On Windows computers, we open files and folders by double-clicking the left mouse click. But for some users, double-clicking is not working. Nothing happens when they double-click on any item! This issue can be frustrating because you have to press the Enter key every time to open a file or folder. If double-click does not open files and folders in your Windows 11/10 computer, the solutions provided in this article will help you.
What causes mouse double-click issues?
There can be many reasons for causing double-click issues. It can happen due to corrupted drivers, dirt in the mouse button, mouse settings, corrupt system files, defective mouse, or might be your mouse not properly connected to your computer (in the case of a Bluetooth mouse).
Double-click does not open files & folders in Windows 11/10
Use the following fixes if the Mouse double-click does not open files & folders in Windows 11/10.
- Preliminary steps
- Repair your system files
- Change the Double-click speed
- Test your mouse
- Uninstall and reinstall the Mouse and Touchpad drivers
Follow the suggestions mentioned below.
1] Preliminary steps
Physically clean the mouse, remove the battery and put it again and see if that helps. If you have to press the left click forcefully, there is a possibility of accumulation of dirt on the left mouse button. If you have not cleaned your mouse for a long time, it is time to clean it.
You may also see if this mouse works properly on other PCs and if some other mouse works on this PC. This way, you will know where the fault lies.
Read: No Cursor movement, Mouse Cursor moves erratically or slowly
2] Repair your system files
If double-click does not open files and folders in Windows, this might happen due to corrupted system files.
System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management are two built-in tools in Windows computers that help users repair corrupted system image files. You can use these tools to repair the corrupted system image files.
Do not interrupt the process. After the process gets completed, check if you can use your mouse to double-click or not.
Read: Mouse lags, freezes, stutters or is stuck on screen
2] Change the Double-click speed
Mouse settings allow you to control how your mouse works. You can change the double-click speed via Mouse properties. The steps written below will help you.
- Open the Control Panel.
- Type Mouse in the Control Panel search box.
- Select Mouse from the search results. This will open the Mouse Settings.
- Under the Buttons tab, move the slider to change the double-click speed.
- Click Apply and then click OK.
For some users, changing the double-click speed from fast to slow worked. You can change your double-click to fast or slow and see which one works for you.
Read: How to reset Mouse settings to default in Windows
3] Test your Mouse
There are many free online tools available that let you test the functioning of your mouse. The problem that you are experiencing might be occurring due to a hardware issue. Testing your mouse online will help you know whether the problem is associated with your hardware or not.
You can also run Mouse Latency Tests, DPI tests, etc.
Read: Mouse double clicking on single click
4] Uninstall and reinstall the Mouse and Touchpad drivers
An outdated or corrupted mouse driver can cause several issues with a mouse. This might be the case with you. In such a case, uninstalling and reinstalling your mouse or Touchpad driver can fix this problem. The following steps will help you to reinstall your mouse drivers.
- Go to the Device Manager.
- Select the option ” Mice and other pointing devices“.
- Right-click on the Uninstall device.
- A pop-up will appear on your screen, then click on “Ok“
- After uninstalling the driver, restart your computer.
Restarting your computer will automatically install the missing drivers. Also, you can update your mouse drivers if it’s available on the official manufacturer’s website.
Sometimes, installing another compatible version of the device driver fixes the problem. If reinstalling the mouse driver does not help, you can try this fix. First, open the Device Manager and right-click on your mouse driver. Select Update driver. Now, follow the steps provided below:
- Click Browse my computer for drivers.
- Now, click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- The Show compatible hardware checkbox should be checked.
- If you see more than one driver, install all of them one by one and see which one fixes your problem.
Read: How to open items with Single Click instead of Double Click
How to change mouse settings to double-click to open files?
You can change the mouse setting easily. Open the File Explorer Options via Windows Search. Under the General tab, select the “Double-click to open an item” (single-click to select) option. Click Apply to save the changes.
That’s it. I hope these solutions help you to resolve your issue.
Related article: Cannot right-click on the Windows desktop.
