15

How can I open more than fifteen files on Windows 7 at once? I can do fifteen by selecting them and pressing enter, but if I try to select more, enter stops doing anything.

All the files are the same type — pictures.

8
  • AFAIK, you can't.
    – user541686
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:02
  • @KContreau: Is it different for different kinds of files?
    – user541686
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:03
  • all the files are the same type -pictures
    – chabad
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:06
  • @Mehrdad Yes, if the files are all opened by the same program, they can be opened by selecting them all and hitting enter, or right-clicking and hitting open. If they are not opened using the same program, you can't, and the open menu item won't be there when right-clicking.
    – KCotreau
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:07
  • 2
    @chabad Ahh, I understand the problem now. There is a limit. I will see if I can find a regisrty entry that breaks that limit. I was able to put 16 .jpg files in a folder, and if I click 15, the open menu is there, but click all 16, and no menu item.
    – KCotreau
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:13

2 Answers 2

30

Open regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Add this case-sensitive DWORD (32-bit) key:

MultipleInvokePromptMinimum

Set the value to

16

P.S. 16 is not a hard number, but actually indicates "unlimited", so putting in 17 probably will not work.

7
  • 1
    +1 you just pwned me. :) Nice answer, this is actually very useful! Hope you get lots of upvotes!
    – user541686
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:28
  • can i put in whatever number instead of 16?
    – chabad
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:40
  • @chabad Actually, if you read the last line, I just edited my answer a few minutes ago to address that exact question.
    – KCotreau
    Jun 23, 2011 at 3:41
  • 2
    Based on some of the (now deleted) non-answers below, it's worth pointing out that you apparently need to type the 16 in hexidecimal mode, not in binary mode. There should be a radio button to select hex/dec when you enter the value.
    – nhinkle
    Jun 15, 2013 at 3:20
  • 2
    The value of the number does matter, at least on my setup of Windows 7. If I set mine to 50, I can open that many songs at once, but cannot open 51.
    – Addison
    Aug 26, 2017 at 16:55
0

Depending on the application, it may be possible to use the File | Open dialog and select all the files (e.g. Microsoft Excel)

It could be more efficient too as the application will know best how to deal with the files (e.g. single instance / multiple instances, open them in a particular order, etc.)

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .