Windows 10: Why can't I disable Item Check Boxes in File Explorer?

I just bought a Nimo pro 15.6 fhd laptop and I can't disable Item Check Boxes in File Explorer. I don't have a touchscreen and there's no tablet mode so I can't figure out why these settings aren't working. Even the methods of unchecking the option through the view setting, changing registry value, or the the 3 dots in File Explorer does not work at all either.

:)

 

Why can't I disable Item Check Boxes or enable Compact View in File Explorer?

That is an interesting workaround that has happened for you. so now that you have it set to compact view when connected to an external monitor, it has saved those only why connected to it. Once you disconnect it, it goes back to showing the boxes in your file manager.

Can you please try the steps located here on this forum for disabling the check boxes?

https://www.technipages.com/fix-item-checkboxes...

Press the Windows and R keys to open a new Run window.

Enter control.exe folders, and hit Enter.

In the new Folder Options window, locate Use checkboxes to select items.File-Explorer-Options-use-checkboxes-to-select-items

Untick the checkbox to disable the option.

Once you have done that please restart the file explorer by closing it down and reopening.

There is also a way of correcting it via the Registry as well listed in the link above if that does not work.

Will you please let me know if those steps above help to resolve this issue, so the check boxes are gone even when disconnected from your external monitor?

 

Option to View Item Check Boxes in Explorer is broken

Your picture shows the issue.

Before, when Item check boxes was checked, there was a box next to each folder or file, that you could check, just like the one before Name. Now as you can see in your picture the check boxes are gone.

 

Disable checkboxes in file explorer

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I understand that you are facing issues with check boxes in file explorer



In order to get clarity and to assist you accordingly, please reply with the answers to the questions below:

• Does the check boxes appear every time, when you open file explorer?
  
• As said that you are able to hide check boxes, so does that still appear?
  
• Are you aware of any recent changes on the PC prior to this issue?
  

Meanwhile, I would suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below and check if the issue persists:



Method 1: Disable item check boxes

1. Open File Explorer, click on View tab, select Show, and then uncheck Item check boxes
   

Method 2: Change folder options settings

1. Open File Explorer, click on three horizontal dots at the top, select Options
   
2. On Folder Options windows, go to View tab, uncheck the option Use check boxes to select items, click on Apply and then OK
   

Method 3: Make registry changes

Note: Important this section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can how to create a the registry if a problem occurs.

Follow the steps to take backup of registry.

• Enter regedit in the Run window and click OK to open Registry Editor.
  
• In Registry Editor, expand the keys with the following path:
  
  Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  

• Find and double click on AutoCheckSelect, if not present, right click to create a new 32-bit DWORD value with name AutoCheckSelect
  
• Change its Value data to 0 to disable checkboxes
  

Method 4: New User Account

I would also suggest you to create a new user account with administrative rights and check if the issue persists. Creating a new user account will not remove any data, app or settings from your current user account, this is just a troubleshooting step to eliminate the possibility of user profile corruption. Refer this article to Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 11



Let us know how it goes



Vineet Kumar

Microsoft Community - Moderator