29 Topic D: Copy, move, delete, and rename files/folders
Copy Files or Folders
Copy a file or folder (Windows 10)
Method 1: Right-click
- Click File Explorer icon.
- Go to the location where stores your file or folder (hard drive, USB, etc.).
- Click the name of the file or folder you wish to copy.
- Right-click the highlighted file or folder and click Copy.
- Go to the destination folder, right-click the destination folder and click Paste.
Method 2: Ribbon toolbar commands
- Click File Explorer icon.
- Go to the location where stores your file or folder (hard drive, USB, etc.).
- Click the name of the file or folder you wish to copy.
- Click the Home tab at the top (on the ribbon).
- Click the Copy button.
- Go to the destination location, click the Home tab.
- Click the Paste button.
Move Files or Folders
Move a file or folder (Windows 10)
Method 1
- Click File Explorer icon.
- Go to the location where stores your file or folder (hard drive, USB, etc.).
- Click the name of the file or folder you wish to move.
- Click the Home tab at the top (on the ribbon).
- Click the Move to button.
- Click Choose Location (if you don’t find the right spot on the drop-down menu).
- Go to the location you want to move for this folder.
- Click Move.
Method 2
- Click File Explorer icon.
- Go to the location where stores your file or folder.
- Click the name of the file or folder you wish to move.
- Hold down the right mouse button and drag the file or folder to the location you wish to move.
Difference between copying and moving files / folders
- Copying – make a duplicate of the selected file or folder and place it in another location.
- Moving – move the original files or folder from one place to another (change the destination).
- The move deletes the original file or folder, while copy creates a duplicate.
Delete and Rename Files or Folders
Delete a file or folder (Windows 10)
- Click File Explorer icon.
- Go to the location where stores your file or folder.
- Click the name of the file or folder you wish to delete.
- Press the delete key (on the keyboard) or right click the file or folder and click Delete.
Recover a deleted file or folder
- Go to Desktop and click the Recycle Bin.
- Right-click the name of the file or folder (that you wish to recover). …
- Click Restore. (The file or the folder will be restored to its original location.)
Rename files or folders
- Click File Explorer icon.
- Go to the location where stores your file or folder.
- Right click the name of the file or folder you wish to rename.
- Click Rename (on the menu that opens up).
- Type a new name for the file and press Enter.
Note:
- If a file is in use, Windows will not allow you to rename the file.
- Do not change the file extension of a file when renaming the file (file extensions often indicate the file type, file format, etc.).
definition
make a duplicate of the selected items (text, symbol, table, image, etc.) and place it in another location.
move the original files or folder from one place to another (change the destination).