[Nition]

If you're willing to try something a little bit different, Windows also has a single-click to open mode ('View->Options->Change folder and search options' in Win 11). To only select, you point and hover for a moment.

[account42]

I wish it would let do single click open without hover to select. It's just too easy to mess up your selection if you are not careful where you park your cursor for even a split second.

KDE's Dolphin is much better here, can be set to single click open with drag selection box or click + icon to select.

[Nition]

I know this is a ludicrous way to provide an option to the user instead of just putting it in the UI, but:

- View->Options->Change folder and search options

- Enable single-click, then on the View tab, enable "use check boxes to select items"

- Then Regedit...

- HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Mouse

- Set MouseHoverWidth and MouseHoverHeight to 0, or increase MouseHoverTime.

Now you have single-click without hover-select, and checkboxes to select.