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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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.
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
Ramesh, are there any additional locations in Windows 8?