All modern file systems allow you to freely move files between folders. You can save the file on your desktop, and then move it, for example, to the “Documents” folder or transfer it to a flash drive. In this article, we will tell you how to move files in Windows.

How to move a file by dragging and dropping

The easiest way to move files is by dragging and dropping. To move a file, select it, hold down the left mouse button and drag it to the folder you want to put it in, and then release it. This method is convenient to use when both the file and the folder in which you want to put it are in plain sight. For more complex cases, you can use cut and paste.

How to move a file by cutting

To move a file to a folder that is in this moment not in front of your eyes, select it, click on it right click mouse and select the "Cut" option. After that, find the folder where you want to paste the file, right-click on it and select the “Paste” command. Using this method, you can move the file to a flash drive: cut it out, open your flash drive through the “Computer” window and paste the file onto it.

There are also alternative way cutting. To move a file to a disk, flash drive, or another folder, select it and press +[X] on your keyboard. The file will be cut. Now open the folder or drive you want to move the file to and press the +[V] keys. The file will be inserted.

Why are the files not moving?

Finally, we’ll explain why moving files may not work. If you try to move or cut a file that is open in a program, you will receive a warning that this cannot be done. The file is locked while it is working, so there are only two ways to place it in another folder: close the application that is using it, or copy it. In this case, the original file will remain where it was, and its copy will be inserted into another folder. To copy a file, right-click on it and select the “Copy” option or use the + [C] keys, and we have already described how to insert files above.

In this article we learned how to create, rename and delete folders with files. Now let's look at operations such as copy, paste, move, and , which you will use often.

In Windows, to work with files, folders and drives, you can use either the folder " Computer", or the program - which are installed during installation of the operating system Windows systems. Folder " Computer" opens via " ", to launch the program " Conductor» right click on the button « Start" and select the menu item " Open File Explorer».

How to copy a folder or file

Copying is used to create a complete copy of a Windows object with all its properties (name, content, size) in another location hard drive or removable media. For example, to create a copy on a flash drive of your photos, music, documents, etc. When you copy, your original data on your hard drive or other storage device remains in place.

Let's look at copying a folder step by step, using the example of working in the disk browser " Computer».

How to insert a folder or file

As a result of the previous operation, our folder (or file) is on the clipboard, waiting to be inserted. Pasting is copying an object from the clipboard to some place or . To do this, follow these steps:


Move a folder or file using the Cut operation

The Cut operation is designed to move a folder or file to another location on your hard drive or removable media, without saving the original object. To move a folder or file, follow these steps:

  1. In Disk Explorer, select " Computer» required object.
  2. By right-clicking on the selected object, call context menu, in which click on the item “ Cut».
  3. The context menu will disappear, the folder (or file) will be copied to the clipboard. The object icon will fade.
  4. Paste the folder or file into the desired location by performing the above operation " Insert" The original object in its original location will be deleted.

Group operation of copying, pasting, moving folders and files

So far we have been operating with a single file or folder. But what if we need to copy or move several? Copying one file at a time, especially if there are many of them, is irrational. There is a technique for this called selection. To select the desired objects, hold down the left mouse button and, without releasing it, circle the desired objects with the cursor. Selected files and folders will be in a rectangular area colored blue.

Photos and videos from vacation, music and films, installation files for programs and many more files and documents are stored on the modern user’s computer. And, although not often, a situation still arises when you want to send a friend a video from your last trip, installation file for some program, or, say, you need to download a file from your home computer to your work one. In this article I will tell you several ways to help you transfer a file from computer to computer.

Copying files

To do this we need a flash drive with sufficient memory capacity, CD or DVD disc. If the files take up a lot of space, you can use an external HDD. We insert the flash drive into the USB connector and copy the data; connect the external hard drive in the same way. We simply burn files to a CD or DVD, this may require installation special program for recording discs. Then we simply give the recorded device to a friend.

Using a network cable

Using file hosting services

This can also help you if your friends or relatives live in another city, and there is no way to directly connect two computers or transfer a flash drive. Today there are many file hosting services: Cloud Mail.ru, Dropbox, Yandex Disk, Google Drive. The essence is, in principle, the same for everyone. Previously, I already wrote an article Dropbox - what kind of program it is and how to set up Dropbox, you can read them simply by following the links. Install the selected program on both computers. Then add the required file to the local folder cloud storage, which is located on the computer, after which it happens automatic synchronization with a cloud. Next, another user launches a file hosting service from his computer, logs in using the same Mailbox and the same password as you. Synchronization is performed and a file is also created on his computer. local folder with downloaded files. Now he can view them, copy or even add something of his own to the folder. If you do not want to disclose your login and password, you can create a link to the file in your file hosting service and send it to a friend. In this case, he will be able to watch or download it.

You can read the article on how to set up remote access via TeamViewer by following the link. This method will also be very helpful if at work you need a file that is stored on your home computer. WITH using TeamViewer You can easily download it. A small clarification - it is necessary that home computer in this case was included. Also, through TeamViewer, when you create a connection, you can download and view files from another computer.

That's probably all. We figured out how to transfer a file from computer to computer. Choose the method that suits you and I’m sure everything will work out.

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This information will be useful to the most novice PC users who have just sat down at the computer.

The easiest way to copy or move files:

1 Right-click on the file and select copy , then open another folder, right-click in an empty space and select from the menu that appears insert . Ready

2 Open both folders side by side, click on the file with the left button and while holding it, drag the file to another folder, release the key. Copying time depends on the file size and computer speed. If you press the button while dragging a file Shift on the keyboard, the file will be moved.

If you need to move or copy several files, first hold down the left mouse button and circle them. Now dragging will copy all selected files

Of course the best option, This file manager.

The archive should contain installation instructions. Then click at the top configuration settings , put a check mark as in the picture, click OK below

Now, after the settings, you can start working. Select the disk you need on the left and the other on the right. There we select folders in disks or files. For example, I want to move or copy three movie folders (in the left window). I select an empty space in the right window. In the left one, I select the folders prepared for copying with the right mouse button. At the bottom of the program, press the corresponding button (copy or move)

Before completing the task, the program will display this window, I advise you to check the box so that later there will be no problems with accessing the file

2017-07-17T14:42:27+00:00 Software This information will be useful to the most novice PC users who have just sat down at the computer. The easiest way to copy or move files: 1 Right-click on the file, select copy in the menu that appears, then open another folder, right-click in an empty space and select paste in the menu that appears. Done 2 Open both folders...

You can move and copy files and folders in Windows XP in several ways: using window menu and drop-down menu commands, using certain keyboard shortcuts, and using the drag-and-drop method. In addition, Windows XP allows you to use the so-called task mechanism for moving and copying. More details about this later in this article.

  • To move any files or folders, you must first find and select them. Once you have selected them, do the following. To move selected objects, select the command from the window menu Edit>Cut Cut.
  • To copy selected objects, select the command from the window menu Edit>Copy. You can also right-click on the selected objects and select the command from the menu that opens Copy.
  • Now you need to go to the folder in which you want to paste the moved or copied files/folders and select the command Edit>Paste. You can also right-click on a window field free of icons and select the command from the menu that opens Insert.

Then the copying process will begin, which will be clearly shown on the screen. To abort copying or moving, you can click the button Cancel, however, it is not advisable to do this, since there is a risk of losing the copied data.

You can move and copy files and folders using special keyboard shortcuts, which will save you a lot of time. Just memorize these combinations, and over time you will press them automatically.

  1. Find and select the files or folders you want to copy and transfer.
  2. To move selected objects, press the keyboard shortcut , and to copy - a key combination .
  3. Now go to the folder where you want to paste the copied or moved files/folders and press the key combination .

If two windows are open on the screen at once, you can move or copy files or folders using the drag-and-drop method. It's very easy to do.

  1. Position the windows so that the contents of both windows are clearly visible.
  2. Select in one window necessary files or folders (using one of the methods described above) and, while holding down the left mouse button, drag the files or folders to another window. This will move the files or folders to another window.
  3. To use drag-and-drop to copy rather than move files or folders, you must press the button simultaneously with the left mouse button . In this case, a plus icon will be displayed next to the mouse pointer, indicating that the data is being copied and not moved.

However, the drag-and-drop method has its own characteristics that it is advisable to study before using it.

  • If you drag a file or folder within the same hard drive partition (for example, from a folder D:/sea to a folder D: /sea/quiet), then the dragged object will be moved rather than copied.
  • In turn, when dragging a file or folder from one partition of the hard drive to another (for example, from a folder D:/sea to a folder C:/deep), then the object will be copied rather than moved.
  • If you try to drag any Windows system object (for example, a folder Control Panel), a warning message will appear on the screen, and a shortcut to the dragged object will be created at the new location. All system objects are not files, so they cannot be physically copied or moved. All that can be done is to move not the object itself, but a shortcut to it, with which you can get fast access to this object. The shortcut can be placed, for example, on the Windows desktop.

However, there are no rules without exceptions. If you want the file to be copied when you drag, regardless of any rules or restrictions, hold down the key while dragging . In turn, to move files or folders even from one hard drive partition to another, hold down the key . Finally, to create a shortcut to a file or folder using drag-and-drop, hold down the .

As mentioned earlier, you can move files and folders using a special task mechanism. This is how it is done.

  1. Find and select files or folders to move.
  2. In field Tasks for files and folders located in the left area of ​​the window, click on the link Move file or Move folder. If multiple files or folders are selected, click the link Move selected objects.
  3. In the window that appears select a new location for the file or folder, and then click the button Move. In the window can be created new folder by clicking on the button Create a folder and entering the folder name.

You can copy files or folders in the same way. At the same time, in the field Tasks for files and folders you need to click on the link Copy file, Copy folder or Copy selected objects. Please indicate in the window Copying elements where the selected objects should be copied, then click on the button Copy.