Drag and Drop Not Working in Windows 7

Anonymous
2011-03-18T18:18:13+00:00

I have a new problem that has cropped up just in the last week or two. I can no longer drag and drop my files and folders in Windows Explorer. I have Windows 7 on a HP Notebook. It came installed on the computer last December when I bought it (09). I've never had an issue with it since then, and I'm not sure how to find the settings to enable drag and drop or re-enable it. I know I've done it before on this machine, many times- and just noticed it first in  Thunderbird, (my email desktop application) then in explorer. I did recently install the SP1 (spelling??) a few weeks ago, and have installed a few other odds and ends programs, but I'm pretty sure drag and drop was working okay until a few days ago.

Any help would be appreciated. As a genealogy writer, that's a must have feature.

Thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-07-20T06:47:39+00:00

This happened to me yesterday.

In Windows Explorer, click a file with the left mouse button and keep the button held down. Then press the Escape key. Drag and drop is miraculously re-enabled.

I think just pressing the escape will work too but I'm no longer in a position to test that. I got this from http://it.thelibrarie.com/weblog/2010/06/drag-and-drop-stops-working/

Was this answer helpful?

400+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2014-05-15T11:56:09+00:00

This happened to me yesterday.

In Windows Explorer, click a file with the left mouse button and keep the button held down. Then press the Escape key. Drag and drop is miraculously re-enabled.

I think just pressing the escape will work too but I'm no longer in a position to test that. I got this from http://it.thelibrarie.com/weblog/2010/06/drag-and-drop-stops-working/

I don't feel like reading through everything to see if this has been mentioned.  The escape fix worked for me with Win 7.  The only thing I have that is unique from coworkers is a wireless keyboard and mouse.  I expect that has something to do with my issue.

Thanks Nige!

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

187 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-17T13:14:48+00:00

    I also wondered what it was. Happens now and again. I run win7 in virtual machine. I figured it was the virtual machine, because it never happened before I virtualized it. Actually it never happened at the start when I virtualized it.

    I figure it probably happened after a windows update, like the dreaded 'windows key auto-enable' that happens once in a while too. Sad to say it's still happening in '14 with a fully up-to-date Win7.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-17T08:46:11+00:00

    This happened to me yesterday.

    In Windows Explorer, click a file with the left mouse button and keep the button held down. Then press the Escape key. Drag and drop is miraculously re-enabled.

    I think just pressing the escape will work too but I'm no longer in a position to test that. I got this from http://it.thelibrarie.com/weblog/2010/06/drag-and-drop-stops-working/


    This problem happened to me,

    When change from virtual guest to the my host system(windows 8.1), drag and drop disabled.

    This solution works with me.. just hold left button and hit ESC, it will re-enable the feature again.

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-11T15:29:27+00:00

    Worked for me. Thanks!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments