Windows

Windows 11: Shell Folder Command Shortcuts

Written by

Richard

May 8, 2023 Updated Sep 15, 2026 3 min read

How to Display Day of the Week on Windows 11 Taskbar

Windows 11 shell commands are short text codes that open system folders instantly without clicking through File Explorer . Typing a command like shell:downloads into the Run box or address bar jumps straight to your target folder, saving you time during everyday tasks.

Press Win+R to open the Run box, type any shell command, and hit Enter to jump right to that folder.

⚡ Quick Answer

Access Windows 11 shell folders by opening the Run box (Win+R), typing `shell:FolderName`, and pressing Enter. For example, `shell:startup` opens the startup folder. You can also use these commands in File Explorer or the command line.

Use shell command shortcuts to access shell folders

Windows 11 shell commands let you open hidden system folders, user directories, and settings pages instantly by typing short web-like addresses into the Run box. Using these Windows 11 shell commands saves you time when you need to dig deep into system files without clicking through multiple File Explorer windows.

Launch Windows Terminal with administrative privileges or establish a desktop shortcut beforehand. Executing these commands reveals the hidden shell directories.

📂%UserProfile%3D Objects
- Command: explorer "shell:3D Objects"

📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsAccountPictures
- Command: explorer "shell:AccountPictures"

📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsWindows Tools
- Command: explorer "shell:Administrative Tools"

📂%AppData%
- Command: explorer "shell:AppData"

Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsGet Programs
- Command: explorer "shell:AddNewProgramsFolder"

📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsApplication Shortcuts
- Command: explorer "shell:Application Shortcuts"

Applications
- Command: explorer "shell:AppsFolder"

Bluetooth Settings (Options tab)
- Command: rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL bthprops.cpl,,1

Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsPrograms and FeaturesInstalled Updates
- Command: explorer "shell:AppUpdatesFolder"

📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsINetCache
- Command: explorer "shell:Cache"

📂%UserProfile%PicturesCamera Roll
- Command: explorer "shell:Camera Roll"

LibrariesCamera Roll
- Command: explorer "shell:CameraRollLibrary"

📂%UserProfile%VideosCaptures
- Command: explorer "shell:Captures"

📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsBurnBurn
- Command: explorer "shell:CD Burning"

Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsPrograms and Features
- Command: explorer "shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder"

📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsWindows Tools
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Administrative Tools"

📂%ProgramData%
- Command: explorer "shell:Common AppData"

📂%Public%Desktop
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Desktop"
📂%Public%Documents
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Documents"
📂%Public%Downloads
- Command: explorer "shell:CommonDownloads"
📂%Public%Music
- Command: explorer "shell:CommonMusic"
📂%Public%Pictures
- Command: explorer "shell:CommonPictures"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Programs"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsRingtones
- Command: explorer "shell:CommonRingtones"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart Menu
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Start Menu"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Startup"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsTemplates
- Command: explorer "shell:Common Templates"
📂%Public%Videos
- Command: explorer "shell:CommonVideo"
Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsSync CenterConflicts
- Command: explorer "shell:ConflictFolder"
Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork Connections
- Command: explorer "shell:ConnectionsFolder"
📂%UserProfile%Contacts
- Command: explorer "shell:Contacts"
Control PanelAll Control Panel Items
- Command: explorer "shell:ControlPanelFolder"
📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsINetCookies
- Command: explorer "shell:Cookies"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftCredentials
- Command: explorer "shell:CredentialManager"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftCrypto
- Command: explorer "shell:CryptoKeys"
Desktop
- Command: explorer "shell:Desktop"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsDeviceMetadataStore
- Command: explorer "shell:Device Metadata Store"
LibrariesDocuments
- Command: explorer "shell:DocumentsLibrary"
📂%UserProfile%Downloads
- Command: explorer "shell:Downloads"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftProtect
- Command: explorer "shell:dpapiKeys"
📂%UserProfile%Favorites
- Command: explorer "shell:Favorites"
📂%WinDir%Fonts
- Command: explorer "shell:Fonts"
📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsGameExplorer
- Command: explorer "shell:GameTasks"
📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsHistory
- Command: explorer "shell:History"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchUser PinnedImplicitAppShortcuts
- Command: explorer "shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts"
Libraries
- Command: explorer "shell:Libraries"
📂%UserProfile%Links
- Command: explorer "shell:Links"
📂%LocalAppData%
- Command: explorer "shell:Local AppData"
📂%UserProfile%AppDataLocalLow
- Command: explorer "shell:LocalAppDataLow"
This PC Documents
- Command: explorer "shell:Local Documents"
This PC Downloads
- Command: explorer "shell:Local Downloads"
This PC Music
- Command: explorer "shell:Local Music"
This PC Pictures
- Command: explorer "shell:Local Pictures"
This PC Videos
- Command: explorer "shell:Local Videos"
LibrariesMusic
- Command: explorer "shell:MusicLibrary"
This PC
- Command: explorer "shell:MyComputerFolder"
📂%UserProfile%Music
- Command: explorer "shell:My Music"
📂%UserProfile%Pictures
- Command: explorer "shell:My Pictures"
📂%UserProfile%Videos
- Command: explorer "shell:My Video"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsNetwork Shortcuts
- Command: explorer "shell:NetHood"
Network
- Command: explorer "shell:NetworkPlacesFolder"
OneDrive
- Command: explorer "shell:OneDrive"
📂%UserProfile%OneDrivePicturesCamera Roll
- Command: explorer "shell:OneDriveCameraRoll"
📂%UserProfile%OneDriveDocuments
- Command: explorer "shell:OneDriveDocuments"
📂%UserProfile%OneDriveMusic
- Command: explorer "shell:OneDriveMusic"
📂%UserProfile%OneDrivePictures
- Command: explorer "shell:OneDrivePictures"
📂%UserProfile%Documents
- Command: explorer "shell:Personal"
LibrariesPictures
- Command: explorer "shell:PicturesLibrary"
All Control Panel ItemsPrinters
- Command: explorer "shell:PrintersFolder"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsPrinter Shortcuts
- Command: explorer "shell:PrintHood"
📂%UserProfile%
- Command: explorer "shell:Profile"
📂%ProgramFiles%
- Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFiles"
ProgramFiles%Common Files
- Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommon"
📂%ProgramFiles%Common Files
- Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64"
%ProgramFiles(x86)%Common Files
- Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86"
📂%ProgramFiles%
- Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesX64"
%ProgramFiles(x86)%
- Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesX86"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms
- Command: explorer "shell:Programs"
📂%Public%
- Command: explorer "shell:Public"
📂%Public%AccountPictures
- Command: explorer "shell:PublicAccountPictures"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsGameExplorer
- Command: explorer "shell:PublicGameTasks"
📂%Public%Libraries
- Command: explorer "shell:PublicLibraries"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick Launch
- Command: explorer "shell:Quick Launch"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsRecent
- Command: explorer "shell:Recent"
Recycle Bin
- Command: explorer "shell:RecycleBinFolder"
📂%WinDir%Resources
- Command: explorer "shell:ResourceDir"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsRetailDemo
- Command: explorer "shell:Retail Demo"
📂%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsRingtones
- Command: explorer "shell:Ringtones"
📂%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsRoamingTiles
- Command: explorer "shell:Roaming Tiles"
📂%UserProfile%Saved Games
- Command: explorer "shell:SavedGames"
📂%UserProfile%PicturesSaved Pictures
- Command: explorer "shell:SavedPictures"
LibrariesSaved Pictures
- Command: explorer "shell:SavedPicturesLibrary"
📂%UserProfile%PicturesScreenshots
- Command: explorer "shell:Screenshots"
📂%UserProfile%Searches
- Command: explorer "shell:Searches"
📂%LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsConnectedSearchHistory
- Command: explorer "shell:SearchHistoryFolder"
📂%WinDir%System32
- Command: explorer "shell:System"
📂%WinDir%
- Command: explorer "shell:Windows"
📂%UserProfile%
- Command: explorer "shell:UsersFilesFolder"
📂%WinDir%SysWOW64
- Command: explorer "shell:SystemX86"

Execution completes successfully.

Conclusion:

This detailed guide provides a comprehensive list of commands to open Windows shell folders, serving as a valuable resource for users navigating file paths.
If you have any corrections or additional insights to contribute, please feel free to share them using the comments section below.

Was this guide helpful?

Tags: #Windows 11

Was this helpful?

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.

3338 articles → Twitter