Troubleshooting Drag and Drop Issues in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

When using a computer, you may occasionally encounter situations where you cannot use the mouse to perform drag and drop tasks. This can disrupt your workflow and create inconvenience for the user. In this article, we will explore the causes of this issue and provide solutions to help you continue using your computer smoothly and efficiently!

Causes of the inability to drag and drop the mouse in Windows 10

The inability to drag and drop in Windows 10 can be caused by various factors. Here are some common causes and their solutions:

• Weak system performance: If your computer is slow or has limited resources, drag and drop tasks may become slow and unresponsive. Check if your computer has enough resources and ensure that there are no resource-intensive background processes running.
• Running image effects: Windows 10 applies image effects to drag and drop tasks, which can impact performance on computers with lower specifications. Disabling image effects can help improve drag and drop performance.
• Low power mode: If your computer is in power-saving or low-power mode, certain performance features may be disabled to conserve energy, resulting in slow drag and drop functionality.
• System or driver errors: Errors in the system or drivers can prevent drag and drop functionality. Ensure that your system and drivers are up to date with the latest versions.
• Software conflict: Certain software applications may conflict with the drag and drop process, causing it to malfunction. Check for any conflicting software and update or remove them if necessary.
• Operating system errors: Unpredictable operating system errors can also affect drag and drop functionality. Ensure that your operating system is updated to the latest version.

Watch this video tutorial for a step-by-step guide on fixing the inability to drag and drop the mouse in Windows 10:

How to fix the inability to drag and drop the mouse in Windows 10

Restart the program you are using

If you encounter the inability to drag and drop in a specific application, it may be due to the software hanging. To quickly resolve this issue, save your work and restart the program. Try dragging and dropping again to see if the issue has been resolved.

Check your hardware

The inability to drag and drop on a Windows computer can also be caused by hardware issues. Firstly, check the left mouse button to ensure that it is not stuck and is functioning properly.

Next, check if any other devices are interfering with the mouse’s functionality. If you are using a controller or similar devices, try unplugging them and see if you can perform drag and drop tasks.

Additionally, if you are using a third-party mouse application, check the settings of that application and ensure that it is up to date.

Check gestures on the touchpad

If you are unable to drag and drop using the touchpad on your laptop, you may need to check and adjust the touchpad settings.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Settings window → Select the Devices section.

Step 2: Navigate to the Touchpad tab.

Step 3: Scroll down to the Taps section and check if the Tap twice and drag to multi-select option is enabled.

Check the Windows version

If you are unable to perform drag and drop tasks, it is possible that you are using an outdated version of Windows 10 that is no longer supported. To check for updates and manually update Windows to the latest version, refer to this article for detailed instructions.

Check mouse drivers

If you are unable to use the mouse for drag and drop tasks, it may be necessary to update your mouse drivers. This becomes especially important when using a laptop, as you can still perform drag and drop tasks using the touchpad.

Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon at the bottom left corner of the screen → Choose Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the Mice and other pointing devices category.

Step 3: Right-click on the Mouse driver and choose Update driver.

Step 4: Select Search automatically for drivers.

Step 5: Choose Search for drivers on Windows Update.

Windows will then search and install any available driver updates.

The aforementioned article has provided a simple and fast guide on fixing the inability to drag and drop in Windows 10. If you found it helpful, feel free to share it with your friends and family. Best of luck!