How can I move files, instead of copying them (and ending up with multiple copies of everything!)

[vanimal]

I've got some files on my laptop desktop, everytime I drag these into a folder they copy over (so I have 1 copy in the folder and 1 on desktop).

How do I get them to drag/move over instead? I am ending up with multiple copies of everything, it's driving me nuts.

It's been fine for the past 3 years of having this laptop, but I think 3yo DD may have had a hand in changing some settings for me...

If you choose a set of files and drag them to another drive, default is to copy

If the destination folder is on the same drive then the default is to move

To force a copy hold the control (CTRL) key down before you let go of the mouse button

To force a move hold the shift key down

Try it with a few files first, and if OK, you can move whole folders etc.

Don't know if there is some way to alter the default action, and I'm only going by my experience, not some guide or help page (but assume there is one somewhere I should check!)

Hold down right mouse button while dragging, then drop into selected folder.

A window will pop up with the options - copy here, move here, create shortcut here, cancel.

Select move.

Using the keyboard
highlight all files :

Press Ctrl x - cut
Press Ctrl v - paste

(Ctrl c copies the files)

The easiest thing is to use the right mouse button instead of the left one - then it gives you a choice of copying or moving when you let go. If you get in the habit of always doing that, it becomes second nature very quickly.