diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/fileImportExport.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/fileImportExport.ts
index 86f4f228580..4f3a858af61 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/fileImportExport.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/fileImportExport.ts
@@ -564,7 +564,8 @@ export class ExternalFileImport {
 			});
 
 			// if we only add one file, just open it directly
-			if (resourceFileEdits.length === 1) {
+			const autoOpen = this.configurationService.getValue<IFilesConfiguration>().explorer.autoOpenDroppedFile;
+			if (autoOpen && resourceFileEdits.length === 1) {
 				const item = this.explorerService.findClosest(resourceFileEdits[0].newResource!);
 				if (item && !item.isDirectory) {
 					this.editorService.openEditor({ resource: item.resource, options: { pinned: true } });
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/files.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/files.contribution.ts
index d525ba5860c..a7edb2ec8e3 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/files.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/browser/files.contribution.ts
@@ -554,6 +554,11 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 			description: nls.localize('explorer.incrementalNaming', "Controls which naming strategy to use when giving a new name to a duplicated Explorer item on paste."),
 			default: 'simple'
 		},
+		'explorer.autoOpenDroppedFile': {
+			'type': 'boolean',
+			'description': nls.localize('autoOpenDroppedFile', "Controls whether the Explorer should automatically open a file when it is dropped into the explorer"),
+			'default': true
+		},
 		'explorer.compactFolders': {
 			'type': 'boolean',
 			'description': nls.localize('compressSingleChildFolders', "Controls whether the Explorer should render folders in a compact form. In such a form, single child folders will be compressed in a combined tree element. Useful for Java package structures, for example."),
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/common/files.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/common/files.ts
index edf32a0e189..bd0c7a7b525 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/common/files.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/files/common/files.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ export interface IFilesConfiguration extends PlatformIFilesConfiguration, IWorkb
 			expand: boolean;
 			patterns: { [parent: string]: string };
 		};
+		autoOpenDroppedFile: boolean;
 	};
 	editor: IEditorOptions;
 }