This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off use check boxes to select files, folders, and drives for your user account in Windows 11.
You can use check boxes to make selecting multiple items in any order easier in File Explorer and on the desktop in Windows.
When check boxes is turned on, you can hover the pointer over each item to reveal the check box to check (select) or uncheck (unselect) it.
If you have a tablet, convertible, or 2-in-1 type device in tablet/slate mode, then check boxes will always be used even if turned off.
If you still have check boxes even after turning off check boxes using an option in this tutorial, then you may be stuck in Tablet mode.
Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe), and go to the key below:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell
Check to see if you may have a TabletMode or DeviceConvertible DWORD in the right pane of the key above. If you do, modify the DWORD value to 0 instead of 1.
In addition: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl
Check to see if you may have a ConvertibleSlateMode or SystemDockMode DWORD in the right pane of the key above. If you do, modify the DWORD value to 0 instead of 1.
Restart the computer to apply.
- Option One: Turn On or Off Use Check Boxes to Select Items in File Explorer Command Bar
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Use Check Boxes to Select Items in Folder Options
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Use Check Boxes to Select Items using REG file
- Option Four: Turn On or Off Use Check Boxes to Select Items in Registry Editor
EXAMPLE: Use check boxes to select items in File Explorer
1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).
2 Click/tap on View on the command bar. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Show.
4 Click/tap on Item check boxes to toggle it on (checked) or off (unchecked).
1 Open Folder Options.
2 Click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)
3 Check (on) or uncheck (off) Use check boxes to select items for what you want.
4 Click/tap on OK.
This option will not work when Administrator protection is turned on.
1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you want.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"AutoCheckSelect"=dword:00000001(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"AutoCheckSelect"=dword:000000004 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
2 Navigate to the key location below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 3)
Substitute <SID> in the key path above with the actual SID for the account you want to apply this to.
For example:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2498639629-3946114050-4100787084-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3 In the right pane of the Advanced key, double click/tap on the AutoCheckSelect DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)
4 Enter 0 (off) or 1 (on) for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
5 restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
6 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
