Moving a file by dragging

I seem to remember that I used to be able to drag a file (click, hold, drag) to a folder and the folder would open up. Or move a file on to folder in the side bar and a window associated with that folder would pop open. Has that handy moving technique been removed from the system? Of have I set something incorrectly?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 11, 2021 6:42 PM

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5 replies

Level 10

121,598 points

Mar 11, 2021 7:28 PM in response to Pamela Mullen2

Check Accessibility System Preferences, Pointer Control (or something like that).

Turn on the Spring-Loading delay.

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Mar 11, 2021 6:50 PM in response to Pamela Mullen2

Hover the dragged file over the target folder briefly without dropping it on the folder, and the folder will open..

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Mar 11, 2021 7:06 PM in response to MrHoffman

It doesn't open the folder. I can drag and hover, but the folder doesn't open. I can drop the file "into" the folder but the folder never opens.

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Mar 11, 2021 7:15 PM in response to Pamela Mullen2

Drag-hover-to-open works on Catalina. Ah, well. Must be something changed (or lost?) in Big Sur.

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Mar 11, 2021 7:30 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks! That worked.

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Moving a file by dragging

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