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