{"id":9181,"date":"2019-05-10T04:03:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T22:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=9181"},"modified":"2023-07-31T20:48:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T15:18:59","slug":"file-explorer-not-highlight-selected-files-windows-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/file-explorer-not-highlight-selected-files-windows-10\/","title":{"rendered":"File Explorer does not Highlight Files or Folders in Windows 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you select one or multiple files or folders in File Explorer, the selection may not be highlighted although the status bar may report the number of items selected. This can be very annoying when you want to open a file using File Explorer or during copy operations.<\/p>\n

\"File<\/p>\n

While there is no official fix for this problem, upgrading to Windows 10 v1809 or higher version may silently correct the issue. This article has some additional workarounds for the File Explorer highlight selection issue.<\/p>\n

File Explorer does not Highlight Selected Files or Folders in Windows 10<\/h2>\n

In some systems, the File Explorer selection highlighting may stop working when you change the display scaling to 125% or the other way around. While other users have observed that the problem happens after a remote desktop session using different display scaling than the desktop.<\/p>\n

Also, this sometimes happens after Windows 10 installs new updates or hardware drivers. Other users have stated that this issue occurs only when the computer wakes up from sleep or hibernation mode. Everything points out to the graphics subsystem or drivers.<\/p>\n

See if one or more of the following workarounds or fixes help.<\/p>\n

Update your graphics driver<\/h3>\n

This is not a workaround, but a solution. Some users have fixed this issue once for all by updating their graphics drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Also, make sure you have the latest build\/version<\/a> and the latest cumulative update installed.<\/p>\n

OEMs such as Dell include the SupportAssist tool which periodically checks for drivers updates and BIOS updates from Dell servers. This way one need not go to the manufacturer’s site to find the relevant updates for their computer model. Likewise, other OEMs may have such health checkup tools installed. Check it out on yours.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It’s always a best practice to get the device drivers from the manufacturer rather than Windows Update.<\/p>\n

Restart the Explorer shell<\/h3>\n

Right-click Taskbar \u2192 click Task Manager \u2192 Processes \u2192 right-click Windows Explorer<\/strong> under Apps \u2192 click Restart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"File<\/p>\n

This restarts the explorer shell cleanly. For more information on that topic, see How to Restart Explorer Cleanly in Windows 10?<\/a><\/p>\n

Toggle the Personalization color setting<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Click Start \u2192 Settings \u2192 Personalization \u2192 Colors \u2192 select a new color.<\/li>\n
  2. Press WinKey<\/kbd> + D<\/kbd> to hide the desktop<\/li>\n
  3. Press WinKey<\/kbd> + D<\/kbd> to show the desktop<\/li>\n
  4. Select the original color in the Colors settings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Files should now be highlighted upon selection.<\/p>\n

    Toggle the background picture selection<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Click Start \u2192 Settings \u2192 Personalization \u2192 Background \u2192 select Solid color<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    2. Check if that fixes the File Explorer selection highlight problem.<\/li>\n
    3. Switch back to the original background picture.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Toggle the High Contrast mode on and off<\/h3>\n