XP – Single Click File Open

Posted on by

Some people have asked me if there is a way to use only a single click with Windows Explorer, to open a file, like clicking on a link in a web browser.

The answer is yes, if you use Windows ME or XP.

To set it up:

  • Access your Control Panel.
  • Open the Folders Options applet.
  • Under the General tab, select Single-click to open an item (point to select).
  • Also select Underline icon titles consistent with my browser, to have all icons underlined (Default).
  • Or select Underline icon titles only when I point at them. (Optional)
  • Click Apply.
  • Click OK.
  • Close Control Panel.

Personally, I leave my options to be opened by a double click, as I find myself opening things I don’t really want opened, using the single click method. This is really a matter of personal preference, so if you can get used to the single click option, it should make your computing experience better.

Try it out for a while, if you can not get used to the change, or just find it doesn’t work for you go back to the Control Panel General tab and reselect Double-click to open an item (single-click to select), click Apply and then OK and close Control Panel.

Retired, grandfather, blogger, participating in creative writing prompt blogs, and love to read.

4 thoughts on “XP – Single Click File Open”

  1. @Roshan: Had the same problem. Found the solution after a difficult search on a german website. Solution is to change the value of this registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerIconUnderline from 03 00 00 00 to 02 00 00 00. To this point I do not understand why it was impossible to change the options as Limited User on my own computer, but I could change them as Administrator. Can only guess that it may have to do with Active Desktop or Explorer Policy or preinstalled driver related software.

  2. @Roshan: Same here. Automatic reset to the wrong option always occurs, but only on my newer system. So it does not happen to all XP Limited user acounts.

  3. roshan,I do not know of any registry bug.Did you click on Apply, before clicking on OK? I have found that some people, skip that step and go right to clicking on OK.

  4. I use XP and in my limited user account, inspite of me choosing “underline icon titles only i point at them”, it automatically resets to “underline icon titles consistent with my browser settings”. the same does not happen in my admin account.Is there a registry bug that can be set right?

Comments are closed.