diff --git a/src/__tests__/MasonryLayoutManager.test.ts b/src/__tests__/MasonryLayoutManager.test.ts
index d5f6d4a0a..d47d5292b 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/MasonryLayoutManager.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/MasonryLayoutManager.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { RVLayoutManager } from "../recyclerview/layout-managers/LayoutManager";
 import { RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl } from "../recyclerview/layout-managers/MasonryLayoutManager";
+import { ConsecutiveNumbers } from "../recyclerview/helpers/ConsecutiveNumbers";
 
 import {
   getAllLayouts,
@@ -186,6 +187,49 @@ describe("MasonryLayoutManager", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("Item Column Locking", () => {
+    it("should keep locked items in their assigned columns when height changes", () => {
+      const manager = createLayoutManager(LayoutManagerType.MASONRY, defaultParams);
+      manager.modifyLayout([
+        createMockLayoutInfo(0, 200, 100),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(1, 200, 150),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(2, 200, 120), // Col 0
+      ], 3);
+
+      manager.onVisibleIndicesChanged(new ConsecutiveNumbers(0, 2));
+      manager.modifyLayout([
+        createMockLayoutInfo(0, 200, 100),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(1, 200, 150),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(2, 200, 300), // much taller, still stays in Col 0
+      ], 3);
+      expect(getAllLayouts(manager)[2].x).toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    it("should allow unlocked items to reposition into optimal columns", () => {
+      const manager = createLayoutManager(LayoutManagerType.MASONRY, defaultParams);
+      manager.modifyLayout([
+        createMockLayoutInfo(0, 200, 100),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(1, 200, 150),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(2, 200, 120),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(3, 200, 80),
+      ], 4);
+
+      // Only lock items 0-1, items 2-3 remain free to move
+      manager.onVisibleIndicesChanged(new ConsecutiveNumbers(0, 1));
+      manager.modifyLayout([
+        createMockLayoutInfo(0, 200, 100),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(1, 200, 150),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(2, 200, 120),
+        createMockLayoutInfo(3, 200, 80),
+      ], 4);
+
+      const layouts = getAllLayouts(manager);
+      expect(layouts[0].x).toBe(0);
+      expect(layouts[1].x).toBe(200);
+      expect(layouts[2].x).toBe(0);   // shortest column
+      expect(layouts[3].x).toBe(200);
+    });
+
   describe("Empty Layout", () => {
     it("should return zero size for empty layout", () => {
       const manager = createLayoutManager(
diff --git a/src/recyclerview/RecyclerViewManager.ts b/src/recyclerview/RecyclerViewManager.ts
index ede5f4117..c0687ebb4 100644
--- a/src/recyclerview/RecyclerViewManager.ts
+++ b/src/recyclerview/RecyclerViewManager.ts
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ export class RecyclerViewManager<T> {
 
       if (engagedIndices) {
         this.updateRenderStack(engagedIndices);
+        this.layoutManager.onEngagedIndicesChanged(engagedIndices);
         return engagedIndices;
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/LayoutManager.ts b/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/LayoutManager.ts
index ffecb96e5..10b6a7404 100644
--- a/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/LayoutManager.ts
+++ b/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/LayoutManager.ts
@@ -264,6 +264,13 @@ export abstract class RVLayoutManager {
     return this.layouts.length;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Called when engaged indices change. Subclasses can override
+   * to update internal state that depends on engaged items.
+   * @param indices The current engaged indices
+   */
+  onEngagedIndicesChanged(_indices: ConsecutiveNumbers): void {}
+
   /**
    * Abstract method to recompute layouts for items in the given range.
    * @param startIndex Starting index of items to recompute
diff --git a/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/MasonryLayoutManager.ts b/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/MasonryLayoutManager.ts
index c0b41b664..80a02dcd3 100644
--- a/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/MasonryLayoutManager.ts
+++ b/src/recyclerview/layout-managers/MasonryLayoutManager.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { ConsecutiveNumbers } from "../helpers/ConsecutiveNumbers";
 import {
   LayoutParams,
   RVDimension,
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ export class RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl extends RVLayoutManager {
   /** If there's a span change for masonry layout, we need to recompute all the widths */
   private fullRelayoutRequired = false;
 
+  /** Last engaged end index — items at or before this keep their column assignment */
+  private lastLockedItemIndex = -1;
+
   constructor(params: LayoutParams, previousLayoutManager?: RVLayoutManager) {
     super(params, previousLayoutManager);
     this.boundedSize = params.windowSize.width;
@@ -46,6 +50,9 @@ export class RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl extends RVLayoutManager {
       if (this.layouts.length > 0) {
         // console.log("-----> recomputeLayouts");
 
+        // Full relayout — unlock all items so they can reflow across columns
+        this.lastLockedItemIndex = -1;
+
         // update all widths
         this.updateAllWidths();
         this.recomputeLayouts(0, this.layouts.length - 1);
@@ -72,6 +79,7 @@ export class RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl extends RVLayoutManager {
 
     // TODO: Can be optimized
     if (this.fullRelayoutRequired) {
+      this.lastLockedItemIndex = -1;
       this.updateAllWidths();
       this.fullRelayoutRequired = false;
       return 0;
@@ -102,6 +110,16 @@ export class RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl extends RVLayoutManager {
     this.fullRelayoutRequired = true;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Updates the locked item boundary from engaged indices.
+   * Items at or before the last engaged index keep their column assignment.
+   */
+  onEngagedIndicesChanged(indices: ConsecutiveNumbers): void {
+    if (this.optimizeItemArrangement) {
+      this.lastLockedItemIndex = indices.endIndex;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Returns the total size of the layout area.
    * @returns RVDimension containing width and height of the layout
@@ -143,7 +161,11 @@ export class RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl extends RVLayoutManager {
       const span = this.getSpan(i, true);
 
       if (this.optimizeItemArrangement) {
-        if (span === 1) {
+        const isItemLocked = i <= this.lastLockedItemIndex;
+
+        if (isItemLocked && layout.isHeightMeasured) {
+          this.placeInAssignedColumn(layout, span);
+        } else if (span === 1) {
           // For single column items, place in the shortest column
           this.placeSingleColumnItem(layout);
         } else {
@@ -239,6 +261,32 @@ export class RVMasonryLayoutManagerImpl extends RVLayoutManager {
     this.columnHeights[shortestColumnIndex] += layout.height;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Places an item in its previously assigned column(s).
+   * @param layout Layout information for the item
+   * @param span Number of columns the item spans
+   */
+  private placeInAssignedColumn(layout: RVLayout, span: number): void {
+    const columnWidth = this.boundedSize / this.maxColumns;
+    const startColumn = Math.min(
+      this.maxColumns - span,
+      Math.max(0, Math.round(layout.x / columnWidth))
+    );
+
+    let maxHeight = this.columnHeights[startColumn];
+    // Find the highest column (when span > 1)
+    for (let col = startColumn + 1; col < startColumn + span; col++) {
+      maxHeight = Math.max(maxHeight, this.columnHeights[col]);
+    }
+
+    layout.x = columnWidth * startColumn;
+    layout.y = maxHeight;
+
+    for (let col = startColumn; col < startColumn + span; col++) {
+      this.columnHeights[col] = maxHeight + layout.height;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Places a multi-column item in the position that minimizes total column heights.
    * @param layout Layout information for the item