How to Open Files and Folders With a Single Click
This tip works in both Windows 10 and Windows 11
If you don’t like double-clicking to open files and launch programs, you’ll be glad to know that you have the option to change double-clicking to single-clicking. And it’s easy to do. To change your file & folder options to make opening files and folders with a single click the default action…this tip is for you!
- Type File Explorer Options in the taskbar search. Press Enter when you see File Explorer Options appear in the search results.
- In File Explorer Options, click on the “General” tab at the top.
- In the Folder Options, “General” dialog, tick the circle next to “Single-click to open an item (point to select)”. You’ll see that when you do that “Underline icon titles only when I point at them” is also selected. We suggest you leave it that way, the other choice “Underline titles consistent with my browser” can get messy. Then click “Apply then OK”.
That’s all there is to it. After you change these settings, you can open files and folders with a single click. If you decide you want to go back to double-clicking to open files and folders, just go back to the Folder Options > General dialog and tick the circle next to “Double-click to open an item (single-click to select)”. Click Apply / OK and you’re back to double-clicking to open files & folders for your default action.