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

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.

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 a BAT file

OPTION ONE [/i] 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.





4. Set to Open Items with Double-Click
*note 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)









OPTION TWO [/i] Set to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click using a BAT file
*note The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD and BINARY values in the registry key below.

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

IconUnderline (DWORD)

ShellState (BINARY)

1. Do step 2 (single-click, underline-browser), step 3 (single-click, underline-point), or step 4 (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 5 below.

Single-Click-tpen_Items-Underline_consistent_with_browser.bat

Download

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 5 below.

Single-Click-tpen_Items-Underline_when_point_at.bat

Download

4. Open Items with Double-Click
*note 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-tpen_Items.bat

Download

5. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

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

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

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


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Turn On or Off Use Check Boxes to Select Items in Windows 10
• How to Add Item check boxes to Context Menu in Windows 10
• How to Open Each Folder in the Same or New Window in Windows 10
• How to Change how Apps and Websites Automatically Open for Sets in Windows 10

:)

 

Mouse double clicking

That is old school now. Hover to highlight and select, single click to open works for most of us. But if you really need double click--

Open File Explorer, Change Folder & Search Options, General Tab. More specific instructions--

Open Item by Single Click or Double Clicks on Windows 10

 

single mouse click

Open File Explorer

Click the View tab

Click Options

In the General settings, under Click items as follows, choose Single-click to open an item (point to select) or Double-click to open an item (single-click to select), and then tap OK.

 

LOL, I find myself always doing the same. *Smile

 

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?

 

Hello rboppy, *Smile

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

 

Thanks for the reply Brink,

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

 

I haven't noticed a way yet.

 

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

 

There seems to be some miscommunication here. This is my shop computer:



From here I can mouse up to the commands.

This is my main computer:



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.

 

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.

*Arrow Restart explorer.exe Process in Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

 

Easy fix! Thanks again Brink.

 

You're most welcome. *Smile