To enable checkboxes in Windows 11 File Explorer, open File Explorer and choose View > Show > Item check boxes. Checkboxes will appear beside files and folders, allowing you to select items without relying on a continuous Ctrl-click. If that command is missing, use the Folder Options route described below.
Enable checkboxes from the File Explorer View menu
The current Windows 11 route is the shortest way to show checkboxes beside items.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Open File Explorer from the taskbar or Start menu, or press Windows logo key + E.
- On the command bar, select View.
- Choose Show.
- Select Item check boxes.
After you select the command, a checkbox appears next to files and folders in File Explorer. Use those boxes to select the items you need. The setting changes how File Explorer displays and selects items; it does not require a new mouse, keyboard, utility, or other purchase.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What the Item check boxes setting does
Item check boxes is a built-in File Explorer display and selection preference. When it is enabled, each visible file or folder has a checkbox beside it. Selecting a checkbox selects that item, which can make multi-item selection easier when you do not want to hold Ctrl while clicking separate entries.
#1 Best Overall
- 1.1 GHz (boost up to 2.4GHz) Intel Celeron N5030 Quad-Core
The option applies to the File Explorer interface. It does not replace ordinary selection methods: you can still select items by clicking them and use the normal keyboard commands available in File Explorer.
Use Folder Options if the direct command is unavailable
Microsoft also documents a classic Folder Options path to the same preference. Use it if you cannot find Item check boxes under View > Show, or if you are following the traditional options interface.
- Open File Explorer with the taskbar, Start menu, or Windows logo key + E.
- Select View.
- Select Options, then choose Change folder and search options.
- In the Folder Options window, open the View tab.
- Under Advanced settings, select Use check boxes to select items.
- Select OK.
Return to a folder in File Explorer and check for the boxes beside its files and folders. This route and the View menu route control the same selection preference.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhich route should you use?
| Route | Best use | What you change |
|---|---|---|
| View > Show > Item check boxes | Fastest way to enable the feature in the current Windows 11 interface | Turns on the visible boxes directly from File Explorer |
| View > Options > Change folder and search options > View | Useful when the direct command is not shown or you prefer Folder Options | Enables Use check boxes to select items in Advanced settings |
Both are built-in Windows controls, so there is no separate download or accessory involved.
Rank #2
- 256 GB SSD of storage.
- Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM
- Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.
Select files and folders after enabling the boxes
Select an individual item
In a File Explorer folder, select the checkbox next to the file or folder. The item is selected while the box remains marked.
Select several non-adjacent items
Mark the checkbox beside each file or folder you want. Because each item has its own box, you can build a selection by choosing entries individually rather than maintaining a Ctrl-click sequence.
Change your selection
Clear the checkbox beside an item to remove that item from the current selection. Select a different folder and use the same boxes there whenever you need to choose files in another location.
The checkboxes are an additional visual way to select items. Enabling them does not remove File Explorer’s existing mouse and keyboard selection behavior.
Rank #3
- 14" diagonal, 1366x768 resolution, HD BrightView LED, Glossy NON-TOUCH Display
Keyboard selection and screen-reader navigation
Visible checkboxes are optional. Microsoft separately documents a keyboard workflow for people using screen readers, including Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
- Use the arrow keys to move through files and folders in File Explorer.
- Hold Ctrl while moving to other items when you want to build a multi-selection.
- Press Spacebar to select or deselect the focused item as needed.
This keyboard method is useful when you prefer not to use a mouse or when a screen reader is announcing the folder contents. The documented workflow does not state that visible checkboxes are required for screen-reader operation.
If you cannot find “Item check boxes”
Check the exact menu path
In the current Windows 11 interface, the command is nested: select View, then Show, then Item check boxes. Looking only at the first-level View menu can make the setting appear to be missing.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Try Folder Options
If the nested command is not present, use View > Options > Change folder and search options, open the View tab, and look under Advanced settings for Use check boxes to select items. Select it and choose OK.
Rank #4
- 【Efficient Performance】 Powered by Intel Core i3 processor (2 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.4GHz) with 12GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Handles multitasking, office software, online classes, and HD video streaming smoothly. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Backlit Keyboard & Complete Package】Comes with a cool backlit keyboard. Comes with awebcam, dual stereo speakers (8Ω/1.0W each), DC charger, and user manual – ready for late-night studying, online classes, video conferencing, and daily productivity
- 【Vibrant Display】 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare screen with 16:9 aspect ratio delivers crisp images and vivid colors – perfect for studying, watching lectures, or entertainment. Thin-bezel design maximizes viewing area
- 【Fast Connectivity & Expansion】 Equipped with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 for stable, high-speed wireless. Features 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1, Type-C (supports PD3.0 fast charging), and a TF card slot expandable up to 2TB – easily connect external monitors, mice, drives, or expand storage for all your files
- 【Long Battery Life & Portable】 Built-in 11.55V 5000mAh/57.75Wh high-capacity battery delivers approximately 7 hours of mixed-use battery life – enough for a full day of classes and assignments. Lightweight at just 1.63kg (3.6 lbs) and 19.5mm thin, plus a compact packing size – easily slips into a backpack for campus, library, or coffee shop
Account for Windows updates and configuration
Microsoft’s support documentation covers both Windows 11 and Windows 10, but the current directions use the Windows 11 View > Show menu. Menu labels and placement can differ between Windows updates or device configurations. If neither documented control appears, verify which Windows version and interface your device is running before assuming the setting has been removed; Microsoft’s instructions do not specify a universal build number or a single fix for every configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows 11 scope and version notes
This guide is focused on Windows 11. Microsoft’s File Explorer support page also includes Windows 10, so the feature is not exclusive to Windows 11, but the visible command layout may differ between the two systems. Within Windows 11, updates can change command placement or wording while retaining the Folder Options setting.
The setting is part of File Explorer itself. You do not need administrator-specific software, a registry edit, or an external customization tool to use either documented route.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Practical reasons to turn checkboxes on
- More deliberate multi-selection: mark individual files and folders without holding Ctrl for every click.
- Visible selection state: the box provides a separate visual indicator next to the item name.
- Existing hardware is enough: the feature uses File Explorer controls already included with Windows.
- Choice of input method: you can use the boxes, ordinary pointer selection, or the documented Ctrl-plus-arrow and Spacebar workflow.
If you prefer the standard File Explorer appearance, return to View > Show > Item check boxes and select the command again to change the display preference.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
