How to select or highlight multiple files and folders

Updated: 08/xvi/2021 by Computer Hope

When working with Microsoft Windows, macOS, (or whatsoever operating organisation with a GUI), you may want to select multiple files to copy, delete, or move them all at once. The following sections describe different methods of selecting multiple files or folders.

Select all the files or folders in the current directory

"Select all" with shortcut keys

In most operating systems and programs, the shortcut key Ctrl+A (Control+A on macOS) selects all available text in the current text area, or all files in a file navigator window.

"Select all" using menus

Note

In Windows viii or Windows 10, the File/Edit/View menu is not available in File Explorer. Use Ctrl+A instead.

  1. Open a folder or directory in File Explorer or My Computer.
  2. Click Edit in the menu bar at the acme of the window.
  3. Click Select All on the drop-down carte.

Once the files or folders are highlighted, right-click one of the highlighted files or folders to view bachelor options to cut, copy, or delete. For boosted help and data, run into the below section on what can exist done after the files or folders are highlighted.

Mouse drag and select multiple files or folders

Tip

If you have many files to select, the drag-and-select method is the easiest style to select a lot of files.

Drag and select files

Y'all can click-and-drag a box around the files or folders you want to select. Doing then selects all files and folders in that box, as shown in the animated moving picture.

To do this, click and hold your left mouse button on the pinnacle-left portion of where you want to kickoff highlighting. Next, drag the box until the final file or folder is highlighted. Once the files are selected, they can exist copied, cut, or dragged to another window to move them. They can also exist dragged to the Trash/Recycle Bin to be deleted.

Once the files or folders are highlighted, right-click one of the highlighted files or folders to view available options, including cut, re-create, or delete. For additional assist and information, see the below section on what tin can be washed after the files or folders are highlighted.

Select multiple files or folders grouped together

  1. Click the first file or folder, and so press and hold the Shift key.
  2. While belongings Shift, click the final file or folder.

Tip

Come across the other tips section on how you tin can select grouped and not-grouped files or folders at the same fourth dimension.

Once the files or folders are highlighted, correct-click one of the highlighted files or folders to view available options to cut, re-create, or delete. For boosted aid and information, come across the below department on what tin can be washed afterwards the files or folders are highlighted.

Select multiple files or folders that are not grouped together

  1. Click the first file or folder, and so press and agree the Ctrl key.
  2. While holding Ctrl, click each of the other files or folders you lot want to select.

Tip

Run into the other tips section on how y'all can select grouped and non-grouped files at the same time.

Once the files or folders are highlighted, right-click one of the highlighted files or folders to view available options to cut, copy, or delete. For additional help and information, see the below section on what tin can be washed after the files or folders are highlighted.

How to select without using the mouse

  1. Press Windows primal+E to open File Explorer.
  2. Printing Tab until you're in the section of the window containing the files or folders you want to select.
  3. Use the arrow keys to move to the file or folder you want to select.
  4. You tin select more than 1 file or folder by belongings down the Shift key and utilise the pointer keys highlight them.

One time the files or folders are highlighted, printing the shortcut key Ctrl+X to cut or Ctrl+C to copy, or press the Delete fundamental to delete. For boosted help and information, see the below section on what tin can be done after the files or folders are highlighted.

Other tips

You can utilize a combination of selecting multiple files or folders and single files or folders at the aforementioned time past following the steps below.

  1. Click the outset file or folder y'all want to select.
  2. Hold down the Shift central, select the last file or binder, and and then let go of the Shift key.
  3. Hold down the Ctrl central and click whatever other file(s) or folder(due south) y'all would like to add to those already selected.

Tip

Property Ctrl and clicking a file or folder a 2nd time deselects the file or folder.

What tin can exist done once the files or folders are highlighted?

After the files or folders are highlighted, they can be copied, moved, deleted, or compressed into a single annal file.

  • How to copy files.
  • How to move files and folders on the computer.
  • How to delete a file, directory, or folder.
  • How to compress or make files into ane file.