How to Turn On or Off Tap Twice and Drag on Touchpad to Multi-Select in Windows 11
You can turn on or off the “Tap twice and drag” touchpad gesture in Windows 11 to multi-select items without so much clicking.
This handy feature lets you tap your touchpad twice, then drag your finger to select multiple files or text. It’s a quick way to speed up your workflow if you use a laptop with a precision touchpad (a type of touchpad that offers advanced features), which are standard on most modern Windows 11 devices.
Disabling this can prevent accidental selections, while enabling it gives you a powerful shortcut. You can find these settings within Windows 11’s built-in touchpad options.
Open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Touchpad, expand Taps, and check or uncheck “Tap twice and drag to multi-select.” This gesture allows you to select multiple items by tapping and dragging on your touchpad.
Option One
Turn On or Off Tap Twice and Drag Using Settings
You can easily turn the tap twice and drag feature on or off in Windows 11 through the Settings app, letting you choose how you want to multi-select items with your touchpad.- Open Settings by pressing
Win+I. - Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side. Then click on Touchpad on the right side. (See screenshot below)
- Click on Taps to expand the section. (See screenshot below step 4)
- Check the box (on – default) or uncheck the box (off) next to Tap twice and drag to multi-select based on what you want. (See screenshot below)
- You can now close Settings.
Option Two
Turn On or Off Tap Twice and Drag Using Registry
For advanced users, changing the Windows 11 touchpad tap and drag setting can be done using the Registry Editor, allowing you to control this multi-select function directly through system files.
This is the default setting.
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v TapAndDrag /t REG_DWORD /d 4294967295 /f
To turn it off:
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v TapAndDrag /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Summary
You can control the ‘Tap twice and drag’ feature on your Windows 11 touchpad. Use Settings for a convenient approach, or the Registry if you’re comfortable with command-line methods. The feature is on by default, but you can turn it off anytime depending on your preference.
How to drag with touchpad 🪟 Windows 11?
How do you drag with the touchpad in Windows 11?
Double-tap the touchpad, but don’t lift your finger after the second tap. The file will then ‘stick’ to your pointer until you move your finger.
How to turn on touchpad tap to click 🪟 Windows 11?
How do you turn on touchpad tap-to-click in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Toggle the touchpad option to turn it off and on. Then everything’s set to use.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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