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How to uncover the "No to All" option in Windows

Windows

As you’ve noticed, when you copy files from one location to another, Windows will pop up a message asking if you want to overwrite existing files (if they have the same name). There’s a “Yes to All” button, but there’s no “No to All” button – which means you have to click No for every single file you don’t want to overwrite. This can be a real hassle if the copying was an accident in the first place. This brief tip will show you how to use a “No to All” feature.

  1. The Confirm File Replace window doesn’t have a “No to All” button.
  2. This forces you to click No each time you don’t want to overwrite a file.
  3. But there’s a trick – hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and then click No. That will tell Windows that you don’t want to overwrite any of the files you’re copying – a hidden “No to All” feature.

Posted in Windows.

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3 Responses

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  1. Sumesh says

    Useful tip, Ross. Tweeted, in spite of knowing you don’t use Twitter for promotion :)

  2. W. Kiernan says

    So cool. THANKS!

  3. Sharninder says

    Very Nice. I wonder how you came across this trick, though. Also why the hell didn’t Microsoft give a normal proper button for “No to All”. Or why doesn’t clicking on the “cross” work as a no-to-all.



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