How to Open Files/Folders With Only One Click in Windows

Yes, we know opening files and folders on Windows isn’t a particularly taxing endeavor. A quick double-click and you’re in. If you struggle to double-click fast enough, you can change the speed by going to Settings > Devices > Mouse > Additional mouse options > Double Click Speed and adjusting the slider.

Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you could even right-click on the item and select Open from the context menu!

That’s all great, but did you know there was a way to open files and folders with a single click instead of a double click?

How to Open Files/Folders With a Single Click

To replace the traditional double-click with a single-click, follow these instructions:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to File > Change folder and search options.
2. In the new window, click on the tab labeled General.
3. Locate the section called Click items as follows.
4. Mark the checkbox next to Single-click to open an item.
5. Two previously grayed-out options will now be available below Single-click to open an item. Make sure you mark the checkbox next to Underline icon titles only when I point at them.
6. When you’re happy with your setup, click Apply to save your changes.

If you ever want to return to double-clicks, just follow the above guide, but in Step 4, choose Double-click to open an item (single-click to select) instead.

Have you changed your system settings to open files and folders with a single-click instead? Did you find it easy to make the switch, or did you find yourself still double-clicking all the time?