktop icon arranging method, and relates to the technical field of computers. The method comprises the following steps: receiving an edit instruction, and switching a terminal desktop to an editing state; receiving first touch control operation on the desktop, and indicating the original positions of an icon moved by the first touch control operation, wherein the first touch control operation comprises clicking any icon, continuously moving the icon in a contacting way, moving the icon to an icon exchange area, and keeping unmoved icons still; receiving second touch control operation on the desktop, wherein the second touch control operation comprises clicking the icon in the icon exchange area, continuously moving the icon in the contacting way, and moving the icon to the indicated position in an icon arranging area; receiving an edit completion instruction. The invention further relates to a desktop icon arranging device. By adopting the desktop arranging method and device provided by the embodiment of the invention, the icons can be arranged more flexibly and rapidly, and the inconvenience in dragging management of the system desktop is avoided.