Trackpad

Go to: Apple menu > System Preferences > Trackpad > Point & Click

For contextual menu for selected files or folders in a Finder window select:

Secondary click; click or tap with two fingers:

& to open files or folders select with one gesture, select:

Tap to click; Tap with one finger:

Sorry, my initial reply response was wrong.

You are correct, it does require a double tap with one finger to open folders & files.

I have got used to this setting & do not notice the double taps.

I should have also checked both machines before replying.

Apologies for any confusion.

You can double-click to open files and folders in Finder without the need for a secondary ('right') click. As far as I'm aware there is no way of opening items with a single click or tap.

As above:

To open files or folders select with one gesture, select:

Tap to click; Tap with one finger.

Glad that works for you - it doesn't for me. On my machine (2018 MacBook Pro 15" running OS X 10.14.4), a single click or tap in Finder selects a file or folder but does not open it.

Please ignore my first reply,

setting: Tap to click; Tap with one finger

will require a double tap on the trackpad to open any folders or files.

If that were possible, and it it isn't, then you wouldn't be able select anything without it opening.

No worries 😀