How to Fix Double

Can't open folders on your Windows computer by double-clicking them? Here's how to fix it.

Some users have posted on help chat forums about folders not opening when they double-click them in Windows File Explorer. This means users can’t access folders by double-clicking on directories. There isn’t a specific error message associated with this issue.

This issue doesn’t necessarily mean users can’t open any folders, for they can still access directories by selecting Open on the right-click menu. However, selecting the Open context menu option isn’t the most ideal way to access them. If you can’t open folders by double-clicking them on your Windows 11/10 PC, try applying these potential fixes.

File Explorer has alternative single-click and double-click options for opening items. If single-click is set, double-clicking folders won’t open them. Try single-clicking a folder to see if that works. If it does, then you probably need to select the Double-click to open an item option like this:

If you find the Double-click to open item option is already selected, you could try selecting the single-click setting instead. That way, you might at least be able to access your folders by single-clicking them. Or, proceed with applying the other resolutions below.

The mouse Double-click speed setting can feasibly cause this issue if it’s set too fast. So, you might need to lower that setting a little bit. This is how you can adjust the mouse double-click speed:

The required double-click speed for opening folders will now be slower than before. So, you won’t need to double-click so quickly.

Microsoft advises users to run system file scans when Windows functions aren’t working right. In this case, there’s an issue with the folders’ double-click functionality.

So, run a System File Checker scan to see if Windows Resource Protection detects any corrupted system files. If so, Windows Resource Protection will probably also repair the files detected, which could fix the double-clicking of folders not opening.

Quite a few users have confirmed editing the shell registry key can fix the double-clicking of folders not working in Windows 11/10. Those users changed that key’s (Default) string value to fix the issue. These are the steps for editing the shell key:

You might need to restart File Explorer for this registry tweak to take effect. Alternatively, restart Windows and then try double-clicking a folder to see if it opens.

Double-click issues can arise when string values for the Mouse registry key have been altered from their default settings (typically by third-party apps). To be more specific, MouseHoverWidth, MouseHoverHeight, DoubleClickHeight, and DoubleClickWidth are four Mouse key strings you might need to restore to default values for to fix this issue.

To do so, edit the Mouse registry key like this:

When you’ve finished adjusting those string values, exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC. If you find all those strings are already set to four, you don’t need to change them.

Some users have said they fixed the double-clicking of folders not working by turning off controlled folder access. Controlled folder access is the Windows Security feature that blocks unauthorized apps from modifying contents inside protected directories. Thus, enabling that feature restricts folder access.

So, try turning off controlled folder access like this:

Then, go into File Explorer and try opening some folders again to see if disabling that security feature makes a difference. If it does, then it’s probably best to leave controlled folder access off.

Rolling Windows back to a saved restoration point is one of the last things to try if no other potential fixes for this issue work. Applying this potential fix will undo system changes made and remove software installed after your chosen restore point date.

However, it’s only worth reverting Windows if you can select a restore point that will roll back the OS to a time when you could open folders by double-clicking them.

To apply this potential fix, check out our guide on utilizing System Restore. The System Restore tool will need to be enabled for you to select a restoration point. Be prepared to reinstall software packages a selected restore point deletes, which you can check by clicking Scan for affected programs in System Restore.

Those potential fixes for double-clicking folders not working will probably resolve that Windows 11/10 issue in most cases. We can’t promise they’re guaranteed, but lots of users have confirmed some of them work.

Beyond those possible resolutions, you might have to try something more drastic, like a full system reset or in-place Windows upgrade.

Jack has been a freelance tech journalist for more than a decade. He has covered Windows Vista, 7, 10, and 11 topics within a multitude of guides for MakeUseOf and numerous other websites.