[Solved] Files/Folders on Desktop Not Opening!

Why can’t I open documents on my desktop?

Files on desktop not opening! Why can’t I open files/folders on my computer? If you’re trying to fix the issue of files on desktop not opening, you’ve come to the right place because this passage is ready to help you.

How to fix the issue of files/folders on desktop not opening?

There’re some common reasons why file folder won’t open on the desktop. Please have a closer look at them.   

Incorrect mouse settings.

Incorrect desktop display settings.   

Virus affection.   

Mouse’s hardware failure.

Files on desktop not opening! At this point, you can refer to the following methods one by one to fix this issue.

Fix 1. Change incorrect mouse settings

When it comes to reasons, incorrect settings usually are the root of many issues. If your file folder won’t open, it’s necessary for you to check the settings of the mouse first.

Step 1. Press “Win + E” to open Windows File Explorer and select a folder at random.

Step 2. Under the “View” tab, click the “Folder Options” button.

Step 3. In the Folder Options window, click General > Double-click to open an item (single-click to select) > OK.

Please pay attention that this option will modify the mouse usage habits and take some minutes/hours to get used to.

Fix 2. Adjust Double-click speed of the mouse

Why can’t I open files on my computer? The Windows operating system may not recognize the speed of the mouse if you never set the mouse speed in the correct way. Please refer to these steps to adjust it.

Step 1. Type “Mouse settings” in the search bar on your PC and hit “Enter” to open it.

Step 2. Go to Mouse Settings and click the “Addition mouse options” at the bottom.

Step 3. In the Mouse Properties window, locate the Double-click speed section. Then adjust the indicator at a fast speed. Please click “OK” to close the window.

Try to open your desktop files/folders with your mouse. If your selected files on desktop not opening, please try the next solution.

Fix 3. Check the Registry Entries and modify Login Profile

If you fail to open the desktop icons, it may be some keys have been altered in the Login Profile. To resolve the aforementioned issue, you need to modify the Login Profile.

Please note that it’s risky for you to change the Login Profile and may disrupt the normal operation of your system. To prevent data loss, you’d better make a backup with free backup software, AOMEI Backupper first.

Step 1. Type “Regedit” in the search bar and hit “Enter” to open it.

Step 2. Go to the Regedit Editor window and locate HKEY-CURRENT-USER\Control Panel\Mouse in the left panel.

Step 3. Find “DoubleClickHeight” and “DoubleClickWidth” on the right. Then change the numerical data of these two keys.

Fix 4. Files/folders are encrypted

Sometimes, your files/folders on desktop not opening because they’re encrypted. To decrypt your desktop files/folders, those users who have certifications can follow these steps.

Step 1. Right-click on your selected desktop file/folder and select the “Properties” option.

Step 2. Under the General tab, click the “Advanced” button.

Step 3. Don’t tick the “Encrypt contents to secure data” button. Please remember to click the “OK” button.

Bonus tips: How to recover deleted files/folders from desktop with no effort?

The above part has described how to fix the issue of files on desktop not opening. This part intends to share the most efficient solution with you to recover deleted files/folders from desktop.

That is using professional data recovery software like MyRecover. Generally speaking, after the first deletion, you can go to the Recycle Bin to recover the recently deleted files.

However, if you have difficulties in desktop data recovery, which suggests your desired files are in permanent deletion. In this scenario, there’s no better way than using a tool like MyRecover to recover deleted/lost files from desktop.

Notes:✎...   

Recover the deleted/lost Word documents, Excel, PPT, PDF, Photos, Videos, Audio, folders, and other 200+ types of data from HDD, USB, SD cards, etc.

Get the original path, filename, and format for the deleted files. 

During scanning, search your needed files/folders by entering their filenames in the search bar or wait to find all the deleted and other lost files on your computers.

Be compatible with NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and ReFS file systems.

Download MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server computers to get your deleted desktop files back!

Step 1. After running this software on your Windows PC. Hover the mouse over the drive and click Scan to scan.

Step 2. Search or wait to see all the deleted and other missing files as you need.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Other Missing Files folder, then click “Recover x files” to restore your chosen desktop files. Please remember to save these recovered files in a new location.

Relevant Q&A about Recycle Bin & desktop files

Files on desktop not opening! How to recover deleted files from desktop? You can read the above content to get the corresponding solutions.

At the same time, there’re some relevant tips about Recycle Bin and desktop files.