How to select or highlight multiple files and folders

Updated: 08/sixteen/2021 by Estimator Hope

When working with Microsoft Windows, macOS, (or any operating organisation with a GUI), yous may want to select multiple files to copy, delete, or move them all at once. The post-obit sections draw dissimilar 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 central Ctrl+A (Command+A on macOS) selects all available text in the current text surface area, or all files in a file navigator window.

"Select all" using menus

Notation

In Windows 8 or Windows 10, the File/Edit/View menu is non available in File Explorer. Employ Ctrl+A instead.

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

Once the files or folders are highlighted, correct-click one of the highlighted files or folders to view available options to cut, copy, or delete. For boosted help and information, see the below section on what can be done subsequently the files or folders are highlighted.

Mouse drag and select multiple files or folders

Tip

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

Drag and select files

You tin click-and-drag a box around the files or folders you desire to select. Doing so selects all files and folders in that box, equally shown in the blithe moving-picture show.

To do this, click and concord your left mouse button on the top-left portion of where you want to start highlighting. Next, elevate the box until the last file or binder is highlighted. Once the files are selected, they can be copied, cut, or dragged to another window to movement them. They tin can too 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 cutting, copy, or delete. For boosted assistance and information, see the below department on what can be washed subsequently the files or folders are highlighted.

Select multiple files or folders grouped together

  1. Click the first file or binder, and then press and agree the Shift key.
  2. While belongings Shift, click the last file or binder.

Tip

Run into the other tips section on how you can select grouped and not-grouped files or folders at the aforementioned time.

Once the files or folders are highlighted, right-click i of the highlighted files or folders to view bachelor options to cut, copy, or delete. For additional assist and information, run into the below section on what can be washed after the files or folders are highlighted.

Select multiple files or folders that are not grouped together

  1. Click the outset file or binder, and so press and agree the Ctrl central.
  2. While property Ctrl, click each of the other files or folders you desire to select.

Tip

See the other tips section on how yous can select grouped and non-grouped files at the same time.

Once the files or folders are highlighted, correct-click i 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 can be done after the files or folders are highlighted.

How to select without using the mouse

  1. Press Windows key+Due east 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 binder y'all desire to select.
  4. Yous can select more than one file or folder by holding downwards the Shift key and utilize the arrow keys highlight them.

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

Other tips

You tin use a combination of selecting multiple files or folders and unmarried files or folders at the same fourth dimension past following the steps beneath.

  1. Click the get-go file or folder yous want to select.
  2. Agree down the Shift key, select the last file or folder, and so permit go of the Shift key.
  3. Hold down the Ctrl fundamental and click any other file(s) or folder(s) yous would like to add together to those already selected.

Tip

Holding Ctrl and clicking a file or folder a second time deselects the file or folder.

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

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

  • How to re-create files.
  • How to move files and folders on the calculator.
  • How to delete a file, directory, or folder.
  • How to compress or make files into one file.