How to Drag and Drop Files on a Computer: Beginner's Guide (2024)

1. Open the file location folder and the destination folder side-by-side.
2. Click a file to select it, or hold CTRL/CMD and click to select multiple files.
3. Left-click and hold the file selection.
4. Drag the cursor to the new location.
5. Release the left-click to drop the files into the new location.

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1. 1

   Decide which files you want to drag-and-drop. The drag-and-drop method can be used to move files around on your computer, transfer files to a connected USB or an external hard drive, send email attachments, and more.^[1]

2. 2

   Open the file(s) location and the destination. For example, if you want to drag files from a folder to another folder, open both file folders side-by-side.^[2]

   • If you want to drag files from a folder to your desktop, open the file folder while leaving part of your desktop visible.
   • If you can't see both locations, resize the windows. You can do this by dragging any corner of the window towards its center.

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3. 3

   Select the files you want to drag-and-drop. If you only want to move one file, click the file once to highlight it.^[3]

   • To select all files in a folder, click the inside of the folder to make sure it's active. Then, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + A (Windows) or CMD + A (Mac).
   • To select multiple individual files, hold down CTRL (Windows) or CMD (Mac) and click each file.
4. 4

   Left-click and hold the file selection. Don't release the left-click just yet.^[4]

5. 5

   Drag the cursor into the new location. You may see a transparent version of the icons following your cursor.^[5]

6. 6

   Release the left-click. The files will be dropped into the new location.

   • If you're dropping a lot of files, this may take a few moments.

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Community Q&A

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• Many social media and photo programs use drag and drop to save users time. When you want to upload files, look for a box that says “drag and drop.” Minimize the browser so that you can access your files in a window. Then, select, drag and drop them into the upload box on the website.

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• Drag and drop is the preferred method for transferring songs and other information quickly on iTunes.

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Co-authors: 3

Updated: February 13, 2024

Views:146,496

Categories: Basic Computer Skills

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