5 Quick Ways to Select and Highlight Multiple Files or Folders

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Quick ways to highlight many files or folders at once

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: October 30, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using Windows
|
• Using Mac
|
• Using Android
|
• Using iPhone or iPad
|
• Using Google Drive

|Show more |Show less

Do you have more than one file to copy, move, or delete? You can select multiple files whether they're separated or next to each other. This can be done using keyboard shortcuts or a mouse. Here's how to select multiple files on your Windows or Mac computer, Android, iPhone, iPad, or Google Drive.

Highlighting Two or More Files on a Computer

To select multiple files on a computer, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click each file. If the files are next to each other, click the first file, hold Shift, and then click the last file.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using Windows

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1. 
   1
   Hold Ctrl to select non-consecutive files. This means files that are not next to each other.

   • Click one file.
   • Hold down Ctrl.
   • Click another file.
   • Repeat for all files.
   • Release Ctrl when finished.
2. 
   2
   Hold ⇧ Shift to select consecutive files. This means files that are next to each other.

   • Click the first file of the selection.
   • Hold down Shift.
   • Click the last file of the selection.
   • Release Shift.
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3. 
   3
   Use your mouse to select files. Drag your cursor from one end of the selection to the opposite end. This will highlight all files in the square-shaped selection.

   • Once selected, you can move the files, copy them elsewhere, or delete them.
4. 
   4
   Use a keyboard shortcut to select all. Press Ctrl + A to select all files in a destination.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using Mac

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1. 
   1
   Hold ⌘ Cmd to select non-consecutive files. This means files that are not next to each other.

   • Click one file.
   • Hold down Cmd.
   • Click another file.
   • Repeat for all files.
   • Release Cmd when finished.
2. 
   2
   Hold ⇧ Shift to select consecutive files. This means files that are next to each other.

   • Click the first file of the selection.
   • Hold down Shift.
   • Click the last file of the selection.
   • Release Shift.
3. 
   3
   Use your mouse to select files. Drag your cursor from one end of the selection to the opposite end. This will highlight all files in the square-shaped selection.
4. 
   4
   Use a keyboard shortcut to select all. Press Cmd + A to select all files in a destination.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using Android

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1. 
   1
   Open the Files app. This is where files are saved onto your Android device.
2. 
   2
   Navigate to the files you want to select. Tap ☰ in the top-left corner to navigate your folders.
3. 
   3
   Tap and hold a file. This will select the file and allow you to select more.
4. 
   4
   Tap the rest of the files. They will be highlighted in blue. You can also hold your finger and scroll downwards to select multiple files.

   • You can tap the share icon to edit the files or send them elsewhere.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using iPhone or iPad

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1. 
   1
   Open the Files app. This is where files are saved onto your iPhone or iPad device.
2. 
   2
   Navigate to the files you want to select. Tap Browse at the bottom-right corner to browse all folders.
3. 
   3
   Tap ••• . This is in the top-right corner.
4. 
   4
   Tap Select. You can find this at the top of the pop-up menu.
5. 
   5
   Tap the files you want to select. You'll see a checkmark in the middle of each file selected.

   • Alternatively, tap Select All in the top-left corner to select all files.
   • Once selected, tap the Share icon in the bottom-left corner to copy the files, print them, or upload them elsewhere.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using Google Drive

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1. 
   1
   Open Google Drive. You can use Google Drive in a web browser at https://drive.google.com/ or the mobile app for iOS and Android.

   • If you aren't already logged into your Google account, do so now.
2. 
   2
   Click a file. It should be highlighted in blue.

   • On mobile, tap and hold a file.
3. 
   3
   Hold Ctrl or ⌘ Cmd and click more files.

   • On mobile, tap more files.
   • You can tap ••• (mobile) or use the toolbar at the top (desktop) to move or edit the selected files.
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