How to Enable or Disable “Do This for All Current Items” in the File Conflict Dialog Box in Windows 11

Adding duplicate files in the same environment triggers a file conflict dialog box. In recent updates, Microsoft removed the prompt’s “Do this for all current items” checkbox to streamline its UI. To address this, advanced methods can be used to modify its behavior, simplifying bulk file transfers to boost workflow efficiency.

This article explains how to turn the checkbox on or off, the best deployment strategies, and commonly asked questions.

Methods to control the “Do this for all current items” checkbox

Here’s how to add or remove the checkbox from the file conflict error dialog. Make sure you choose the method(s) that best fit your goals, constraints, and scope.

📌 Prerequisites:

• Windows 11 operating system (22H2 and later versions)
• Administrator rights (Registry and group policy methods)
• Strong experience with Registry Editor, scripting (Command Prompt/PowerShell), and Group Policy Management

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Method 1: Registry Editor (Per user)

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry can cause system issues. Create a backup before proceeding.

📌 Use Cases: Deploy user-specific UI changes to set the checkbox’s default state.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager

3. Double-click ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll.
   1. If you don’t see this value, do the following:
      1. Right-click on the right-hand pane.
      2. Select New > DWORD value (32-bit).
      3. Name the new value ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll.
4. Modify the value.
   1. To have the box checked by default, type 1.
   2. To leave the box unchecked by default, type 0.
5. Press OK.
6. Close the editor and restart Explorer or log back in to apply your changes.

Method 2: Command Prompt

📌 Use Cases: Write quick and simple batch scripts that automate registry changes.

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. To deactivate “Do this for all current items”, run the following:

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager" /v ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

3. To activate “Do this for all current items”, run the following:

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager" /v ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

4. Restart Explorer or log back in to apply your changes.

Method 3: PowerShell

📌 Use Cases: Create advanced, flexible scripts that target the registry at scale.

1. Press Win + R, type powershell, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. To check the box for “Do this for all current items”, run the following:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager" -Name "ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll" -Value 1 -Type DWord

3. To clear the box for “Do this for all current items”, run the following sequentially:

New-Item -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager" -Force | Out-Null

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager" -Name "ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll" -Value 0 -Type DWord

4. Restart Explorer or log back in to apply your changes.

Method 4: Group Policy Preferences (Enterprise deployment)

📌 Use Cases: Configure and deploy Group Policy Objects (GPO) to standardize UI behavior enterprise-wide.

📌 Prerequisites: Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education.

1. Press Win + R, type gpmc.msc, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. Go to:

User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry

3. Create a new Registry item with the following settings:
   1. Action: Update
   2. Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
   3. Key Path: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager
   4. Value Name: ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll
   5. Value Type: REG_DWORD
   6. Value Data: 0 (unchecked) or 1 (checked)
4. Link the GPO to your target Organizational Unit (OU).
5. Run gpupdate /force.

⚠️ Things to look out for

Important considerations when modifying the file conflict dialog box

Take note of these valuable insights to optimize UI changes and work around potential obstacles.

The setting is per-user

Registry changes on keys like ConfirmationCheckBoxDoForAll only affect the user who’s currently logged in. This means that each individual user needs to be configured separately. With that in mind, you can use versatile RMM tools to automate the process easily.

Platforms like NinjaOne offer registry automation functions that facilitate this goal, especially when monitoring multiple endpoints across different locations.

No built-in ADMX policy

No group policy can directly enable or disable the “Do this for all current items” checkbox. Microsoft’s official documentation supports only registry-based configurations.

Restoring adds convenience

Re-enabling the feature empowers users to easily manage large file merge errors. In turn, this reduces confirmation checks and saves time for your enterprise, letting users focus on more important tasks.

Configuration impacts all File Explorer conflict dialogs

While tailoring its functionality to your needs, remember that your enforced setting for “Do this for all current items” will apply to all future conflict dialogs – copying, moving, and replacing files with identical names.

Centrally configure file error prompts with RMM tools

Adding identical files into the same folder produces conflict errors, which can bog down automated workflows. While choosing to disable the “apply to all” checkbox for file copy in Windows had its benefits, re-enabling the feature can also expedite time-consuming data transfers.

Streamline large file transfer with remote endpoint solutions that consolidate RMM features for centralized control and faster response times.

Related topics:

• How to Show More Details in the File Transfer Dialog in Windows 10 and Windows 11
• How to Show or Hide Folder Merge Conflicts in Windows 10
• Defend Against Data Loss with File & Folder Backup
• IT Guide: How to Restore Files from File History in Windows
• How to Sync Folders to OneDrive in Windows 10 & 11