Enable Single Click to Open Files and Folders in Windows 10

You can enable single click to open files and folders in File Explorer in Windows 10. By default, you need to click a file or a folder twice to open it. Here is how to change this behavior.

The single-click mode will allow opening of files and folders with a single left click. This will also enable hovering with the mouse pointer to select items in the folder view. The double-click (default) mode allows the user to open items with a double left click. In this mode, you can select an item with a single left click.

1. Open This PC in File Explorer.
2. In the Ribbon user interface of Explorer, click File -> Change folder and search options.If you have disabled the Ribbon using a tool like Winaero Ribbon Disabler, press F10 -> click Tools menu - Folder Options.
3. Tip: you can add the Folder Options button to Quick Access Toolbar. See the following article: How to add any ribbon command to the Quick Access toolbar of File Explorer.
4. On the General tab in Folder Options, enable the option Single-click to open an item (point to select).You can choose between Underline icon titles consistent with my browser and Underline icon titles only when I point at them according to your preferences.
5. Click Apply and OK to close the Folder Options dialog and apply the changes.

Note: Starting with Windows Vista, you can enable check boxes to select items. If check boxes are enabled, then hovering does not select an item but a single click still opens the item.

That's it. To restore default behavior, open the Folder Options window and enable the option Double-click to open an item (single-click to select).

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