To copy files in a file manager, you first select the desired items and then click the Copy icon, as described in the reference.
Step-by-Step Guide to Copying Files
Copying files and folders allows you to duplicate them, placing the copies in a new location while keeping the originals intact. Here's how you typically perform this action in a file manager application:
- Navigate to the Source: Open your file manager and browse to the folder where the files or folders you want to copy are located.
- Select Your Items: Click on the individual files or folders you wish to copy.
- To select multiple items that are not next to each other, hold down the Control (Ctrl) key on your keyboard and click on each item you want to include in the selection.
- To select a range of items that are listed consecutively, click on the first item in the group, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and then click on the last item in the group. This will select all items between the first and last one clicked, including themselves.
- Initiate the Copy Operation: Once the appropriate files and folders are highlighted, look for the toolbar usually located at the top of the file manager window. Click the Copy icon from this menu.
The selection methods can be summarized as follows:
| Selection Method | How to Use | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Single Click | Click once on the item | Selects one item |
| Hold Ctrl + Click | Hold Ctrl while clicking multiple items |
Selects multiple non-adjacent items |
| Hold Shift + Click | Click first item, hold Shift, click last |
Selects a consecutive group of items |
Clicking the Copy icon places the selected items onto your system's clipboard. They are now ready to be pasted into a different folder or location, effectively creating duplicates of the original files and folders.
