27 Ways to Fix Drag and Drop Not Working on Windows 11 24H2

Drag-and-drag gesture is an integral component of multitasking on Windows. Whether you want to sort your files, move a specific item from one spot to another, or take control of your timeline by rearranging clips during video editing, this nifty gesture comes into play. That’s the reason why your entire workflow seems to be entirely crippled when it starts ill-functioning.

To ensure it no longer ruins your productivity by cannibalizing speed, efficiency, and multitasking, I thought it would be great to jot down the real-life tested tips and tricks to fix the drag-and-drop not working problem on Windows 11. If that’s precisely what you are willing to resolve, this most in-depth guide on the given topic has got you fully covered.

Best Tips & Tricks Fix Drag and Drop Not Working on Windows 11

What could have broken your Windows drag-and-drop feature? When faced with this frustrating problem, you should keep in mind the following major culprits such as –

  • Botched-up mouse settings
  • Misconfigured touchpad settings
  • Misfiring Windows Explorer
  • Software bugs
  • Minor Windows glitches
  • Extra file permissions
  • Buggy apps
  • Software conflicts
  • Corrupted mouse drivers
  • Compromised user profile
  • Greedy effects

Having put the above-mentioned roadblocks under a wider lens, I have discussed the solutions that are viable and allow you to restore the gesture without harming your sensitive data or personal files. 

1. Restart Your Windows Device

Knowing how effective soft reset has been in eliminating temporary Windows issues or random software glitches, you shouldn’t hesitate to give it a go at the very beginning.

2. Ensure Your Mouse is Not Running Low on Power

If you are using a wireless mouse, ensure it has enough gas in the tank to run smoothly and perform the desired tasks without any sluggishness. Connect your Bluetooth mouse to a power source and allow it to get fully juiced up.

3. Are You Unable to Use the Drag-And-Drop Gesture Inside Specific Apps? Update Them

Does the drag-and-drop problem crop up while using a particular app on your PC? In this case, update those problematic apps by going to the Microsoft Store > Library tab.

Update apps on Windows 11

4. Drag with the Right Mouse Button

  • If you are trying to drag with the left mouse button, consider switching to the right mouse button.

5. Check Mouse Settings

Double-check if your mouse settings have been configured properly.

  • Head over to the Settings app > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
  • Now, take a close look at the mouse settings and fine-tune everything in the right way.
  • After that, reboot your PC and check if it has begun to work as usual.

6. Connect Another Mouse to Your PC

No luck as yet? Now, connect another mouse to your PC and try to drag and drop a file to find out if the issue is gone.

7. Use the Esc Key to Reset the Drag-and-Drop

On Windows 11, you can make use of the “Esc” key to reset the drag-and-drop functionality on your PC.

  • Just click and hold a specific file.
  • While still holding down the file, press the Esc key to reset the drag-and-drop gesture on your device.

8. Disable/Enable Touchpad

Should the gesture problem trigger when using the touchpad on your device, disable/enable the touchpad.

  • Fire up the Settings app > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and turn it off > Reboot your computer and turn the touchpad back on.
Customize touchpad on WIndows 11

9. Correctly Configure Touchpad Settings (Windows Laptops)

Ensure that you have perfectly configured touchpad settings and the drag-and-drop feature is enabled.

  • Go to Settings app on your computer > Select Bluetooth & devices tab in the left sidebar.
  • Click Touchpad.
  • Now, customize the entire touchpad settings in the right order.
  • Besides, ensure that the drag-and-drop gestures are active.

10. Disable Snapping Features

In rare cases, the “Snapping” features tend to obstruct Windows drag-and-drop feature.

  • Go to Settings on your Windows device > System > Multitasking.
  • Disable Snap Windows to check if it gets the better of the problem.

11. Adjust Touchpad Sensitivity

Windows 11 provides a viable way to fine-tune the touchpad sensitivity. By adjusting the sensitivity, there is a decent chance you can restore the drag-and-drop functionality on your PC.

  • On your Windows device, dive into the Settings app > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad > Taps > Click on the drop-down menu next to Touchpad sensitivity and choose Low sensitivity.
  • Restart your PC > go back to the Touchpad setting > and select the “Most sensitive” option.
Customize touchpad on WIndows 11

12. Restart Windows Explorer

For a handful of users, rebooting the Windows Explorer has worked in bringing the malfunctioning drag-and-drop feature back on track. Therefore, it would be better to go for this handy solution.

  • To do so, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) on your PC.
  • Now, locate the Windows Explorer inside the Processes tab.
  • Next, right-click it and choose Restart.

13. Check File Permissions

Note that some file types may require additional privileges. Have a close look at the file permissions and check them off.

  • Just right-click the file and select Properties in the menu.
  • Head over to the Security tab and make sure you have the required permissions.

14. Disable Tablet Mode

Although Windows 11 does not have a separate “Tablet Mode”, make sure the touch settings are not causing interference.

  • On your PC, go to the Settings app > System > Display > Advanced display settings > Now, configure the input settings correctly.

15. Restore Default Mouse Settings

Many a time, you can resolve the mouse-related glitches by restoring the default mouse settings.

  • Open Control Panel on your PC > Mouse > Pointers.
  • Now, select the “Use Default” option and confirm to restore default settings.

16. Check for System Updates

Software bugs might be a major reason why the beloved drag-and-drop is misfiring. Thus, go for the software update to flush out the persistent bugs and bring this handy feature back on track.

  • On your PC, go to Settings app > Click on the Windows Update tab that appears in the left sidebar.
  • Let your device “Check for updates” and install the pending updates.
update software on Windows computer

17. Ensure You’re Not Running as an Administrator

Are you attempting to run a program as an admin? If your answer is yes, this could be a major reason why drag-and-drop is misbehaving on your PC. Attempt to run the program with normal privileges and find out if it helps circumvent the hurdle.

18. Check for Third-Party Software Conflicts

  • Should the drag-and-drop issue continue to haunt your PC, either disable or delete any third-party software that you have recently installed to modify your mouse or window behavior.

19. Run the System File Checker (SFC) Tool

System File Checker (SFC) excels in digging into the root cause of an issue and nabbing the malicious files. With the help of this built-in command-line utility, you can scan for and repair corrupted as well as missing system files. Moreover, it makes sure pivotal operating system files remain in good health and continue to function properly.

  • To get going, launch Command Prompt on your Windows device as Administrator.
  • After that, run this command: sfc /scannow.

20. Run the DISM Tool

The DISM Tool is also known as Deployment Image Servicing and Management. It’s a command-line utility that lets you service and repair Windows images including Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and even the Windows operating system.

  • On your PC, head over to Command Prompt and open it as an administrator.
  • Then run the following command –
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

21. Update Mouse Drivers

If mouse drivers are outdated, they adversely impact many related features.

  • Launch Device Manager on your PC > Look for Mice and other pointing devices section and expand by using the small arrow to the left.
  • Now, right-click on your device and choose Update driver.
  • Select “Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions to update your mouse drivers.
Update mouse drivers on PC

22. Reinstall Mouse Drivers

If your PC is still not playing nice with the drag-and-drop gesture, reinstall the mouse drivers.

  • Navigate to Device Manager on your PC > Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section
  • Then, right-click on your device and select Uninstall device.
  • Restart your pc to help it install the latest version of mouse drivers.
Update mouse drivers on PC

23. Clean Boot Your System

“A clean boot” in Windows excels in troubleshooting Windows issues caused by software conflicts. What enables it to take control of the issues is the ability to start a system with a minimal set of drivers as well as startup programs. As a result, it often proves to be a game changer in flushing out the potential interferences from third-party apps/services. For times when you want to diagnose unexpected behavior of your device, performance problems, app related errors, it comes into the picture.

  • Press Win+R to launch Run dialog> type msconfig and press enter to open System Configuration.
  • Now, activate a clean boot on your PC by disabling all startup items.

24. Adjust Visual Effects for Best Performance

For the best performance, customize the visual effects setting on your Windows device.

  • Open Settings on your device > System > About > Advanced system settings.
  • Select the Performance tab and hit Settings.
  • Choose Adjust for best performance and reboot your PC.
Manage Windows 11 visual effects for best performance

25. Use Keyboard Shortcuts Instead

While it’s not a solution per se, I would recommend you use the familiar Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) keyboard shortcuts as a temporary workaround so that your work doesn’t come to a halt.

26. Check for Corrupted User Profiles

If your user profile is corrupted with too many misconfigurations, there is a decent chance switching to a new user account will resolve the issue.

  • To create a new account, go to Settings app > Accounts > Other users > Add account.

27. Reinstall Windows 11 – Last Resort

If none of the above tips has managed to fix the issue, consider reinstalling Windows 11. Do not forget to fully back up your files and apps to an external drive, another partition, or cloud storage.

  • Having backed up your data, navigate to the Settings app > System > Recovery > Under the Recovery options, look for the Reset This PC button and click on it.
Choose Recovery option in the Settings app on Windows 11
  • Choose “Keep my files” to ensure your important files remain secure and then go through the instructions to securely reinstall Windows on your PC.

Wrapping up…

There you have it! At the end of this exhaustive guide, I’m pretty sure that the productivity-defining drag-and-drop feature has returned to form on your Windows device and so has your smooth-sailing workflow. Now, let us know what has helped drive away this annoying issue on your PC. If a useful tip is missing from the guide, be sure to let me know that via the comments section below.

Posted by
Rajesh Mishra

Editor-in-Chief: Rajesh Mishra is a Shakespearean poet at heart who turned a tech nerd while having a secret rendezvous with iPhone 4. When that rendezvous turned obsession, he let go of his hard-core political journalism in favour of the lifelong love-affair with technology. In a career spanning one and a half decades, Mr. Mishra has crafted over 8K articles and produced more than 3K videos for YouTube. When he is not at his desk, you may find him either engrossed in a Deathmatch or chasing Wordsworth!

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