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

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
    Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10

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

    How to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    17 Feb 2024
    Designer Media Ltd

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


    You can set Windows to open an item when you single-click/tap or double-click/tap on it.

    The single-click option allows you to open items (ex: files and folders) with a single tap or left click, and to select items by hovering the pointer over the item. Single-click will also allow you to select to "underline icon titles consistent with my browser" or "underline icon titles only when I point at them".

    The double-click option allows you to open items (ex: files and folders) with a double tap or left click, and to select items with a single tap or left click on the item.

    You can now also select to Single-click to open an item and never underline using the BAT file in step 4 of option two.

    This tutorial will show you how to open items with a single-click or double-click in your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Set to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in File Explorer Options
    • Option Two: Set to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click using BAT file






    OPTION ONE

    Set to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in File Explorer


    1 Open File Explorer Options.

    2 Do step 3 (single-click) or step 4 (double-click) below for what you would like to do.


     3. Set to Open Items with Single-Click

    A) In the General tab, select (dot) Single-click to open an item (point to select). (see screenshot below)

    B) Select (dot) Underline icon titles consistent with my browser or Underline icon titles only when I point at them for what you want.

    C) Click/tap on OK.

    Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10-file_explorer_options_single_click.png


     4. Set to Open Items with Double-Click

    This is the default setting.

    A) In the General tab, select (dot) Double-click to open an item (single-click to select), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10-file_explorer_options_double_click.png






    OPTION TWO

    Set to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click using a BAT file


    1 Do step 2 (single-click, underline-browser), step 3 (single-click, underline-point), step 4 (single-click, never underline), or step 5 (double-click) below for what you would like to do.


     2. Open Items with Single-Click, and Underline Icon Titles Consistent with Browser

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

    Single-Click-to_Open_Items-Underline_consistent_with_browser.bat

    Download

    (contents of .bat file)
    Code:
    @echo off
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V IconUnderline /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V ShellState /T REG_BINARY /D 240000001ea8000000000000000000000000000001000000130000000000000062000000 /F
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /V "Anchor Underline" /T REG_SZ /D "yes" /F
    
    :: To kill and restart explorer
    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
    start explorer.exe


     3. Open Items with Single-Click, and Underline Icon Titles when Pointed at

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

    Single-Click-to_Open_Items-Underline_when_point_at.bat

    Download

    (contents of .bat file)
    Code:
    @echo off
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V IconUnderline /T REG_DWORD /D 2 /F
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V ShellState /T REG_BINARY /D 240000001ea8000000000000000000000000000001000000130000000000000062000000 /F
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /V "Anchor Underline" /T REG_SZ /D "yes" /F
    
    :: To kill and restart explorer
    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
    start explorer.exe


     4. Open Item with Single-click (point to select), and Never Underline

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

    Single-click-to_open_item_and_Never_Underline.bat

    Download

    (contents of .bat file)
    Code:
    @echo off
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V IconUnderline /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V ShellState /T REG_BINARY /D 240000001ea8000000000000000000000000000001000000130000000000000062000000 /F
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /V "Anchor Underline" /T REG_SZ /D "no" /F
    
    :: To kill and restart explorer
    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
    start explorer.exe


     5. Open Items with Double-Click

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Double-Click-to_Open_Items.bat

    Download

    (contents of .bat file)
    Code:
    @echo off
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V ShellState /T REG_BINARY /D 240000003ea8000000000000000000000000000001000000130000000000000062000000 /F
    
    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /V "Anchor Underline" /T REG_SZ /D "yes" /F
    
    :: To kill and restart explorer
    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
    start explorer.exe


    6 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    7 Unblock the .bat file, and run the .bat file.

    8 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.

    9 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #1

    I've been doing this for years. I'm pretty sure it was Vista or Windows 7 when I first discovered 'single click'.

    Now, when I'm working on someone else's computer, I'm lost until I realize I have to double click. :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    LOL, I find myself always doing the same. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1,438
    Windows 10
       #3

    Asked the following in general-support, @philc43 suggested I ask it here:

    I have 2 computers running Windows 10, my main computer is Version 1709 Build 16299.64, the one in my shop is Version 1703 Build 15063.726, the view option on both computers is:


    On the shop computer when I point at a file it highlights the file and lets me mouse over to one of the commands, Delete, Rename, etc. On the main computer when I point at a file in underlines it and when I mouse up to the commands the underline goes away.

    Did the new version of Windows 10 change the way it handles this?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello rboppy, :)

    I see the same thing in build 17046 using those settings.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1,438
    Windows 10
       #5

    Thanks for the reply Brink,

    Is the any way to get it back the way it was?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I haven't noticed a way yet.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1,438
    Windows 10
       #7

    I hope you do!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Well, selecting Underline icon titles consistent with my browser is now working again for me.

    Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10-underline.jpg
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1,438
    Windows 10
       #9

    There seems to be some miscommunication here. This is my shop computer:
    Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10-shop.png
    From here I can mouse up to the commands.

    This is my main computer:
    Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10-main.png
    When I attempt to mouse up the selection goes away, the only way I can run a command is using the keyboard or right-clicking the item.

    Choosing the option to 'underline icon consistent with my browser' leaves right-click as the only way to run a command.

    Right-click is ok but it leaves most of the commands on the Home tab useless.
      My Computer


 

Tutorial Categories

Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 20:36.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums