Cannot select multiple files in file manager using touchscreen surfaceGO2 windows10.

Question

I've tried everything I could find that has been submitted to the Microsoft Community. None of these solutions work for me. I would like to check whether this is a known bug at Microsoft. Who would I contact for this? More importantly, if this is not a known bug, I would like to hear from someone who is using this exact configuration and is successful with this task. Thx!

***Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Performance & system failures***

Answer 1

Dear John,

Since I last waited for a response from Microsoft Answers, I have invited my MS Guru buddies over to troubleshoot this problem. This is what we determined:

1. the touchscreen area within the boundary of the square box 🗒 is too tiny for a simple finger touch to land in that space. The touch is instead connecting somewhere around the square which in turn causes the selection action not to work as expected. Microsoft will need to correct this in the manner consistent with their business and technology plans.
2. In the meantime, we have found that a functioning Surface Pen correctly selects the boxes each time, since the end of the Pen is smaller than the checkbox boundary. This would be an adequate solution if every Surface were shipped with a Pen. I don't think they are. I paid extra for mine.

Until Microsoft addresses this issue, the Pen is the best way to consistently select the checkboxes. Of course this would be true for a keyboard or mouse add on as well.

Hope this helps your readers!

You're Welcome,

V and the ad hoc troubleshooting team.

Answer 2

Hi Valleypeach,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Community and posting your inquiry.   

Have you tried to steady-press one file then a tick box will appear for you to choose? If this won't work, open the file explorer options (open file manager > under view tab, go to options) > Once file explorer options is opened, go to view tab then check the tick box for Use check boxes to select items. > Go back to File Manager > click/tap on the View tab > Check the tick box for Item check boxes, then you should be able to choose multiple files using the tick box.

Keep us updated by replying on this thread.

Answer 3

Thank you for your reply. Yes I have tried this. Multiple times. This solution, or a slight variation, has been put forth before. Has this worked for anyone?

Still looking for resolution. Thanks to all who are working on this and testing potential solutions.

V.

Answer 4

Thank you for confirming, Valleypeach. Can you please check if you're on the Details view of your File manager? You can switch to Details view by clicking on the Details view button located in the lower-right of the window. You can also change the current view by clicking on the View tab and then selecting Details.

After you switch to Details view, we also suggest this step: Go to the list for files > long-press or steady press the left side of a file name of a file > Disregard the options that will show up and focus on the check box on the left side of the file name > use the check box to select multiple files.

Answer 5

Thank you for confirming, Valleypeach. Can you please check if you're on the Details view of your File manager? You can switch to Details view by clicking on the Details view button located in the lower-right of the window. You can also change the current view by clicking on the View tab and then selecting Details.

After you switch to Details view, we also suggest this step: Go to the list for files > long-press or steady press the left side of a file name of a file > Disregard the options that will show up and focus on the check box on the left side of the file name > use the check box to select multiple files.

John, thank you for your suggestions. I have tried each of these multiple times without results. A checkbox is only marked when clicking on a specific line; if I move to another line (simultaneously pressing CTL, SHFT, or nothing), the original checkmark is removed and the new line I move to now contains the checkmark.✔

Are you testing this scenario on a surface touchscreen?

Thank you,

V.