How to Fix Can’t Select Multiple Files in a Folder in Windows

If you are unable to select multiple files inside a folder and Windows only lets you select one item at a time, the problem is usually caused by File Explorer glitches, Sticky Keys, selection settings, or mouse/keyboard behavior. Normally you should be able to use Ctrl, Shift, or drag your mouse to select multiple files, but when this stops working it becomes very frustrating. Below are the most effective methods to restore normal multi-select in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Restart Windows Explorer

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer under the Processes tab, right-click it and choose Restart, wait a few seconds for the taskbar and folders to refresh, then open any folder and try selecting multiple files again using Ctrl or Shift.

Use Ctrl, Shift, and Mouse Selection Properly

Open any folder and first try holding Ctrl while clicking multiple files one by one, if that does not work then click the first file, hold Shift, and click the last file to select the whole range, if both fail then hold Ctrl + Shift together and select files with your mouse to force multi-selection mode.

Turn Off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys

Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Accessibility → Keyboard, turn Sticky Keys and Filter Keys Off, also disable the option that allows shortcut keys to enable them, close Settings and test file selection again.

Disable Check Boxes for Item Selection

Open File Explorer, click the View menu then Show, uncheck Item check boxes, close the folder and reopen it, now try selecting multiple files using Ctrl or Shift to confirm the issue is fixed.

Reset Folder Options

Open File Explorer Options from the search bar, go to the General tab and click Restore Defaults, then open the View tab and click Reset Folders, apply the changes and restart File Explorer to restore default selection behavior.

Enable Double-Click to Open Items

Open File Explorer Options, under Click items as follows select Double-click to open an item (single-click to select), apply the setting and test multi-select again because single-click mode can sometimes interfere with normal selection.

Conclusion

The “can’t select multiple files” issue in Windows is usually not a serious bug and can be fixed by restarting Windows Explorer, disabling Sticky Keys, correcting selection settings, or resetting folder options. After applying these methods you should be able to use Ctrl, Shift, and mouse drag to select multiple files normally in any folder.

FAQ

Why can I only select one file at a time in Windows?
This usually happens due to Sticky Keys, single-click mode, File Explorer glitches, or selection check boxes being enabled.
Ctrl and Shift keys are not selecting multiple files, what should I do?
Turn off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys, restart Windows Explorer, and test your keyboard to make sure the keys are working properly.
Does this fix work on Windows 11?
Yes, all the methods above work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Will resetting folder options delete my files?
No, resetting folder options only restores default settings and does not affect your files or folders.