Is there a keyboard shortcut to "unselect" in Windows Explorer?

Question

If I've got a file (or files) selected in Windows Explorer, the only way I've found to "unselect" them is click with the mouse on some empty space.

I thought Esc would do this, but it doesn't. Also changing focus with Tab or Shift + Tab doesn't work; the file(s) are still selected even if focus goes to the address bar for instance.

Does anyone know of a keyboard shortcut to do this?

Solution 1

You can use Ctrl+Arrow to move among selected items. Ctrl+Space will select/deselect. (Space alone will select but not deselect.)

Solution 2

As far as I know there isn't a keyboard shortcut for Invert Selection in Windows Explorer, and unfortunately Select All doesn't toggle the selection.

So if you really want an all keyboard solution:

Ctrl + A, Alt + E, I

If you're used to Emacs multi-key bindings then this shouldn't bother you. :)

Solution 3

Pulling from the other solutions here, the method that works every time is Ctrl+A then F5. You can sort of roll your hand up the keyboard to do this.

Even though it's an extra step over just Ctrl+Spacebar when deselecting one item or just F5 when more than one item is selected, the consistency and not having to think each time will save time in the long run, I think.

Note: If you are pressing F5, then it makes no difference whether you press CTRL-A first or don't. CTRL-A is Select All, F5 is Refresh. Therefore, if F5 is acceptable for the functionality you're looking for, there is no benefit to pressing CTRL-A prior.

Solution 4

I also found another quick solution: pressing F5 will refresh the folder and deselect single or multiple items.

View more solutions

Comments

[jpierson]

I was thinking of implementing a Unselect All feature in an app that I'm developing and I was thinking Ctrl+Shift+A would make a lot of sense. So far I haven't found any examples of other apps using this shortcut though. What do you think?

[angularsen]

Did not deselect a single selection, but ctrl+space as suggested in another answer does work.

[Ben N]

This is a bit treacherous, to say the least. On network drives, for instance, deletion is permanent!

[Gellie Ann]

That really felt like I'm a super user. Works in windows 8.

[bertieb]

This is contradicted by another answer which states the opposite- care to clarify?

[Ravindra Bawane]

A third-party app or plugin may give it this "feature", but no, in Windows Explorer, CTRL-A does NOT toggle a selection. Pressing it once selects all files, pressing it again while all files are already selected does nothing. Using it to select all and then holding CTRL and unselecting a few entries, and then using CTRL-A again returns the selection to All.

[yass]

Kindly edit your answer and explain not just use the Link

[Donald Duck]

Although your answer is 100% correct, it might also become 100% useless if that link is moved, changed, merged into another one or the main site just disappears... :-( Therefore, please edit your answer, and copy the relevant steps from the link into your answer, thereby guaranteeing your answer for 100% of the lifetime of this site! ;-) You can always leave the link in at the bottom of your answer as a source for your material...

[user5389726598465]

@donald Was this a joke? Ctrl-D deletes files in explorer. The link is for expression studio 2.

[Donald Duck]

@user135711 No, it's not a joke. I got it from here. I also suggest you read the other answers on that page because they explain very well why you're not supposed to post link-only answers like this one.

[user5389726598465]

@D I'm not talking about your comment I'm talking about the low quality answers. This one not only doesn't answer the question, it deletes files off the hard drive.

[ivan_pozdeev]

Alt + E, I has no effect. At least, in Win7 Explorer.

[ivan_pozdeev]

The linked page is for Expression Studio 2, not for Explorer. In Explorer, this shortcut is Delete.

[andromeda947]

This is the only answer the works with both single file or multiples files selected. Doesn't require Windows to be in english. And allows for automation with AutoHotkey. The note at the bottom makes no sense.

[Cadoiz]

I think, the <kbd><kbd>R</kbd></kbd> is malformed.