Skip to main content

You are not logged in. Your edit will be placed in a queue until it is peer reviewed.

We welcome edits that make the post easier to understand and more valuable for readers. Because community members review edits, please try to make the post substantially better than how you found it, for example, by fixing grammar or adding additional resources and hyperlinks.

3
  • 3
    Been using Windows for 20+ years and never knew about ALT (create shortcut) and CTRL (copy instead of move) as you drag a file. Just tested and this also works in Windows XP (although only a little icon, rather than text, in the tooltip). Awesome, thanks! Commented May 29, 2024 at 8:10
  • 6
    Also worth noting that SHIFT forces a move (a "shift") rather than a copy. By default, Explorer will "move" when dragging and dropping a file between locations on the same drive, but "copy" when dragging and dropping between different drives. Holding Shift changes the latter case to a "move". Commented May 29, 2024 at 11:17
  • 3
    Another useful tip: use the right mouse button when clicking and dragging a file or folder (no modifier keys required). On releasing the button you'll get a menu with options of what you'd like to do with the file you've dragged to that location: either copy, move or create shortcut(s) to that location. EDIT: I see that's been suggested in an answer below. Commented May 29, 2024 at 23:35