Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10  

Ok, I understand now. The item is not being selected (highlighted) anymore on your main computer. I thought it was only not staying underlined.

If you haven't already, see if restarting the explorer process using an option below may sort this for you if it's just a glitch.

Restart explorer.exe Process in Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

You're most welcome. :)

Hello questorfla,

I wish I did for you. Unfortunately, it's a global setting applied to everything.

When using single click, you are able to select an item in File Explorer and on the desktop by hovering over it.

You might play with using check boxes to select items to see if that may help any.

Turn On or Off Select Items using Check Boxes in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

questorfla said:

I actually LIKED the single click for running programs when I found it does that on TaskBar Icons. I was very disappointed when I discovered that Program icons in the Taskbar DO activate by Single Click BUT the same icon on desktop takes a double click. I knew about the place to modify needed clicks in folder Options/ Settings and figured it would be the way to fix that. But Not so fast..

It ALSO changes opening files and folders to a single click which just won't do. It is too easy to accidentally open a file or folder I was just trying to drag somewhere else. If i could get ALL "program" icons on both Desktop and Taskbar to go active with a single click BUT retain the required double click to open a folder or file, That would be my preferred option.
How about it? Do you have any nifty registry edits that would fix that?

I've been using this for years; when I want to drag and drop, I just make sure I hold down the left mouse button when I click, rather than letting it go (which you will until you forget about double clicking). It takes a little practice, but I no longer open something I'm going to drag and drop.

Another thing that works is to select a file, then drag and drop . . . hover the mouse over the file and it's highlighted; then click and hold down the left mouse button to drag it to where you want it.

It doesn't really take all that long to get the hang of it; my hardest thing to learn was to not double click!

sportsfan148 said:

It describes this Single click method as Single click to open an item and point to select. Im a bit unsure how exactly point to select will work in practice...particularly when using the Navigation Pane in File Explorer?
When selecting multiple files...At the moment you hover over a file, press CTRL and click to select as many files as you want to copy/delete etc or use the shift key with the first and last file to select them all and click to select.
How does this work when using multiple files in file explorer...pressing CTRL or the Shift Key and clicking sounds like it will open the file?
Is single clicking a better option or are there times when its a bit awkward to use?
Ive got to admit I like the sound of it but Im old school and have always used the standard Double Clicking method with the mouse

Hey mate,

When you have Single-click to open an item (point to select) and Underline icon titles only when I point at them selected:

1) A single item is selected by hovering the pointer over it.

2) You can use Ctrl or shift to select multiple items by hovering over the items.

3) A single click on anything will open it.

This setting is one of those for what's best for your personal situation and choice.

I find it to be faster and easier to use. You should give it a play with for a while to compare and see if you like it over double click or not.

sportsfan148 said:

Great explanation Shaun. Im guessing you must have to hover a file and it will be highlighted and hover over it for a certain length of time longer before its classed as having been selected. Using double clicking method when you hover over a file it also gets highlighted but you have to additionally click on it once to select it. In Single click mode does Point to Select just mean highlight the file?

Also when you set up single click mode does it apply throughout the operating system or just in file explorer? Are there any other circumstances you need to be aware of?

I once had a laptop where it was far too easy to unintentionally drag and drop files all over the place under default settings in file explorer if I didnt tweak the settings so that it couldnt happen. Ive got a desktop PC now so at least I dont have that to worry about lol

Correct. Point to Select means highlight the file. I'd say probably about a second to hover over before it's selected.

It gets applied everywhere in Windows unless a program decides to use its own setting.