Windows 11: Shell Folder Command Shortcuts

Windows 11 shell commands are short text codes that open system folders directly, without clicking through File Explorer 📁. Typing a command like shell:downloads into the Run box or the File Explorer 📁 address bar takes you straight to the target folder. That saves time on everyday tasks and gets you to folders that are buried or hidden.

The quickest way to use one is the Run box:

1. Press Win+R. The Run dialog opens in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Type the shell command into the Open field.
3. Press Enter or click OK. A File Explorer 📁 window opens at that folder.

Use shell command shortcuts to access shell folders

Shell commands cover user folders, hidden system folders, and some Control Panel 🎛️ and settings locations. This is useful when you need to reach files like the Start menu ⊞ shortcuts, the AppData folders, or the Fonts folder without opening several File Explorer 📁 windows.

A normal user account is enough, and the same commands work on Windows 11 Home and Pro. Some locations, such as the Windows and System32 folders, are protected. You can browse them, but Windows asks for administrator approval if you try to change or delete anything inside.

You can also use a command from File Explorer 📁 instead of the Run box:

1. Open File Explorer 📁 and click the address bar, or press Ctrl+L. The current path is highlighted.
2. Type the command and press Enter. The window switches to the folder.

If you use a command often, you can make a desktop shortcut that points to it. Right-click the desktop, choose New › Shortcut, and type the command as the location.

Each entry below shows the folder or location first and the command that opens it underneath. Some folders only exist if the related feature is in use. Examples are Camera Roll, OneDrive folders, Saved Pictures, and the old 3D Objects folder, which newer Windows 11 installs may not have. If a command shows an error or opens a different window than you expected, the folder probably does not exist on that PC.

• 📂%UserProfile%\3D Objectscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:3D Objects"

• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPicturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:AccountPictures"

• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ⊞\Programs\Windows Toolscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Administrative Tools"

• 📂%AppData%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:AppData"

• Control Panel 🎛️\All Control Panel Items\Get Programs
  • Command: explorer "shell:AddNewProgramsFolder"

• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcutscopy
  • 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 Panel 🎛️\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features\Installed Updates
  • Command: explorer "shell:AppUpdatesFolder"

• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCachecopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Cache"

• 📂%UserProfile%\Pictures\Camera Rollcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Camera Roll"

• Libraries\Camera Roll
  • Command: explorer "shell:CameraRollLibrary"

• 📂%UserProfile%\Videos\Capturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Captures"

• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\Burncopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CD Burning"

• Control Panel 🎛️\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features
  • Command: explorer "shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder"

• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ⊞\Programs\Windows Toolscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Administrative Tools"

• 📂%ProgramData%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common AppData"

• 📂%Public%\Desktopcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Desktop"
• 📂%Public%\Documentscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Documents"
• 📂%Public%\Downloadscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CommonDownloads"
• 📂%Public%\Musiccopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CommonMusic"
• 📂%Public%\Picturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CommonPictures"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ⊞\Programscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Programs"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtonescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CommonRingtones"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ⊞copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Start Menu"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ⊞\Programs\Startupcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Startup"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templatescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Common Templates"
• 📂%Public%\Videoscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CommonVideo"
• Control Panel 🎛️\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Conflicts
  • Command: explorer "shell:ConflictFolder"
• Control Panel 🎛️\All Control Panel Items\Network Connections
  • Command: explorer "shell:ConnectionsFolder"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Contactscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Contacts"
• Control Panel 🎛️\All Control Panel Items
  • Command: explorer "shell:ControlPanelFolder"
• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookiescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Cookies"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Credentialscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CredentialManager"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Cryptocopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:CryptoKeys"
• Desktop
  • Command: explorer "shell:Desktop"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStorecopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Device Metadata Store"
• Libraries\Documents
  • Command: explorer "shell:DocumentsLibrary"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Downloadscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Downloads"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Protectcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:dpapiKeys"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Favoritescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Favorites"
• 📂%WinDir%\Fontscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Fonts"
• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorercopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:GameTasks"
• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Historycopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:History"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcutscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts"
• Libraries
  • Command: explorer "shell:Libraries"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Linkscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Links"
• 📂%LocalAppData%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Local AppData"
• 📂%UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLowcopy
  • 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"
• Libraries\Music
  • Command: explorer "shell:MusicLibrary"
• This PC
  • Command: explorer "shell:MyComputerFolder"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Musiccopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:My Music"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Picturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:My Pictures"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Videoscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:My Video"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcutscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:NetHood"
• Network
  • Command: explorer "shell:NetworkPlacesFolder"
• OneDrive
  • Command: explorer "shell:OneDrive"
• 📂%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Pictures\Camera Rollcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:OneDriveCameraRoll"
• 📂%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Documentscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:OneDriveDocuments"
• 📂%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Musiccopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:OneDriveMusic"
• 📂%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Picturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:OneDrivePictures"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Documentscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Personal"
• Libraries\Pictures
  • Command: explorer "shell:PicturesLibrary"
• All Control Panel 🎛️ Items\Printers
  • Command: explorer "shell:PrintersFolder"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcutscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:PrintHood"
• 📂%UserProfile%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Profile"
• 📂%ProgramFiles%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFiles"
• ProgramFiles%\Common Files
  • Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommon"
• 📂%ProgramFiles%\Common Filescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64"
• %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Common Files
  • Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86"
• 📂%ProgramFiles%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesX64"
• %ProgramFiles(x86)%
  • Command: explorer "shell:ProgramFilesX86"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ⊞\Programscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Programs"
• 📂%Public%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Public"
• 📂%Public%\AccountPicturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:PublicAccountPictures"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorercopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:PublicGameTasks"
• 📂%Public%\Librariescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:PublicLibraries"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launchcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Quick Launch"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recentcopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Recent"
• Recycle Bin 🗑️
  • Command: explorer "shell:RecycleBinFolder"
• 📂%WinDir%\Resourcescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:ResourceDir"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\RetailDemocopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Retail Demo"
• 📂%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtonescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Ringtones"
• 📂%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\RoamingTilescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Roaming Tiles"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Saved Gamescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:SavedGames"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Pictures\Saved Picturescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:SavedPictures"
• Libraries\Saved Pictures
  • Command: explorer "shell:SavedPicturesLibrary"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshotscopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Screenshots"
• 📂%UserProfile%\Searchescopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Searches"
• 📂%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\Historycopy
  • Command: explorer "shell:SearchHistoryFolder"
• 📂%WinDir%\System32copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:System"
• 📂%WinDir%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:Windows"
• 📂%UserProfile%copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:UsersFilesFolder"
• 📂%WinDir%\SysWOW64copy
  • Command: explorer "shell:SystemX86"

After you press Enter, the folder or Control Panel page opens right away, and no restart is needed. Nothing is changed on your system just by opening a folder, so there is nothing to undo. Close the window when you are done.

They hold data Windows and your apps depend on, so look but do not delete or rename anything there unless you know exactly what it does.

Conclusion:

• This guide lists commands that open Windows shell folders, and you can use it as a quick reference when you need to find a file path.
• If you have any corrections or additional insights to contribute, please feel free to share them using the comments section below.