How to Drag and Drop

December 2022 · 4 minute read

A mouse is a powerful tool for selecting files, with the 'drag and drop' function serving as a simple and essential skill for any computer user. Most programs and computers support drag and drop. Learning this practice can save you time...

Method 1 of 3:

Moving Files With Drag and Drop

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    Turn on your computer. Decide the files that you want to move to a new location. Choose where that new location will be.

  • Picture 2 of How to Drag and Drop Open folders on your computer. If you are using a Mac computer, open two Finder windows to access the files and the new location where you want to put them. If you are using a Windows computer, open the windows through the Start menu.
  • If your files are located on the desktop, you should only open a window for the location where you want to move the files.
  • If you are using a Mac, after you open the first window, go to the File menu at the top and select the option to open a new Finder window.
  • If you are using Windows, you can simply minimize the first window and access the Start menu again to find the second window.
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    Use your mouse to resize the folder windows so that they can be side by side on your computer screen. If your files are on the desktop, arrange your window next to the files on the desktop.

  • Picture 4 of How to Drag and Drop Navigate to the folder where the files are. Move your cursor so it is to the top left of all the files you want to move. Left click the mouse and drag the cursor over the files until you reach the bottom right corner.
  • Your files should be highlighted in blue to show they are selected and ready to drag.
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    Release your mouse. The files should stay highlighted.

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    Left click on a file and hold the button down.

  • Picture 7 of How to Drag and Drop Drag the files into the new folder. They will transfer and make a zipping noise as they are moved and saved.
  • If your files stop being highlighted at any time, you will need to repeat the drag and drop.
  • If you repeat this process but drag the files to a different drive, such as a removable hard drive, CD or zip drive, the files will not move, they will be copied.[1]

    • Method 2 of 3:

    Selecting Files for Drag and Drop

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    Notice if your files are not located consecutively in a folder. If this is the case, you will want to use your keyboard to help you select specific files before you drag and drop.

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    Open your two folder windows and place them side-by-side.

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    Go to the folder containing the files you want to transfer.

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    Click the first file that you want to move and release the mouse button.

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    Press the 'Shift' key on a Windows computer or the 'Command' key on a Mac computer. Keep it depressed while you continue highlighting files.

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    Click on additional files until you have highlighted all the files you want to move.

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    Release your mouse and the Shift/Command button. Your files should remain highlighted in blue.

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    Click on a single file that is highlighted. Drag it into the second folder. All the selected files should transfer.

    • Method 3 of 3:

    Opening Files With Drag and Drop

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    Open the program in which you want to open a file. Don't open a new document right away, because you will use the drag and drop function to do so.

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    Open a window using the Finder program or Start menu. Locate your file. If your file is on the desktop you can skip this step.

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    Click on the file and hold your left mouse button down. Drag the file to the icon of your open program. When it is hovering over the program, release your mouse button.

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    Wait a few seconds. The program will open the file and bring it up on your screen. This function will not work if you try to open a file that is not compatible with the program you've chosen.[2]

    • Lesley Montoya Lesley Montoya

    Update 24 March 2020

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