Free image compression
Free image watermark
Free image edit
Free QR code
Free Image Format ConversionWhy Isn't Drag-and-Drop Functioning?
The drag-and-drop functionality contributes to the efficient operation of the system. You can opt for the cut-and-paste alternative, while the drag-and-drop feature facilitates rapid system operations. However, any problems with this fundamental function can be frustrating and disrupt seamless workflow. Have you ever encountered the issue of drag and drop not working?
Let's start by understanding the key causes of this problem.
- 1. Hardware issues. Mouse or touchpad problems might be the root cause of the drag-and-drop function not working.
2. Incorrect settings. Incorrect configuration of the operating system or program settings can lead to issues with daily system operation.
3. Touchscreen issues. When using drag-and-drop on your device, it's crucial to calibrate the touch screen driver and ensure it's up to date. Any touchscreen malfunctions can affect this feature.
4. Third-party software issues. Antivirus or security software from third parties can interfere with the drag-and-drop functionality.
5. Corrupted system files. Problems with system files, such as deletion or corruption, can result in drag-and-drop issues.
8 Ways to Fix Drag-and-drop Functionality Not Working
Now that we have an understanding of the drag-and-drop not working issue, let's explore its solutions. All you need to do is systematically employ these methods to seamlessly start using the drag-and-drop feature again. Here are the top eight remedies for this problem:
Method 1: Run the SFC and DISM Scans
Firstly, issues with drag-and-drop functionality might be caused by corrupted system files. Therefore, you can run the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) utilities on your system. The SFC scan identifies and replaces corrupted files, whereas the DISM scan directly replaces these files from Microsoft sources.
The swift steps to execute SFC and DISM scans are as follows:
Step 1: Type "Powershell" in the search bar.
Step 2. Choose the "Run as Administrator" option from the context menu on the right.
Step 3. Type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Step 4. Wait until the SFC scan is complete.
Step 5. Type the command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
Step 6. Wait for the DISM scan to finish, then restart your system to see if drag-and-drop is working correctly.
Method 2: Restart File Explorer
The File Explorer might encounter issues affecting proper system functionality when it freezes. To resolve this, restarting File Explorer is straightforward. Here are the detailed steps to restart it: 1. Press the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keys on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Task Manager. 2. In the Task Manager window, look for "Windows Explorer" or "File Explorer" in the list of running processes. 3. Click on "File Explorer" to select it. 4. Click on the "Restart" button at the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window. 5. Wait for a few seconds as File Explorer restarts. 6. Once it's restarted, check if the issue has been resolved. If the problem persists, you can also try signing out and signing back into your user account or performing a full restart of your system.
Step 1: Go to the "Start" menu and choose the "Task Manager" option.
Step 2: Following that, choose the "Processes" option and then select "Windows Explorer."
Step 3: Now, choose "End Task" from the options. The desktop will reappear after a moment.
Step 4: Choose the "Run new task" option, type "explorer.exe," then click "OK."
Step 5: File Explorer will restart and confirm if the drag-and-drop feature is working.
Method 3: Check Mouse Drivers
The issue with the drag-and-drop functionality could be related to mouse driver problems. To resolve this, you should make sure that your mouse drivers are updated. Here are the steps to check and update mouse drivers on your system:
Step 1: Select Device Manager.
Step 2: Press "Windows key + R" to open the "Run" dialog box.
Step 3: Type "devmgmt.msc" and click on the "OK" option.
Step 4: Select and expand "Mice and other pointing devices."
Step 5: Right-click on your mouse, then choose the "Update Driver" option. You can open the mouse customization software to check for any available mouse updates.
Method 4: Install Windows Updates
The drag-and-drop functionality might cease working due to issues with Windows updates. To resolve this, you should install any available Windows updates. Here are the quick steps to do so: 1. Press the 'Windows' key + 'I' on your keyboard to open Settings. 2. In the Settings window, click on 'Update & Security.' 3. On the left sidebar, select 'Check for updates.' 4. If there are any updates available, click on 'Download' and then 'Install' to start the process. 5. Wait for the updates to download and install completely. 6. Restart your computer once the installation is finished. After following these steps, the drag-and-drop feature should start working again.
Step 1: Open the "Settings" option on your system.
Step 2: Choose the "Update & Security" option.
Step 3: Check for Windows Updates and begin installing the available updates.
Way 5. Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
The subsequent approach to address the issue of drag-and-drop not functioning is by running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter. Here are the detailed steps to execute this troubleshooter on your system:
Step 1: Go to the Start menu and select "Control Panel."
Step 2: Choose the "View by" option and then select "Large icons."
Step 3: Next, choose the "Troubleshooting" option.
Step 4: Select the "Hardware and Sound" option.
Step 5: Next, select the "Configure a device" option.
Step 6: Click on the "Next" option and run the troubleshooter.
Method 6: Edit the Windows Registry
The Windows Registry is an excellent choice for resolving the drag-and-drop issue in your system. It serves as a database storing settings, information, and other configurations necessary for the smooth operation of both software and hardware. To edit the Windows Registry on your computer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the "Start" option and select the "Run" option.
Step 2: Type "regedit" in the text bar and press enter.
Step 3: Navigate to the path Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Step 4: Select "EnableLUA" and choose the "Modify" option.
Step 5: Modify the "Value data" from 1 to 0.
Step 6: Click on "OK," and then restart your system.
Method 7: Perform a Clean Boot
When the drag and drop functionality stops working on their system, many users opt for a clean boot. This is because it starts Windows with the bare minimum of startup programs and drivers.
The detailed steps to perform a clean boot on your system are as follows:
Step 1: Open the System Configuration app.
Step 2: Go to the "Services" option and select the "Hide all Microsoft services" option.
This image shows the "Hide all Microsoft services" option being selected.
Step 3: Next, choose the "Disable all" option.
Step 4: Go to the "Startup" option and select the "Open Task Manager" option.
Step 5: Navigate to the "Task Manager" and click on the "OK" option.
Step 6: Reboot your system now.
Method 8: Reset your PC
Lastly, but equally important, is resetting your system to optimize drag-and-drop functionality. This can help resolve any operational issues that might be causing problems with the drag-and-drop feature. Resetting your PC is a straightforward process, which you can accomplish by following these steps:
Step 1: Go to the "Settings" option.
Step 2: Choose the "Update & Security" option.
Step 3: Choose the "Recovery" option, and then select "Get Started" under "Reset this PC."
Step 4: Following that, select "Choose an option" and then opt for "Keep my files."
Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
Additional Guide: How to Backup Files Without Drag-and-Drop
Upon troubleshooting the issue with drag-and-drop not functioning, numerous users seek the most effective solutions to create a file backup. This enables users to make copies of their files or folders, safeguarding data from power outages or system failures. Fear not, as you can opt for reliable tools like Todo Backup Home.
Todo Backup Home provides a straightforward yet intelligent backup solution to safeguard against data loss. It enables you to automatically back up your files, system, disks, partitions, and computer applications. Additionally, it offers various backup options, including full, incremental, and differential backups, which can be saved to different locations like the local drive, NAS, Security Zone, and Cloud. Furthermore, it lets you create an image of your SD card and compress backups to conserve storage space. Most notably, it comes with 250GB of free cloud storage.
Here's how to back up your files.
Step 1. To start a backup, click the Select backup contents option.
Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail. Click File.
Step 3. On the left, both local and network files will be displayed. You can expand the directory to select the backup files.
Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts and select a location to save the backup.
Click Options to encrypt the backup with a password in Backup Options, then click Backup Scheme to set the backup schedule and initiate the backup at a specific event. You can also select additional options to customize the backup process according to your needs.
Step 5. The backup can be stored on a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.
Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to both a third-party cloud drive and its own cloud drive.
If you want to back up data to a cloud drive provided by a third party, select Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and then add and log in to your account.
You can also opt for the Todo Backup cloud drive. Sign up for a Todo Account, then click on Todo Cloud and log in.
Step 7. Click Backup Now to initiate the backup process. Once completed, the backup job will appear as a card on the left side of the panel. Right-click the backup job to manage it further.
Final Verdict
Therefore, no need to worry about utilizing the drag-and-drop functionality on your device. It facilitates the swift movement of various files or folders for enhanced productivity. It's straightforward to identify the root causes behind any issues with this feature, such as outdated drivers, an outdated Windows operating system, or malware. The best part is that you can promptly fix the drag and drop not working issue on your system.
It's effortless to attempt any of the top eight solutions listed above, such as system reset, updates, executing a clean boot, running a troubleshooter, and conducting various scans. Additionally, users can leverage the robust Todo Backup Home tools to backup files instead of relying on drag and drop functionality. Simply download and give it a try!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I drag and drop a file? To drag and drop a file in a typical computer environment, follow these steps: 1. **Select the File**: Navigate to the location of the file you want to move or copy using a file explorer (e.g., Windows Explorer or Finder on a Mac). Click on the file once to select it. If you want to move multiple files, press and hold the `Ctrl` key (or `Command` key on a Mac) while clicking on each file. 2. **Initiate Dragging**: While the file is selected, press and hold your primary mouse button (usually the left button for right-handed users or the right button for left-handed users). You'll see a cursor with an arrow and the selected file's icon attached to it. 3. **Move to Destination**: With the mouse button still held down, move the cursor to the desired location where you want to drop the file. This can be another folder, an open application window, or even within the same window. 4. **Release the Button**: Once you've positioned the cursor over the target location, release the mouse button. The file(s) will be either moved or copied, depending on the context and any settings configured in your operating system. If you want to create a copy of the file instead of moving it, you can usually hold down the `Ctrl` key (`Command` key on a Mac) while dragging to initiate a copy operation. The behavior might vary slightly between different operating systems and applications.
The steps to use drag-and-drop a file are as follows: 1. Locate the file you want to move or copy on your computer, whether it's in a folder, on your desktop, or within an application. 2. Click and hold the left mouse button on the file you wish to drag. 3. While keeping the mouse button pressed, move the cursor to the destination location where you want to drop the file. This can be another folder, a different window, or even an open program that accepts file inputs. 4. Release the left mouse button when the cursor is over the desired location. This will either move or copy the file, depending on the context and the settings of the application you're using. 5. If you see a small icon indicating a copy or move action while dragging, you can adjust your action by pressing Ctrl (to copy) or Shift (to move) on your keyboard before releasing the mouse button. Note: The process might differ slightly for touch devices, where you would typically touch and hold the file, then move your finger to the destination and lift your finger to drop the file.
Step 1: Press and hold the selected files using the mouse.
Step 2: A thumbnail will appear.
Step 3: Drag the files to the desired location on your system.
2. How do I activate drag-and-drop?
The steps to enable drag-and-drop functionality on your system are as follows:
Step 1: Go to the file location you've chosen for drag-and-drop.
Step 2: Next, select the file, drag it, and continue holding down the mouse button.
Step 3: Press and hold Alt + Tab and switch between different windows.
Step 4: Release the Alt + Tab keys once the file is in the desired location.
Step 5: Release the mouse button to drop the file at the desired location.
3. How do I drag multiple files into a folder? To drag multiple files into a folder, follow these steps: 1. Select the files you want to move by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and clicking on each file individually. Alternatively, if you want to select a continuous range of files, press and hold the Shift key and click on the first and last file in the range. 2. Once the desired files are selected, they will be highlighted or have an icon indicating their selection. 3. Place your cursor on one of the selected files, and while keeping the left mouse button pressed, drag the files towards the folder where you want to move them. 4. When the cursor is over the folder, you'll see an indication that the files can be dropped there. Release the left mouse button, and the files will be moved into the folder. Remember that the process might differ slightly depending on the operating system you're using (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
The steps to drag multiple files into a folder are as follows: 1. Open the folder where you want to place the files. 2. Select the files you wish to move by holding down the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard while clicking on each file individually. If the files are in the same location, you can select multiple files consecutively by clicking on the first file, then holding down the "Shift" key and clicking on the last file. 3. Once all desired files are selected, move your cursor over one of the highlighted files. 4. While still holding down the mouse button, drag the selected files towards the open folder. 5. Release the mouse button when the files are over the destination folder. This will drop the files into the folder. 6. The files will now be moved into the folder. Note: These instructions apply to Windows and macOS operating systems. The process might differ slightly on other platforms.
Step 1: Navigate to the location containing the desired files that you want to drag into a single folder.
Step 2: Hold down the left mouse button on the top-left corner and drag to highlight the files.
Step 3: Drag the box until all desired files are highlighted.
Step 4: Once the files are highlighted, it's easy to drag them to another location.