How to stop Visual Studio from opening a file on single click?

Question

In Visual Studio 2012 Solution Explorer, when I single click a filename it opens it. This was different from Visual Studio 2010 (required a double click).

Is there a way to make it open on a double click instead of a single click?

What do you expect it to do after you click (single) on the file name? Nothing? BTW, you can change this behavior in "Environment"-"Tabs and windows". But you should'n, in my opinion ;-) — rubber boots, Sep 21 '12 at 16:55
On a single click I expect it to be selected, so I can check its properties — Alexandru Pupsa, Sep 23 '15 at 09:28
**See Also** [Disable file preview in VS2012](https://stackoverflow.com/q/10952185/1366033) — KyleMit, Apr 08 '21 at 19:45

score 627 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 18 '22 at 22:26

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This is called the Preview Tab feature. To change that behavior, go to:

Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Tabs and Windows

Then look for the "Preview Tab" section, and uncheck the options therein:

Options Window > Environment option > Tabs and Windows sub-option > Preview Tab section

edited Feb 18 '22 at 22:26

TylerH

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answered Sep 21 '12 at 16:59

rubber boots

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It's also an option on the solution explorer itself, one of the buttons at the top toggles it. – David Mason Sep 22 '12 at 09:12
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Just wanted to add that the button David is referring to has a tooltip: "Preview Selected Items" – Bruce van der Kooij Jan 11 '13 at 09:39
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As the image above shows, you can alt-click a file to avoid the preview tab if you're just clicking it without wanting to see it for whatever reason. – DomenicDatti Aug 19 '13 at 12:27
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Just wanted to add that the "Preview Selected Items"-button David is referring to is at the far right ;-) – Tim Schmelter Apr 06 '16 at 07:39
Just wanted to add that button at the far right Rango is referring to looks like a folder with magnifying glass at the bottom left corner ;-) (in VS 2012, at least) – Vanity Slug - codidact.com Nov 29 '18 at 18:03
I actually used this question to see were to enable this as i like the functionality but was reset on my machine so thanks for the great contribution :) – Armando Bracho May 24 '22 at 10:04

Vinicius Rocha · Answer 2 · 2019-08-28T18:27:37.127

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Option 1: Using icon in Solution Explorer

You can enable or disable the feature in Solution Explorer using the "Preview Selected Items" button.

Enter image description here

The icon is a Tab aligned to the right.

Option 2: Using the Options window

You can enable or disable the feature by going into Tools > Options and then Environment > Tabs and Windows.

edited Aug 28 '19 at 18:27

answered Aug 28 '13 at 15:21

Vinicius Rocha

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score 27 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 29 '17 at 05:56

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The Single-click opens files in the preview tab text mentioned in rubber boots' answer is missing in VS 2015. Mysteriously, a search for "single click" still brings up the Environment > Tabs and Windows option.

So for VS2015 and VS2017, either click the button in Vinicius's answer, or uncheck the Preview selected files in Solution Explorer box shown in the screenshot below.

edited Aug 29 '17 at 05:56

Leo Heinsaar

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answered Feb 07 '16 at 17:19

Christopher Schneider

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score 15 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 16 '16 at 22:06

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In Visual studio 12/13, easiest way is to type "single click" in quick search and than select Tabs and Windows.

And in Tabs and Windows dialogue ,uncheck "Preview selected files in solutions explorer"

answered Mar 16 '16 at 22:06

Anwar Ul-haq

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That's some beautiful highlighting – Hille Dec 07 '20 at 15:10

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 11 '16 at 13:49

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Shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Home.

If you press that in a document that was just opened, it will be opened permanently.

Item -> right click -> Open With -> Source Code (Text) Editor -> press Set as Default button

answered Mar 11 '16 at 13:49

Josip Ivic

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score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Nov 20 '20 at 06:22

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It's no longer there in VS2019. You enable/disable it through "preview selected Items" in Solution Explorer.

edited Nov 20 '20 at 06:22

Pang

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answered Aug 20 '19 at 17:17

userom

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How to stop Visual Studio from opening a file on single click?

6 Answers6

Option 1: Using icon in Solution Explorer

Option 2: Using the Options window

Linked

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