How to Disable Item Checkboxes in Windows 11 File Explorer

The Touch Interface Leftovers

In Windows 11, if you open the File Explorer and hover your mouse cursor over a file or a folder, a small, square checkbox will magically appear to the left of the icon. This feature was originally designed for Windows tablets, allowing users with touchscreens to easily select multiple files without needing a keyboard to hold down the Ctrl key. However, if you are using a standard desktop PC with a mouse and keyboard, these tiny checkboxes are completely useless and add unnecessary visual clutter to an otherwise clean interface. You can easily banish them.

How to Turn Off File Explorer Checkboxes

You can disable the touch-friendly checkboxes directly from the File Explorer ribbon.

1. Open File Explorer (press the Windows Key + E).
2. Look at the main menu bar (the “ribbon”) running across the top of the window.
3. Click on the View button.
4. A drop-down menu will appear. Hover your mouse over the Show option at the very bottom of the list.
5. A secondary menu will slide out to the side. Look for the option labeled Item check boxes.
6. Click it once to completely remove the checkmark next to it.

The Clean Grid

The change is immediate. You can now hover your mouse cursor wildly across hundreds of files and folders. The distracting little squares will no longer appear. To select multiple files, simply rely on the traditional, lightning-fast method of holding down the Ctrl key and clicking individual items with your mouse.