Forum Discussion
Files in the latest version of Windows 11 cannot be dragged to parent folders.
n a freshly installed Windows 11 system (latest version), attempting to move files to their parent folder via drag-and-drop fails (no response or ineffective), whereas this operation worked normally in previous system versions. It is suspected that this functionality was removed or restricted after the system update. Seeking confirmation and a solution.
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When you drag a file or folder into the parent directory (for example, from C:\Users\YourName\Documents\ to C:\Users\YourName\), Windows may now default to copying instead of moving, or the operation might not respond if the destination is not explicitly recognized as a move target.
In Windows 11, especially with recent updates, Microsoft changed some drag-and-drop behaviors for security and design reasons. Moving files to parent folders via drag-and-drop isn't explicitly disabled, but the behavior may be less intuitive or slightly restricted depending on the context, focus, or explorer settings. In some cases, Windows 11 may prevent certain drag-and-drop actions to avoid unintended moves, especially if the source and target are on different drives or if certain features (like Controlled Folder Access) are enabled.
