How to fix the error of not being able to drag and drop in Windows

Drag and drop makes it easy to move files or folders to a new location. You can always move files by pressing Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V or browse through folders when you want to attach a file to an email, but simple drag and drop is more convenient.

That’s why it’s so frustrating when this handy feature stops working on your computer. If this happens to you, don’t worry; here are 8 solutions to help you fix the Windows drag and drop error.

1. Start with some general fixes

You should try some general Windows fixes before spending time on any advanced solutions.

• Restart Windows Explorer : An unresponsive Windows Explorer process can cause features like drag and drop to stop working in Windows 11. In most cases, you can fix such issues by restarting the Windows Explorer process .
• Install Windows Updates : Running an outdated Windows build can also lead to such issues. Therefore, you should install the pending Windows updates if you haven’t already.
• Run an SFC scan : If some of the system files on your PC are corrupted or missing, Windows 11 may not respond to drag and drop gestures. Try running an SFC (or System File Checker) scan to repair any corrupted system files and see if that helps.
• Malware Scan : Malware infection is another possible cause of this issue. To rule this out, try scanning your PC for malware using PowerShell or an antivirus program.
• Try a clean boot : It's possible that a malicious third-party app or program on your PC is causing the drag-and-drop feature to malfunction. If that's the case, starting your PC in a clean boot state will help you verify that.

2. Make Windows forget the last drag and drop operation

Sometimes your computer is still processing the most recent drag and drop, preventing you from starting a new drag and drop event. Luckily, this is an easy fix without having to restart your computer or configure your system settings.

In File Explorer , click any file or folder and hold down the left mouse button. Then press the Esc key. Now try dragging and dropping again.

3. Restart the problematic application

If drag and drop isn't working in just one app, like Chrome or Outlook, there might be a problem with that app. You can try restarting the problematic app or program to fix the problem.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager . In the Processes tab , find and select the faulty application or program and click the End task option at the top.

Reopen your app and check if the issue still occurs.

4. Run the Hardware & Devices troubleshooter

Another tool you can use to fix your problem is the Hardware & Devices troubleshooter . In older versions of Windows 10, this tool was located in the Control Panel . Now, you need to use Command Prompt to launch it. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1 : Open Command Prompt with admin rights .

Step 2 : Enter:

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

Step 3 : Press Enter.

Step 4 : Click Advanced > Apply repairs automatically .

Step 5 : Click Next.

5. Check mouse driver

If you can't use your mouse to drag and drop, your mouse driver may need to be updated. This is a very likely cause of the error, if you're using a laptop and can still drag and drop with the touchpad.

Step 1 : Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

Step 2 : Expand the Mice and other pointing devices menu .

Step 3 : Right-click on the mouse driver and select Update driver .

Step 4 : Select Search automatically for drivers , then Windows will find and install any available driver updates.

Also, if you are using a third-party app to customize your mouse control settings, that could be affecting how your mouse works. Go into the app settings and see if anything could be preventing your mouse from working properly.

If it's an app you use for gaming, stop it from running at startup. Open Task Manager, go to Startup , select the app and click Disable.

6. Check the mouse for problems

Mouse issues can also cause drag and drop to not work in Windows 11. Try disconnecting and reconnecting your mouse to see if that helps. If you're using a wireless mouse, try replacing the batteries or charging it.

For more help, refer to Quantrimang.com's guide on how to fix left mouse button not working on Windows and follow the tips mentioned there.

7. Edit Windows Registry

Windows Registry is one of the main components of the system because it contains Windows settings, software, driver information, and user passwords. Therefore, when you encounter problems on your computer, you should take a look at the Windows Registry.

Before making any changes to the Windows Registry, you should create a backup of the registry database. If editing errors negatively affect your system, you will be able to restore the original settings from the backup.

Here's how you can safely edit the Windows Registry to get drag and drop working again:

Step 1 : Type registry editor into the Start menu search bar and select Run as administrator .

Step 2 : Go to:

Computer > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies > System

Step 3 : On the right side of the window, open EnableLUA.

Step 4 : Set Base to Hexadecimal.

Step 5 : Set Value data to 0 and click OK.

Step 6 : Restart your computer and check if you can drag and drop.

Edit the height and width parameters of the drag action

Registry Editor also contains settings for the height and width of the drag action. If the previous solution did not fix your problem, try this solution.

Step 1 : Open Registry Editor with admin rights.

Step 2 : Go to:

Computer > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel > Desktop

Step 3 : From the right pane, open DragHeight.

Step 4 : Enter a new value in the Value data field and click OK.

Step 5 : Open DragWidth.

Step 6 : Enter a new value in the Value field and click OK.

Note : The default value for DragWidth and DragHeight is 4 . When changing, do not set the value too high, such as 2000 as this may lead to new problems.

Hopefully one of the solutions listed has fixed the drag and drop not working issue on your computer. If none of the solutions worked, it is possible that your mouse is broken. In this case, you will need to buy a new mouse.