How to Use Check Boxes to Select Items in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to enable and use check boxes in Windows 10 File Explorer, which lets you select multiple files and folders by clicking small boxes that appear next to each item. This is especially handy when you need to select several non-adjacent files at once, without holding down the Ctrl key. You only need a Windows 10 PC with File Explorer—no extra software required.

What You’ll Need

A PC running Windows 10 (any edition)
Access to File Explorer (the folder icon on the taskbar or Start menu)

Step-by-Step

Open File Explorer. Click the folder icon in the taskbar, or press the Windows key + E on your keyboard. This opens the File Explorer window.
Go to the View tab. At the top of the File Explorer window, you’ll see a ribbon with tabs like File, Home, Share, and View. Click the View tab.
Find the “Item check boxes” option. In the View tab, look for the “Show/hide” group. You’ll see a checkbox labeled “Item check boxes”—it’s usually near the top of that group. If you don’t see it, make sure the ribbon is expanded (click the downward arrow at the top-right of the ribbon if needed).
Enable the check boxes. Click the empty checkbox next to “Item check boxes.” A checkmark appears, and immediately you’ll notice small square boxes appear to the left of each file and folder name in the current folder.
Select items by clicking the check boxes. Now, simply click the box next to any file or folder to select it. A blue checkmark appears in the box, and the item is highlighted. Click it again to deselect.
Select multiple items. Click the check boxes for as many items as you need—they can be scattered anywhere in the folder. Each one gets selected independently, without holding any keyboard keys.
Use the header check box (optional). In the column header row (where “Name,” “Date modified,” etc. appear), there’s also a check box. Clicking it selects all items in the current folder; clicking again deselects all.
Perform actions on selected items. Once you’ve checked the items you want, you can right-click any selected item to copy, delete, rename, or move them, or use the buttons on the Home tab (like Copy, Paste, or Delete).
Turn off check boxes when done. If you prefer the classic selection style, go back to View > Item check boxes and uncheck it. Your selection method returns to normal (clicking an item selects it, Ctrl+click for multiple).

Common Mistakes

Clicking the item instead of the box: If you click the file icon or name, it will just select that item (and deselect others) as usual. You must click the small square box to the left of the item to use check boxes.
Not seeing the check boxes: If you’ve enabled “Item check boxes” but don’t see any boxes, you might be in a view that doesn’t support them (like some search results or “This PC” views). Try navigating to a normal folder like Documents or Downloads.
Forgetting to turn them off: If you enable check boxes and later find that clicking a file doesn’t select it as before, remember that check boxes are still on. You need to disable the option to return to the default behavior.
Selecting all accidentally: Clicking the header check box selects everything. If you only wanted a few, click it again to clear all selections, then check only the ones you need.

Tips

Use with keyboard shortcuts: Even with check boxes on, you can still use Ctrl+click or Shift+click to select items—the check boxes will reflect your selections.
Combine with sorting: Sort files by name, date, or type before using check boxes to quickly find and select a group of files that share a property (e.g., all files modified today).
Drag to select: You can also drag the mouse around a group of files to select them all at once—check boxes will appear on all of them.
Works in all folders: The check box setting applies to all folders on your PC, not just the one you’re in. Once enabled, it stays on until you turn it off.
Use the status bar: At the bottom of File Explorer, the status bar shows how many items are selected. Keep an eye on it to confirm your selection count.

Troubleshooting

Check boxes don’t appear after enabling: First, make sure you’re in a folder (not a library or search results). If they still don’t show, try closing and reopening File Explorer. If that fails, restart your PC—this often resolves temporary glitches.
Check boxes appear but clicking does nothing: This can happen if the folder is in a special view (like “Small icons” or “List”). Switch to a different view (e.g., “Details” or “Tiles”) from the View tab, then try again.
Setting resets after restart: If check boxes turn off every time you restart, your user profile might be corrupted. Try creating a new user account and see if the setting persists there. If it does, you may need to migrate your files to the new account.
Can’t find “Item check boxes” in the View tab: If the ribbon is collapsed, you might only see tab names. Click the small arrow at the top-right of the ribbon to expand it fully, then look again.
Check boxes work but selection is lost when you navigate away: That’s normal—Windows doesn’t remember selections when you change folders. If you need to keep a list, copy the selected files to a temporary folder before navigating away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do check boxes work in all Windows 10 apps?

No, they only appear in File Explorer. Other apps like Photos or Word have their own selection methods.

Can I select files without check boxes?

Yes, you can hold Ctrl and click each file, or click the first file, hold Shift, and click the last to select a contiguous range.

Will enabling check boxes slow down my PC?

No, the feature is built into Windows and has negligible performance impact.

How do I select all files in a folder with check boxes?

Click the check box in the column header (where “Name” is) to select all, or press Ctrl+A on your keyboard.

Can I use check boxes to select items in OneDrive folders?

Yes, as long as they are synced to your PC and appear in File Explorer, check boxes work the same way.

Why would I use check boxes instead of Ctrl+click?

Check boxes are more visual and easier for touchscreens or when you need to select many scattered files without holding a key.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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