Drag and drop is a simple yet useful feature that makes it easy to move items around on your screen. With it, you can quickly relocate your files and folders without having to switch between windows or use keyboard shortcuts.
While that’s convenient, there can be times when the drag and drop feature stops working on your Windows 11 computer. If you are facing the same problem, here are some solutions that will help.
1. Start With Some Generic Fixes
It’s a good idea to try some generic Windows fixes before spending time on any advanced solutions.
2. Use the Esc Key
At times, Windows may freeze on the last drag and drop operation and stop responding to new actions. If it’s just a one-off glitch, simply resetting the drag and drop gesture should do the trick.
Left-click and hold the file or folder you want to drag and click theEsckey. Then, release the left click on your mouse, and check if you may drag and drop items after that.
3. Restart the Problematic App
If the drag and drop feature is not working only in a specific app, such as Chrome or Outlook, there may be an issue with that app. you may try restarting the problematic app or program to fix the problem.
PressCtrl + Shift + Escto open the Task Manager. In theProcessestab, locate and select the faulty app or program, and click theEnd taskoption at the top.
Reopen your app and check if the issue still occurs.
4. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
Running the Hardware and devices troubleshooter is an effective way to fix issues with your peripherals. This tool can scan all the hardware devices connected to the system, including your mouse or touchpad, and resolve any issues with them.
Since this troubleshooter is not accessible through the Settings app, you will need to use the Run command to start it. Here are the steps you can follow:
5. Update or Reinstall Mouse Drivers
Outdated or damaged mouse or touchpad drivers can also cause drag and drop to stop working in Windows 11. If that’s the case, updating the relevant drivers should help solve the problem.
Here are the steps to do the same:
Follow the on-screen prompts to finish updating the driver.
If the issue remains even after this, you’re able to try uninstalling the mouse driver from your PC. If you need help with that, check our guide onhow to uninstall drivers in Windows 11. After removing the driver, restart your PC, and Windows will automatically reinstall the missing driver during the boot process.
6. Check Your Mouse for Issues
Issues with your mouse can also make it seem like the drag and drop feature is not working on Windows 11. Try disconnecting your mouse and reconnecting it to see if that works. If you’re using a wireless mouse, swap the old batteries or charge it.
For more help, refer to our guide onfixing the left-click mouse button not working issue on Windowsand follow the tips mentioned there.
7. Edit Registry Files
Incorrect registry entries can also cause such anomalies. You need to review the registry values related to the drag and drop feature and ensure they are configured correctly.
Making incorrect modifications to registry files can lead to serious problems. Hence, you should considerbacking up all the registry filesorcreating a restore pointbefore proceeding.
Once you’ve done that, use these steps to fix the drag and drop registry files:
Restart your PC after making the above changes and see if the drag and drop feature works after that.
Effortlessly Move Your Files With Drag and Drop Functionality on Windows
Drag and drop is one of those Windows 11 features that once you start using it, you can’t go back. Hence, it can be inconvenient when the feature stops working on your PC. We hope that going through the above tips has helped you fix the problem and put you at ease.
While the default drag and drop action can help you move items quickly, you can also modify it to copy or create shortcuts for files and folders on Windows.
Q: How Do You Drag Maximized Windows in Windows 11?
You drag maximized Windows in Windows 11 by pressing and holding down the Windows key and pressing an arrow key (right, left, up, or down arrow key). This changes your current window’s position on your screen.
Q: How Do You Change Drag and Drop From Copy to Move in Windows 11?
you may change drag-and-drops’s action from copy to move by holding down the Shift key while dragging and dropping your files. This makes Windows move your files instead of copying them to a folder.
Q: How Do You Drag and Drop From One Computer to Another?
You can drag and drop files from one computer to another by opening your target computer’s shared folder on your main computer and dragging your files and folders onto that folder window. This copies your computer’s files to your chosen computer.
