How Can I Copy Files Instead of Moving Them in Dolphin File Manager?
Asked by
CuriousPixel123
I'm a new user of Linux Mint with the Xfce desktop environment, and I'm using Dolphin as my file manager. I'm trying to drag files from my folders to my desktop or into other folders, but I'm running into a problem where this action moves the files instead of copying them. This means that when I attempt to copy a music file from my collection, it ends up missing from the original folder. Is there a way to configure Dolphin to copy files rather than move them?
Answers
Your experience is pretty common because dragging files within the same file system usually assumes you're moving them. However, dragging to a different file system (like a USB drive) will often default to copying. You can also check if your right-click context menu has 'Copy to' and 'Move to' options, which can make the process easier.
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Instead of dragging files, you can right-click on the file and select 'Copy', then go to the other directory, right-click again, and choose 'Paste'. This way, you'll keep the original file intact while making a copy wherever you need it.
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When you're dragging files, the default behavior in Dolphin is to move them. If you want to copy them instead, one option is to hold down the CTRL key while dragging the file, which should create a copy instead of moving it. On the other hand, if you want to force a move, hold SHIFT while dragging.
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