Unfortunately, certain drag-and-drop features remain unavailable due to a paradigm shift designed to allow for other functions to flourish, as is the case with File Explorer. However, we will provide workarounds below that should enable you to regain the traditional drag-and-drop functionality. Now that you are familiar with the potential workarounds for restoring native taskbar drag-and-drop features missing from Windows 11, follow the detailed guides below to implement them.
Workaround: Drag and Drop via Alt + Tab
Using the Alt + Tab menu is probably the best alternative for recovering the time lost now that the taskbar drag-and-drop feature has been removed from Windows 11. This is particularly useful for designers and those who work with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya, etc. Although not as quick as dragging and dropping files onto the taskbar, it becomes a nearly equivalent solution once muscle memory kicks in.
Workaround: Drag and Drop between two Windows or Folders
An alternative for those with a dual-monitor setup (or even without) and frequently moving files between different locations, is to arrange the windows side by side and drag-and-drop files between them. Although this isn’t as convenient as directly dragging and dropping onto the taskbar and is slower than the Alt + Tab method, it works particularly well for extended displays.
1. Update Windows
Several drag-and-drop functionalities initially removed by Windows have since been re-added in response to community feedback. As such, it’s critical to update Windows to the latest version to regain some of these features. This is especially useful if you encounter issues when attempting to drag and drop items onto the taskbar.
2. Enable User Account Control
The drag-and-drop feature can also malfunction if the User Account Control (UAC) feature is disabled in Windows, potentially hindering certain functionalities, especially on the taskbar. To resolve this, it’s necessary to re-enable UAC in Windows. There are two ways to do this: through the User Account Control Settings window or by editing a registry key. If UAC was disabled via the Registry, we recommend reversing the changes on the original keys to restore the feature.
2.1. Using User Account Control Settings
2.2. Using Windows Registry
3. Use Vivetool (For Address Bar Drag and Drop)
The drag-and-drop feature in the File Explorer address bar has been removed by Microsoft to allow File Explorer to differentiate between local and cloud folders. However, you can restore this functionality using third-party tools such as ViveTool or ExplorerPatch, which reinstates the legacy File Explorer in Windows.
