Forum Discussion
Windows11 Drag-and-drop between stacked windows often selects multiple items accidentally
When dragging a file from a window that is partially obscured by another window, the cursor sometimes selects or highlights multiple unrelated files instead of the intended target file.
This occurs more frequently when windows overlap slightly or when dragging on a high-DPI display. This behavior slows down file management and reduces precision.
2 Replies
The most effective fix is to increase this sensitivity threshold, which makes Windows require a larger, more deliberate movement before a drag begins.
You’re seeing a drag from a partly covered window select unrelated files, with overlapping windows and high-DPI scaling making it easier to trigger. That is not expected, but the cause could be File Explorer, mouse input, scaling, or one application. Test first between two File Explorer windows. In Settings > System > Display, select the recommended scale and resolution, sign out, and retest. In mouse settings, ensure ClickLock is off, then try another mouse or touchpad and update its driver. Install Windows and graphics updates, restart Explorer, and compare at 100% scaling. If it happens only in one application, repair or update it. Until isolated, use Ctrl+X and Ctrl+V instead of dragging. Record a short reproduction and submit it through Feedback Hub with the affected app, scale percentage, monitor arrangement, and Windows build. Those comparisons establish whether Windows input, scaling, or the application owns the problem and provide useful diagnostics.
