While this is frustrating, we’re here to help. Here are seven troubleshooting steps you can take to restore your ability to select multiple files in Windows 10 and 11.
1. Restart Your Computer
The first thing you’d want to do is restart the computer and see if that solves the problem. Click on the Start and then on the Power button. From the list of options, select Restart.
2. Make Sure It’s Not a Keyboard Problem
There are two keys that people use to select multiple files at once on Windows: the Shift and Ctrl keys. So the next thing you should do is make sure there’s nothing wrong with them. To see if the keys are working, bring up the on-screen keyboard and test them.
To open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 10 or 11, press Win + R, enter osk in the Windows Run dialogue box, and then hit the Enter key. This will bring up the virtual keyboard.
To test if the Shift key works, press it and see if the corresponding key lights up on the on-screen keyboard. If it doesn’t show that you’re pressing the key on the virtual keyboard, then something might be wrong with it. Do the same with the Ctrl key after you’re done testing the Shift key.
If you’re not good with fixing computers on the hardware side of things, you’ll have to call a professional to fix the malfunctioning keys. If you’re using a desktop computer, you can just get a new one.
3. Reset Folders Views in File Explorer
You might not be able to select multiple files because you’ve made some customizations to your Folder views in File Explorer, and all you have to do is reset it and restore the default view settings.
The first step here is to open Folder Options. In Windows 10, open File Explorer and head click on the View tab on the top menu and select Options on the far right.
To open Folder Options in Windows 11, open File Explorer and click on the three dots on the right end of the top menu and then select Options.
Once you’ve opened Folder Options, click on the View tab. Then, click the Reset Folders button. You’ll get a prompt asking you if you want to go ahead with resetting the folders, so click Yes.
4. Delete Your Temp Files
Sometimes, temp files, which Windows creates to hold temporary data for a file that it or an installed program is currently creating or modifying, can interfere with your PC’s operations, including selecting multiple files. Deleting them is completely safe, and it will empty your desktop cache (the internet cache will remain untouched). So it’s worth a try if you’re unable to select multiple files in Windows.
To open the folder containing the temporary files, press Win + R to open Windows Run. Type %temp% and hit Enter on your keyboard to open the Temp folder.
To delete all the temp files in Windows 10, look for the Select sub-menu on the far right and click on Select all.
Then, click on Delete (the big red X) in the Organize submenu to delete everything.
In Windows 11, click on the three dots on the right of the top menu and click on Select all. Then, click on the trash bin icon in the main menu to delete the temp files.
5. Use the File and Folder Troubleshooter
You’ll have to download the File and Folder Troubleshooter and install it (Microsoft doesn’t pre-install it in Windows). After you’ve downloaded the tool, double-click on it to open it. Then, just follow the instructions, and the File and Folder Troubleshooter will automatically detect and fix any problems it finds.
6. Try Using Check Boxes
Using check boxes doesn’t solve the problem, as it is more of a workaround, but it will allow you to select multiple files before you try any of the nuclear options. If you want to enable check boxes in Windows 10, open File Explorer and select the View tab. In the Show/hide menu, tick Item check boxes.
To enable check boxes in Windows 11, open File Explorer and then click on View > Show > Item check boxes.
Now when you hover over a file in either Windows 10 or 11, you will see a check box appear either on the left side or the top corner. To select multiple files that way, just click on their respective check boxes (not the files themselves).
7. Reset Your Windows System
If you’ve tried everything and using check boxes isn’t what you want, maybe resetting your Windows installation will help solve the problem. When you reset Windows, you’ll return the OS to its factory default settings. Doing this will help get rid of any rogue settings that are preventing you from selecting multiple files.
The beauty about resetting your PC is that while it will delete all settings and apps, you get the option to keep all your files and folders. You can read our guides on how to reset Windows 10 or reset Windows 11. You can also choose to just delete everything, but be sure to back up every important file and folder first so you don’t lose everything.
Now You Can Select Multiple Files Again
Selecting multiple files by holding down the Ctrl or Shift key is something that every Windows user should be able to do, as it’s fast and convenient. If you suddenly find yourself unable to do it, then the above troubleshooting steps should help you restore that ability.
And if all else fails because you have a corrupted Windows installation, you can just reinstall the entire OS.
