[Solved] Issue with Double-Clicking Not Opening Files in Windows 11/10/8/7

Unable to Open Folders by Double-clicking in Windows 11/10/8/7

"Seeking assistance, I'm unsure what's happening. I'm unable to open any folders on my desktop by double-clicking. This also applies to folders in drives, external drives, and File Explorer. Is there a solution to this problem?"

We have seen numerous cases where users reported issues with being unable to open folders, with error messages like "This folder is empty" or File Explorer not opening at all. In addition to these, the problem of folders not opening on Windows 10 when double-clicked has also become a popular issue that needs addressing.

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In this article, we will introduce all possible solutions to fix the issue of folders not opening in Windows 10/8/7. Before we start, we highly recommend that you first try using a professional Data Recovery Wizard tool to recover files from the inaccessible folder to prevent unexpected data loss. After all, data safety comes first.

Recover Files from a Folder You Can't Open

As mentioned earlier, you should prioritize retrieving files from the inaccessible folder before attempting any fixes. To do this, you can use the Data Recovery Wizard tool. With this utility, you can quickly scan and recover deleted data, as well as existing files from formatted, hidden, and damaged storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, USB sticks, external hard drives, SD cards, and more in an easy-to-use manner.

To restore deleted, hidden, or existing files from a specific folder, run the "Data Recovery Wizard" tool to scan the inaccessible folder. Then, recover the files and save them to another location.

Step 1: Select the disk and start scanning

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, and hover over the partition where you lost your data. This can be an internal hard drive, an external disk, a USB, or an SD card. Then, click “Scan.”

Select the location to scan

Step 2: Preview and select the scanned files

Please use the file type filter on the left or in the top-right corner to narrow down the scan results until you find the needed file. Then, you can click the "Preview" button or double-click the file to preview its content (if necessary).

Step 3: Recover the lost data to a secure location

Check the boxes next to the files you wish to recover, then click “Recover” to restore your lost data to a secure location. We recommend that you do not save recovered data to the same disk where it was originally lost.

Fix for Windows 10 not opening folders: Change incorrect mouse settings

Type "folder options" in the search box, then click on the "General" tab. Under "Click items as follows", select "Double-click to open an item". Then, click "OK".

Adjusting the double-click speed to fix the issue of files not opening with a double-click

If you already have it set to “Fastest” and you can't double-click fast enough to make it work, you'll need to change the speed.

2. Go to "Control Panel" and look for then click on "Mouse." 3. In the middle section labeled "Double-click speed," adjust the speed by dragging the slider. When done, click "OK."

Check the Registry Entry to Solve 'Folder Won't Open with a Double-click' Issue

Click the "Start" button, type in Run, and then type in regedit. This will open the Registry Editor. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel > Mouse. Find and open both the "Double Click Height" key and the "Double Click Width" key. Change their values to 4. Restart your computer. After it boots back up, your problem should be fixed.

Adjust Desktop Display Settings to Fix 'Can't Open Files with Double Click' Issue

It's possible that each incremental system update/patch causes 100%, 120%, or 150% Desktop DPI scaling to become incompatible with opening folders, File Explorer, or This PC. Resetting the display settings to their previous default should resolve this issue.

1. Right-click on an empty area of the desktop, then select "Display settings." 2. Under "Change the size of text, apps, and other items: 100% (Recommended)", slide the bar left or right to adjust the scale to the most suitable percentage. 3. Return to the desktop and check if the folder can be opened normally. If not, try adjusting the display settings to a different scaling percentage.

Run an antivirus scan with your antivirus software.

Install and run a powerful antivirus software to scan and remove viruses. You can use Bitdefender, Norton, Kaspersky, or Avast for this. Also, make sure to keep your antivirus up to date.

Double-click to open the folder.

There are five effective ways to fix the "Can't Open Files by Double-clicking" issue on Windows 10 or the new Windows 11. You can refer to the specific steps outlined above. To avoid losing important data while troubleshooting, we recommend recovering your data first with professional data recovery software.

Not only does this software have a high rate of data recovery, but it can also help you repair corrupted files. It can fix damaged photos, videos, and documents after the data recovery process.