Shell Commands to Access the Special Folders in Windows 10/11

The shell: protocol can be used to open a special folder directly from the Start → Search or the Run dialog. For example, the command shell:sendto opens the “Send To” folder of your user profile. To launch the Documents folder of your user profile, you’d type shell:Personal.

Below is a complete shell: commands listing for Windows XP through Windows 10/11. The entire listing is stored in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\FolderDescriptions

Credits to Keith Miller for this tip.

Complete list of Shell: commands in Windows 10 and 11

The list of Windows 10 and 11 shell commands (* with the exception of the two folders/commands, namely: shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder and shell:HomeGroupFolder — they don’t exist in Windows 11)



(Windows 10 v21H2 and Windows 11 21H2)

  • shell:3D Objects
  • shell:AccountPictures
  • shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
  • shell:Administrative Tools
  • shell:AppData
  • shell:AppDataDesktop
  • shell:AppDataDocuments
  • shell:AppDataFavorites
  • shell:AppDataProgramData
  • shell:AppMods
  • shell:AppUpdatesFolder
  • shell:Application Shortcuts
  • shell:AppsFolder
  • shell:CD Burning
  • shell:CSCFolder
  • shell:Cache
  • shell:Camera Roll
  • shell:CameraRollLibrary
  • shell:Captures
  • shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
  • shell:Common Administrative Tools
  • shell:Common AppData
  • shell:Common Desktop
  • shell:Common Documents
  • shell:Common Programs
  • shell:Common Start Menu
  • shell:Common Start Menu Places
  • shell:Common Startup
  • shell:Common Templates
  • shell:CommonDownloads
  • shell:CommonMusic
  • shell:CommonPictures
  • shell:CommonRingtones
  • shell:CommonVideo
  • shell:ConflictFolder
  • shell:ConnectionsFolder
  • shell:Contacts
  • shell:ControlPanelFolder
  • shell:Cookies
  • shell:CredentialManager
  • shell:CryptoKeys
  • shell:Desktop
  • shell:Development Files
  • shell:Device Metadata Store
  • shell:DocumentsLibrary
  • shell:Downloads
  • shell:DpapiKeys
  • shell:Favorites
  • shell:Fonts
  • shell:GameTasks
  • shell:History
  • shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder  *
  • shell:HomeGroupFolder  *
  • shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts
  • shell:InternetFolder
  • shell:Libraries
  • shell:Links
  • shell:Local AppData
  • shell:Local Documents
  • shell:Local Downloads
  • shell:Local Music
  • shell:Local Pictures
  • shell:Local Videos
  • shell:LocalAppDataLow
  • shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
  • shell:MAPIFolder
  • shell:MusicLibrary
  • shell:My Music
  • shell:My Pictures
  • shell:My Video
  • shell:MyComputerFolder
  • shell:NetHood
  • shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
  • shell:OEM Links
  • shell:OneDrive
  • shell:OneDriveCameraRoll
  • shell:OneDriveDocuments
  • shell:OneDriveMusic
  • shell:OneDrivePictures
  • shell:Original Images
  • shell:Personal
  • shell:PhotoAlbums
  • shell:PicturesLibrary
  • shell:Playlists
  • shell:PrintHood
  • shell:PrintersFolder
  • shell:Profile
  • shell:ProgramFiles
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommon
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
  • shell:ProgramFilesX64
  • shell:ProgramFilesX86
  • shell:Programs
  • shell:Public
  • shell:PublicAccountPictures
  • shell:PublicGameTasks
  • shell:PublicLibraries
  • shell:Quick Launch
  • shell:Recent
  • shell:Recorded Calls
  • shell:RecordedTVLibrary
  • shell:RecycleBinFolder
  • shell:ResourceDir
  • shell:Retail Demo
  • shell:Ringtones
  • shell:Roamed Tile Images
  • shell:Roaming Tiles
  • shell:SavedGames
  • shell:SavedPictures
  • shell:SavedPicturesLibrary
  • shell:Screenshots
  • shell:SearchHistoryFolder
  • shell:SearchHomeFolder
  • shell:SearchTemplatesFolder
  • shell:SearchTemplatesFolder
  • shell:Searches
  • shell:SendTo
  • shell:Start Menu
  • shell:Startup
  • shell:SyncCenterFolder
  • shell:SyncResultsFolder
  • shell:SyncSetupFolder
  • shell:System
  • shell:SystemCertificates
  • shell:SystemX86
  • shell:Templates
  • shell:ThisDeviceFolder
  • shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder
  • shell:User Pinned
  • shell:UserProfiles
  • shell:UserProgramFiles
  • shell:UserProgramFilesCommon
  • shell:UsersFilesFolder
  • shell:UsersLibrariesFolder
  • shell:VideosLibrary
  • shell:Windows

Complete list of Shell: commands in Windows 8

  • shell:AccountPictures
  • shell:Roaming Tiles
  • shell:Common Programs
  • shell:PublicAccountPictures
  • shell:GameTasks
  • shell:UserProfiles
  • shell:MyComputerFolder
  • shell:SearchHistoryFolder
  • shell:SyncSetupFolder
  • shell:DpapiKeys
  • shell:Favorites
  • shell:My Video
  • shell:SearchHomeFolder
  • shell:RecordedTVLibrary
  • shell:System
  • shell:Libraries
  • shell:ThisDeviceFolder
  • shell:AppsFolder
  • shell:MusicLibrary
  • shell:CommonVideo
  • shell:SkyDriveDocuments
  • shell:SyncResultsFolder
  • shell:Cookies
  • shell:Original Images
  • shell:CommonMusic
  • shell:SkyDrivePictures
  • shell:My Pictures
  • shell:Cache
  • shell:Downloads
  • shell:CommonDownloads
  • shell:AppData
  • shell:SyncCenterFolder
  • shell:PublicLibraries
  • shell:VideosLibrary
  • shell:My Music
  • shell:ConflictFolder
  • shell:SavedGames
  • shell:InternetFolder
  • shell:HomeGroupFolder
  • shell:Quick Launch
  • shell:SystemCertificates
  • shell:Contacts
  • shell:UserProgramFiles
  • shell:Device Metadata Store
  • shell:Profile
  • shell:Start Menu
  • shell:Common AppData
  • shell:PhotoAlbums
  • shell:ConnectionsFolder
  • shell:Administrative Tools
  • shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder
  • shell:SkyDriveCameraRoll
  • shell:PrintersFolder
  • shell:DocumentsLibrary
  • shell:ProgramFilesX86
  • shell:Searches
  • shell:SearchTemplatesFolder
  • shell:Common Startup
  • shell:ControlPanelFolder
  • shell:SendTo
  • shell:ResourceDir
  • shell:ProgramFiles
  • shell:CredentialManager
  • shell:PrintHood
  • shell:MAPIFolder
  • shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder
  • shell:User Pinned
  • shell:CD Burning
  • shell:UsersLibrariesFolder
  • shell:AppUpdatesFolder
  • shell:Application Shortcuts
  • shell:Common Start Menu
  • shell:LocalAppDataLow
  • shell:OneDrive
  • shell:Templates
  • shell:Programs
  • shell:PicturesLibrary
  • shell:Roamed Tile Images
  • shell:Camera Roll
  • shell:Recent
  • shell:Desktop
  • shell:CommonPictures
  • shell:RecycleBinFolder
  • shell:Screenshots
  • shell:CryptoKeys
  • shell:Common Templates
  • shell:Startup
  • shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts
  • shell:UserProgramFilesCommon
  • shell:Links
  • shell:OEM Links
  • shell:SkyDriveMusic
  • shell:Common Desktop
  • shell:NetHood
  • shell:Ringtones
  • shell:Games
  • shell:Common Administrative Tools
  • shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
  • shell:SystemX86
  • shell:History
  • shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
  • shell:Playlists
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
  • shell:PublicGameTasks
  • shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
  • shell:Public
  • shell:CommonRingtones
  • shell:Common Documents
  • shell:CSCFolder
  • shell:Local AppData
  • shell:StartMenuAllPrograms
  • shell:Windows
  • shell:UsersFilesFolder
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommon
  • shell:Fonts
  • shell:Personal

New Shell: commands in Windows 7

In addition to most of the shell commands in Windows Vista, Windows 7 also has these new commands in addition:

  • shell:Libraries
  • shell:MusicLibrary
  • shell:VideosLibrary
  • shell:OtherUsersFolder
  • shell:Device Metadata Store
  • shell:PublicSuggestedLocations
  • shell:SuggestedLocations
  • shell:RecordedTVLibrary
  • shell:UserProgramFiles
  • shell:DocumentsLibrary
  • shell:User Pinned
  • shell:UsersLibrariesFolder
  • shell:PicturesLibrary
  • shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts
  • shell:UserProgramFilesCommon
  • shell:Ringtones
  • shell:CommonRingtones

shell: commands in Windows Vista

  • shell:Common Programs
  • shell:GameTasks
  • shell:UserProfiles
  • shell:MyComputerFolder
  • shell:SyncSetupFolder
  • shell:DpapiKeys
  • shell:SamplePlaylists
  • shell:Favorites
  • shell:My Video
  • shell:SearchHomeFolder
  • shell:System
  • shell:CommonVideo
  • shell:SyncResultsFolder
  • shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
  • shell:Cookies
  • shell:Original Images
  • shell:CommonMusic
  • shell:My Pictures
  • shell:Cache
  • shell:Downloads
  • shell:CommonDownloads
  • shell:AppData
  • shell:SyncCenterFolder
  • shell:My Music
  • shell:ConflictFolder
  • shell:SavedGames
  • shell:InternetFolder
  • shell:Quick Launch
  • shell:SystemCertificates
  • shell:Contacts
  • shell:TreePropertiesFolder
  • shell:Profile
  • shell:Start Menu
  • shell:Common AppData
  • shell:PhotoAlbums
  • shell:ConnectionsFolder
  • shell:Administrative Tools
  • shell:PrintersFolder
  • shell:Default Gadgets
  • shell:ProgramFilesX86
  • shell:Searches
  • shell:Common Startup
  • shell:ControlPanelFolder
  • shell:SampleVideos
  • shell:SendTo
  • shell:ResourceDir
  • shell:ProgramFiles
  • shell:CredentialManager
  • shell:PrintHood
  • shell:MAPIFolder
  • shell:CD Burning
  • shell:AppUpdatesFolder
  • shell:Common Start Menu
  • shell:LocalAppDataLow
  • shell:Templates
  • shell:Gadgets
  • shell:Programs
  • shell:Recent
  • shell:SampleMusic
  • shell:Desktop
  • shell:CommonPictures
  • shell:RecycleBinFolder
  • shell:CryptoKeys
  • shell:Common Templates
  • shell:Startup
  • shell:Links
  • shell:OEM Links
  • shell:SamplePictures
  • shell:Common Desktop
  • shell:NetHood
  • shell:Games
  • shell:Common Administrative Tools
  • shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
  • shell:SystemX86
  • shell:History
  • shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
  • shell:Playlists
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
  • shell:PublicGameTasks
  • shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
  • shell:Public
  • shell:Common Documents
  • shell:CSCFolder
  • shell:Local AppData
  • shell:Windows
  • shell:UsersFilesFolder
  • shell:ProgramFilesCommon
  • shell:Fonts
  • shell:Personal

shell: commands in Windows XP

  • shell:Common Programs
  • shell:Favorites
  • shell:My Video
  • shell:System
  • shell:CommonVideo
  • shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
  • shell:Cookies
  • shell:My Pictures
  • shell:Cache
  • shell:AppData
  • shell:My Music
  • shell:InternetFolder
  • shell:Profile
  • shell:Start Menu
  • shell:Common AppData
  • shell:ConnectionsFolder
  • shell:Administrative Tools
  • shell:PrintersFolder
  • shell:ProgramFiles
  • shell:Common Startup
  • shell:ControlPanelFolder
  • shell:SendTo
  • shell:ResourceDir
  • shell:ProgramFiles
  • shell:PrintHood
  • shell:CD Burning
  • shell:Common Start Menu
  • shell:Templates
  • shell:Programs
  • shell:Recent
  • shell:Desktop
  • shell:CommonPictures
  • shell:RecycleBinFolder
  • shell:Common Templates
  • shell:Startup
  • shell:Common Desktop
  • shell:NetHood
  • shell:Common Administrative Tools
  • shell:SystemX86
  • shell:History
  • shell:Common Documents
  • shell:Local AppData
  • shell:Windows
  • shell:Fonts
  • shell:Personal

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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

3 thoughts on “Shell Commands to Access the Special Folders in Windows 10/11”

  1. amazing article buddy! I have been using computers for quite some time now, but never knew about this feature. thanks a ton for sharing this.

  2. Bonjour,

    Merci pour ces informations,

    Peux-je savoir le chemin pour lancer Excel à partir d’une application ACCESS sous Widows 7 ?

    Merci d’avance

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