Change Drag and Drop Default Action in Windows  

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    Change Drag and Drop Default Action in Windows

    Change Drag and Drop Default Action in Windows

    How to Change Default Drag and Drop Action in Windows
    Published by Category: Customization
    27 May 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Default Drag and Drop Action in Windows


    When you drag and drop files and folders in Windows, they will get moved or copied by default based on the source and destination locations.

    • If you drag and drop a file/folder from a location on one drive to another drive, then the default action will be to copy the file/folder to the drop location.
    • If you drag and drop a file/folder from a local location to a network location, then the default action will be to copy the file/folder to the drop location.
    • If you drag and drop a file/folder from or to a CD/DVD or Blu-ray, then the default action will always be to copy the file/folder to the drop location. This cannot be changed.
    • If you drag and drop a file/folder from a location to another on the same drive, then the default action will be to move the file/folder to the drop location.
    • If you drag and drop a file/folder to the Recycle Bin, then the default action will always be to move the file/folder to the drop location. This cannot be changed.

    You can also use any of the keyboard shortcuts below to temporarily change the default drag and drop action for this instance.

    • Press and hold the Control (Ctrl) key while you drag and drop to always copy.
    • Press and hold the Shift key while you drag and drop to always move.
    • Press and hold the Alt or Control+Shift keys while you drag and drop to always create a shortcut.

    This tutorial will show you how to change the default drag and drop action to always copy, move, or create shortcut for all users in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change the default drag and drop action for all users.


    EXAMPLE: Drag and Drop to "Copy", "Move", or "Create link" (shortcut)
    Change Drag and Drop Default Action in Windows-copy.jpg
    Change Drag and Drop Default Action in Windows-move.jpg
    Change Drag and Drop Default Action in Windows-create_link.jpg



    Here's How:

    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORDs in the registry keys below.

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*

    and

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects

    DefaultDropEffect DWORD

    0 or delete = default action
    1 = Always copy
    2 = Always move
    4 = Always create shortcut


    1 Do step 2 (always copy), step 3 (always move), step 4 (always create shortcut), or step 5 (default) below for what you would like to set the default drag and drop action to be.


    2 To Set Default Drag and Drop Action to Always Copy

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Set_Drag_and_Drop_to_Copy_by_default.reg

    Download


    3 To Set Default Drag and Drop Action to Always Move

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Set_Drag_and_Drop_to_Move_by_default.reg

    Download


    4 To Set Default Drag and Drop Action to Always Create Shortcut

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Set_Drag_and_Drop_to_Create_Shortcut_by_default.reg

    Download


    5 To Restore Default Drag and Drop Action

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Set_Drag_and_Drop_to_Default.reg

    Download


    6 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10 x64
       #1

    Thank you... this is very useful for me, everyday!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    I'm glad it could help cesarf, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 150
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Insider Preview Build 19045.3269
       #3

    Hi Shawn.

    I tried you To Set Default Drag and Drop Action to Always Move reg file but I still cannot drag (move) files from one folder to another! I still get the red circle with the line through it when the file is dragged over the destination folder. Very frustrating and slows me down.

    Thanks for any help.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    thewizardoz said:
    Hi Shawn.

    I tried you To Set Default Drag and Drop Action to Always Move reg file but I still cannot drag (move) files from one folder to another! I still get the red circle with the line through it when the file is dragged over the destination folder. Very frustrating and slows me down.

    Thanks for any help.

    Hello Mark,

    When you get the red circle with a line through it, it usually means this is an invalid destination or the source is not allowed to be moved or copied. This can be caused by not having access permissions, in use, not available, etc...

    Please provide more details about the source and destination location to see if anything may stand out.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 841
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2
       #5

    Can DefaultDropEffect have any effects on refresh? I have the following already set in the registry:
    Code:
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\WMP11.AssocFile.CDA]
    "DefaultDropEffect"=dword:00000004
    
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\LibraryFolder]
    "DefaultDropEffect"=dword:00000004
    
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\cdafile]
    "DefaultDropEffect"=dword:00000004
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello @rdwray,

    It shouldn't have any effect for refresh.

    Of course, creating a link will be faster than copy or move.

    EDIT:

    Conversation continued here: Windows 10 version 2004 not updating Recycle Bin icon
    Last edited by Brink; 13 Sep 2020 at 12:51.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 118
    windows 10 20H2 Build 19042.928
       #7

    Thank you
    I'll give a try
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    coukou said:
    Thank you
    I'll give a try
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 64
    Windows 10
       #9

    Just to clarify:

    Drag & Drop means always while pressing LEFT (!) mouse button (not RIGHT).

    Is this Correct?

    The default can be overwritten by specifying a "DefaultDropEffect" Registry Key for a certain file type e.g.

    HKCR\videofile

    Correct?

    On my machine I found some "DefaultDropEffect" Registry Keys in a different branch:

    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\cdafile

    What impact do they have?
    Do they have a higher priority than default in HKCR\* ?

    Are the Registry Keys the same as for Windows 7?

    Assume I installed an additional copy/move tool like TeraCopy, ExtremCopy, FastCopy
    Are the "DefaultDropEffect" Registry Keys relevant for them too?
      My Computer


 

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