Drag and Drop Not Working on Windows 10: How to Enable It

Moving files or folders, or even paragraphs and sentences around while working on your computer, is impossible when you can’t drag and drop in Windows 10.

If you’re experiencing issues and the drag and drop not working on Windows 10 issue happens on your computer, here are 12 quick fixes you can use to resolve it.

Why is drag and drop not working on Windows 10?

There are several potential reasons why drag and drop may need to be fixed on Windows 10. Some common causes include:

• Touchpad or mouse driver issues – If the touchpad or mouse driver is outdated or incompatible with Windows 10, drag and drop may not function properly. Updating or reinstalling the driver may resolve the issue.
• Corrupted system files – Drag and drop may not work if certain system files are missing or corrupted. Running the System File Checker (SFC) tool can help detect and fix any corrupted system files.
• Third-party software conflicts – Some third-party programs, such as antivirus or security software, can interfere with drag and drop. Temporarily disabling or uninstalling these programs may resolve the issue.
• Touchscreen issues – If you use a touchscreen device, drag and drop may only work properly if the touch screen is calibrated or the touch screen driver is updated.
• Incorrect settings – Drag and drop may be disabled or not configured correctly in the settings. Check the settings of the specific program or the operating system settings to ensure that drag and drop is enabled.
• Hardware problems – Hardware problems such as a malfunctioning touchpad or mouse can also cause drag and drop not to work. Replacing hardware such as a touchpad or mouse is the solution.

Now, let us examine some reliable solutions.

How can I fix drag and drop not working?

1. Run the DISM tool

1. Click Start and type command, right-click the Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
   
2. Type the script below and hit Enter.
   Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
3. Lastly, type the repair script and hit Enter.
   Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once the repair is complete, reboot your computer and check if the problem persists, after which you can run an SFC scan as described in the next solution.

2. Run a System File Checker scan

1. Click Start and type command, right-click the Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type the script below and hit Enter.
   sfc/scannow
   
3. Restart your computer

3. Perform a Clean Boot

1. Go to the search box, type msconfig, then select the System Configuration app.
   
2. Click the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services, and click the Disable all button.
   
3. Go to the Startup tab and click the Open Task Manager option.
   
4. Close Task Manager, then click Ok
5. Reboot your computer.

4. Install Windows Updates

1. Click Start.
2. Go to the search field box and type Updates.
3. Lastly, click Check for Updates, and install all updates listed.
   

Windows will immediately detect your system’s configuration and download appropriate ones.

Read more about this topic

• Windows 10 and 11 Get Small Fixes in New Preview Builds
• How to Use System Restore on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs

5. Reset your PC

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click Update & Security.
   
3. Click Recovery on the left pane, and under Reset this PC, click Get started.
   
4. In the Choose an option screen, select the Keep my files option.
   
5. Follow the Wizard to complete the reset.

6. Edit the registry

1. Right-click Start and select Run.
   
2. Type regedit, then hit Enter.
3. Go to the path below:
   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
4. Right-click EnableLUA and select Modify.
   
5. Change the value from 1 to 0.
   
6. Press OK. then restart your computer.

Check if, after the restart, the drag and drop not working on Windows 10 problem is gone. Try the next solution if you still can’t drag and drop in Windows 10.

7. Run Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

1. Right-click Start and select Control Panel.
2. Go to the View by option on the top right corner, click the drop-down arrow, and select Large icons.
   
3. Click Troubleshooting.
   
4. Select Hardware and Sound.
   
5. Select Configure a Device.
   
6. Click Next to run the troubleshooter

8. Uninstall and reinstall mouse drivers

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Mice and other pointing devices to open the list, right-click the mouse device you want to remove, and click Uninstall driver.
   
3. Click Yes when you get a confirmation message, then restart your computer.

9. Enable drag and drop using ESC key

1. Open File Explorer or Windows Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
2. Click any file, and long-press the left-click mouse button.
3. Press the Esc key.

10. Restart Windows Explorer

1. Press Crtl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Search for Windows Explorer from the list of processes.
3. Right-click on it and select Restart.
   

The explorer will be restarted, and in about 2 seconds, your problem should be fixed.

These simple tweaks have managed to fix the drag-and-drop feature for some of your readers, so you should try it also.

Other users reported that the program freezing caused this issue, and when they closed it, things went back to normal, so make sure you don’t have any stuck software.

If the Windows 11 drag and drop not working issue arises too, we have yet another guide to help you out.

Did any of these tips help you fix the drag and drop not working on Windows 10 problem? Let us know in the comments section below.