How to select all files on a laptop: from the keyboard to the command line

Have you ever tried to delete, copy or move hundreds of files on your laptop, only to spend minutes manually selecting each one? This task seems simple until you come across a folder with more files than there are stars in the sky. Fortunately, there are quick ways to highlight all content - from standard hotkeys to hidden file manager functions.

In this article we will look at 7 proven methods for Windows 10/11, macOS And Linux (including Ubuntu And Fedora), and we will also reveal nuances that are not written about in official manuals. For example, did you know that in Windows you can select files by mask, and in macOS — using a gesture on the trackpad? Or what in Linux one command in the terminal will replace hundreds of mouse clicks?

Whether you're working with documents, photos, or system files, these tricks will save you hours. Let's start with the most obvious, but not always correctly used method.

1. Hotkeys: universal method for all OS

The fastest way to select all files in a folder is keyboard shortcut. It works everywhere: from Windows Explorer to Finder on Mac And Nautilus in Linux. Here's how to do it:

• 🪟 Windows: press Ctrl + A (Latin layout). Works in Conductor, on Desktop and even in file selection dialog boxes.
• 🍎 macOS: use Command (⌘) + A. Triggers in Finder, Preview and most applications.
• 🐧 Linux: Ctrl + A (in GNOME Files, Dolphin, Thunar). The terminal has a different logic (more on that below).

But there are pitfalls. For example, in Windows Ctrl + A will highlight all objects, including hidden files, if they are displayed in the settings. And in macOS this combination may conflict with the hotkeys of some programs (for example, Adobe Photoshop).

⚠️ Attention: If after Ctrl + A the selection is reset, check if the mode is enabled "Mouse selection" in accessibility settings (for example, in Windows 11 this is Settings → Accessibility → Mouse).

For those who prefer a mouse, there is an alternative - but it is less reliable.

2. Mouse selection: when the keyboard is not available

If the keyboard is broken or you are working on a tablet with Windows, you can do without hotkeys. The method works in most file managers:

1. Hover your mouse over empty space in a folder (not a file!).
2. Clamp left mouse button and move the cursor diagonally, covering all the files.
3. Release the button and the files will be highlighted.

B macOS This method works differently: you need to click on an empty space and then press Command (⌘) + A (you can’t select everything with the mouse). And in Linux (for example, in KDE Plasma) can be used right mouse button:

• 🖱️ Right-click on an empty space → select "Select all".
• 📁 In some distributions (for example, Linux Mint) this item is hidden in the submenu "Actions".

The main disadvantage of the mouse is inaccuracy. If there are thousands of files in a folder, you may miss some of them or accidentally select too many. For example, in Windows When the cursor moves quickly, the system may “forget” files in the corner of the window.

3. Command line and terminal: for advanced users

If you are working with Linux or prefer automation, the terminal will become your best friend. One team can select (or rather, process) all files in the folder:

ls | xargs -I {} echo {}  # Просмотр всех файлов (безопасный режим)
find . -type f -exec echo {} \;  # Рекурсивный поиск файлов

But to select files for further actions (eg copying), use:

• 🐧 Linux/macOS:

  # Копировать все файлы в другую папку
  cp * /путь/к/папке/назначения/
  # Удалить все файлы с подтверждением
  rm -i *

• 🪟 Windows (PowerShell):

  # Вывести список всех файлов
  Get-ChildItem | Select-Object Name
  # Переместить все файлы
  Get-ChildItem | Move-Item -Destination "C:\путь\к\папке"

Be careful: commands like rm * or del * everything will be deleted permanently. B Windows files first go to Cart, and in Linux/macOS - are deleted forever (if not used trash-cli).

⚠️ Attention: In the terminal macOS And Linux symbol * expands to all files, including hidden (starting with a dot). To exclude them, use ls | grep -v '^\.'.

For those who are afraid of the command line, there is a semi-automatic method - filtering by mask.

4. Selection by mask: only the necessary files

Let's say you need to select all photos in a folder or just documents .pdf. Instead of manual search, use search by extension:

Operating system	Action	Example (select all JPEGs)
Windows	Enter in the search bar *.jpg, then Ctrl + A	*.jpg or *.jpeg
macOS	Use Spotlight (⌘ + F) → enter kind:images or .pdf	kind:images name:vacation
Linux (Nautilus)	Click Ctrl + F → enter *.png	mime:image/* (all images)

B Windows 10/11 You can refine your search by date or size:

• 📅 datemodified:>10/01/2023 — files modified after October 1, 2023.
• 📏 size:>10MB - files larger than 10 megabytes.

macOS has a unique feature: you can highlight files by color tags. For example, click on a tag in the Finder sidebar, then press ⌘ + A - only files with that tag will be highlighted.

Make sure that the folder does not contain system files|Check the free disk space (if you are copying)|Disable auto-sorting (so that the selection is not lost)|Create a backup copy of important data-->

5. Hidden features of file managers

Many users are unaware that standard file managers can do more than they think. Here are some lifehacks:

• 🪟 Windows (Explorer):
  • 🔍 Click Alt + D → enter *.docx → Enter → Ctrl + A (will only highlight Word documents).
  • 📂 Turn it on "Show → Hidden Items"to highlight hidden files.
• 🍎 macOS (Finder):
  • 🖱️ Hold Option (⌥) + click on the arrow next to the folder - all attached files will open for selection.
  • 🔄 Use View → Arrange By → Noneto cancel automatic sorting (useful for mouse selection).
• 🐧 Linux (Dolphin, Nautilus):
  • 🔧 B Dolphin (KDE) click F4 — the built-in terminal will open in the current folder.
  • 📋B Nautilus (GNOME) can be created "Bookmarks" for quick access to frequently used folders.

B Windows 11 a function has appeared "Compact View" (enabled in folder options), which simplifies mouse selection by reducing the space between files. And in macOS Ventura can be used trackpad gestures:

• 👆 Swipe up with four fingers to open Launchpad (but if you do this in Finder, all contents will be highlighted).

How to select files in two panels at the same time (for example, in Total Commander)?

B Total Commander click Alt + Shift + Enter — a second panel will open with the same folder. Then use Ctrl + A in each panel separately. For synchronous selection, turn on the "Synchronize panels" mode in the settings (Configuration → Settings → Panel).

6. Third-party programs: when standard tools are not enough

If the built-in tools are not satisfactory, pay attention to specialized file managers:

Program	Platform	Function for highlighting	Pros
Total Commander	Windows	Alt + Num + (selection by mask)	Two-panel interface, FTP support, built-in archiver
Double Commander	Windows, Linux, macOS	Ctrl + / (invert selection)	Cross-platform, plugins, tabs
Directory Opus	Windows	Customizable hotkeys	Maximum customization, script support
ForkLift	macOS	Command + Option + A (select all, including hidden ones)	Integration with iCloud, file preview

For example, in Total Commander You can select files based on complex criteria:

1. Open the folder.
2. Click Alt + Num +.
3. Enter a mask, for example, *.(jpg|png) (all JPEG and PNG).
4. Click Enter — files will be selected automatically.

B Directory Opus has a unique function "Select by regular expression", which allows you to select files based on patterns (for example, ^IMG_\d{4}\.jpg$ will select all files of the type IMG_1234.jpg).

⚠️ Attention: Some managers (e.g. ForkLift) may conflict with system keyboard shortcuts. Before use, check the settings in System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts.

7. Automation: scripts for mass selection

If you regularly have to select files based on the same criteria, it makes sense to automate the process. Here are examples of scripts for different OS:

• 🪟 Windows (PowerShell):

  # Выделить все PDF старше 30 дней и переместить в архив
  Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Documents\" -Filter "*.pdf" |
  Where-Object { $_.LastWriteTime -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-30) } |
  Move-Item -Destination "C:\Archive\"

• 🍎 macOS (AppleScript):

  tell application "Finder"
  set theFiles to every file of folder "Macintosh HD:Users:user:Downloads:" whose name extension is "jpg"
  select theFiles
  end tell

• 🐧 Linux (Bash):

  #!/bin/bash
  # Выделить (скопировать) все MP3 в отдельную папку
  mkdir -p ~/music_backup
  find ~/Downloads/ -name "*.mp3" -exec cp {} ~/music_backup/ \;

For Windows you can also create .bat-file:

@echo off
set "source=C:\Photos"
set "target=D:\Backup\Photos"
for %%f in ("%source%\*.jpg") do (
echo Выделен файл: %%f
copy "%%f" "%target%"
)

Scripts save time, but require caution. For example, in Bash team rm -rf * without checking it will delete everything in the current folder. Always test scripts on copies of data!

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about selecting files

Is it possible to select files in several folders at the same time?

Yes, but the methods depend on the OS:

• Windows: Open two folders in Conductor, select the files in the first (Ctrl + A), then hold Ctrl and select the files in the second one.
• macOS: Use Finder with tabs enabled (Command + T), but the selection will have to be done separately in each.
• Linux: B Dolphin You can open multiple panels (F3) and allocate files synchronously.

Why Ctrl + A doesn't work in some folders?

Possible reasons:

• The folder contains system files with limited rights (for example, C:\Windows\System32).
• Mode enabled "Read Only" for the folder (check properties).
• The file manager is frozen (restart it via Task Manager).
• B macOS may interfere with expansion Finder (For example, TotalFinder).

How to select all files except one?

Methods:

• Windows/macOS: Select all (Ctrl/Command + A), then hold Ctrl/Command and click on the unnecessary file (the selection will be removed).
• Linux (terminal):

  # Скопировать все файлы кроме "excluded.txt"
  shopt -s extglob
  cp !(excluded.txt) /destination/

Is it possible to highlight files on Android or iOS via laptop?

Yes, if you connect the device as an external drive:

• Android: Connect via USB, select mode "File Transfer" → open the folder on your laptop and use Ctrl + A.
• iPhone/iPad: Use iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS), but highlighting is only available for photos/videos via Importing images.

How to select files in cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex Disk)?

In web interfaces:

• Google Drive: Click Ctrl + A (or click on the highlight icon at the top).
• Yandex Disk: Use the checkbox in the header of the file list.
• OneDrive: Ctrl + A only works in File Explorer (when synchronizing a folder).

In desktop clients (for example, Yandex Disk for Windows) the same rules apply as for local folders.