How to Select Multiple Files on Windows

To select multiple files on Windows, hold down Ctrl and click each file you want in File Explorer. To select a group of files in a row, click the first one, hold Shift, and click the last one. To select everything in a folder, press Ctrl + A. The status bar at the bottom of File Explorer shows how many items you’ve selected and their total size.

These methods work in Windows 11 and Windows 10, on the desktop, and in most file dialogs. Below are all the ways to do it, including with a touchpad, a touchscreen, or just the keyboard.

Quick reference

To do this	Do this
Select files that aren’t next to each other	Ctrl + click each file
Select a range of files	Click the first, then Shift + click the last
Select all files in a folder	Ctrl + A
Select a block with the mouse	Click empty space and drag a box around the files
Remove one file from the selection	Ctrl + click it again
Select all except a few	Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + click the ones to skip
Select with only the keyboard	Hold Shift and press the arrow keys, or hold Ctrl, move with arrows, and press Space
Invert the selection	See more (⋯) > Invert selection

Method 1: Ctrl + click (pick individual files)

1. Open File Explorer (press Windows + E) and go to the folder.
2. Click the first file.
3. Hold down Ctrl and click each additional file.
4. Release Ctrl when you’re done.

If you click a file without holding Ctrl, you’ll lose the selection. If that happens, just start again.

Method 2: Shift + click (select a range)

1. Click the first file in the group.
2. Hold Shift and click the last file. Everything in between is selected.
3. To add more files, hold Ctrl and click them. To add a second range, hold Ctrl + Shift and click the end of the new range.

Tip: Sort the folder first by clicking Sort in the toolbar (or a column header in Details view) so the files you want are next to each other, for example by date or type.

Method 3: Drag to select

Click in an empty spot in the folder, hold the left mouse button, and drag a box over the files. This works best in Large icons or Details view. Hold Ctrl while dragging to add to an existing selection.

Method 4: Select all

Press Ctrl + A, or click See more (⋯) in the Windows 11 toolbar and choose Select all. In Windows 10, it’s on the Home tab.

Method 5: Use item check boxes (touchpads and touchscreens)

1. In Windows 11, click View > Show > Item check boxes. In Windows 10, go to the View tab and check Item check boxes.
2. Hover over or tap a file and check its box.

This is the easiest method on a tablet or 2-in-1 where holding Ctrl isn’t practical.

Method 6: Select files with the keyboard only

• Use the arrow keys to move to a file, then hold Shift and press the arrow keys to extend the selection.
• To pick non-adjacent files, hold Ctrl, move with the arrow keys (this moves the focus without selecting), and press Space to select or deselect each file.

What you can do with selected files

• Copy or move: Press Ctrl + C or Ctrl + X, go to the destination, and press Ctrl + V. See how to copy in Windows.
• Zip them: Right-click and choose Compress to ZIP file. See how to zip files in Windows.
• Rename them all: Press F2, type a name, and press Enter. Windows names them like “Trip (1)”, “Trip (2)”, and so on.
• Delete them: Press Delete to send them to the Recycle Bin.
• Open them together: Press Enter. Windows may ask before opening more than 15 files.

Selection not working?

• Ctrl or Shift doesn’t add files: Check that Sticky Keys isn’t on (Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard) and try the other Ctrl key.
• Files select with one click and open unexpectedly: You may have single-click to open turned on. In File Explorer, open See more > Options and choose Double-click to open an item.
• Can’t drag a box: Start the drag in empty space, not on a file name.

Frequently asked questions

How do I select multiple files on a Mac?

Use Command + click instead of Ctrl + click. Shift + click and Command + A work the same way.

How do I select multiple photos in the Windows Photos app?

Hover over a photo and click the check box in its corner, then click more. You can also Ctrl + click or Shift + click.

How do I select multiple files in an upload dialog?

The same shortcuts work in most Open and Upload windows, as long as the website or app allows multiple files.