Shell folders in Windows are specific folders that are used as the default location for specific file types.
A shell command can be used in Run (Win+R), File Explorer address bar, command prompt, Windows PowerShell, or create a new shortcut with to open a Windows shell folder.
Shell commands are listed as the Name string value (REG_SZ) of each CLSID (GUID) key at the registry location below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions
This tutorial will show you a complete list of shell commands that can be used to easily open or create shortcuts of specific shell folders in Windows 11.
Press Ctrl + F to search table.
| Shell Command Shortcuts | Shell Folder Opened | |
|---|---|---|
explorer "shell:3D Objects" | %UserProfile%\3D Objects | |
explorer "shell:AccountPictures" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures | |
explorer "shell:Administrative Tools" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Tools | |
explorer "shell:AppData" | %AppData% | |
explorer "shell:AddNewProgramsFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Get Programs | |
explorer "shell:Application Shortcuts" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts | |
explorer "shell:AppsFolder" | Applications | |
explorer "shell:AppUpdatesFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features\Installed Updates | |
explorer "shell:Cache" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache | |
explorer "shell:Camera Roll" | %UserProfile%\Pictures\Camera Roll | |
explorer "shell:CameraRollLibrary" | Libraries\Camera Roll | |
explorer "shell:Captures" | %UserProfile%\Videos\Captures | |
explorer "shell:CD Burning" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\Burn | |
explorer "shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features | |
explorer "shell:Common Administrative Tools" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Tools | |
explorer "shell:Common AppData" | %ProgramData% | |
explorer "shell:Common Desktop" | %Public%\Desktop | |
explorer "shell:Common Documents" | %Public%\Documents | |
explorer "shell:CommonDownloads" | %Public%\Downloads | |
explorer "shell:CommonMusic" | %Public%\Music | |
explorer "shell:CommonPictures" | %Public%\Pictures | |
explorer "shell:Common Programs" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs | |
explorer "shell:CommonRingtones" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones | |
explorer "shell:Common Start Menu" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu | |
explorer "shell:Common Startup" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup | |
explorer "shell:Common Templates" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates | |
explorer "shell:CommonVideo" | %Public%\Videos | |
explorer "shell:ConflictFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Conflicts | |
explorer "shell:ConnectionsFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network Connections | |
explorer "shell:Contacts" | %UserProfile%\Contacts | |
explorer "shell:ControlPanelFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items | |
explorer "shell:Cookies" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies | |
explorer "shell:CredentialManager" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Credentials | |
explorer "shell:CryptoKeys" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Crypto | |
explorer "shell:Desktop" | Desktop | |
explorer "shell:Device Metadata Store" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStore | |
explorer "shell:DocumentsLibrary" | Libraries\Documents | |
explorer "shell:Downloads" | %UserProfile%\Downloads | |
explorer "shell:dpapiKeys" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Protect | |
explorer "shell:Favorites" | %UserProfile%\Favorites | |
explorer "shell:Fonts" | %WinDir%\Fonts | |
explorer "shell:GameTasks" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer | |
explorer "shell:History" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\History | |
explorer "shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts | |
explorer "shell:Libraries" | Libraries | |
explorer "shell:Links" | %UserProfile%\Links | |
explorer "shell:Local AppData" | %LocalAppData% | |
explorer "shell:LocalAppDataLow" | %UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLow | |
explorer "shell:Local Documents" | This PC > Documents | |
explorer "shell:Local Downloads" | This PC > Downloads | |
explorer "shell:Local Music" | This PC > Music | |
explorer "shell:Local Pictures" | This PC > Pictures | |
explorer "shell:Local Videos" | This PC > Videos | |
explorer "shell:MusicLibrary" | Libraries\Music | |
explorer "shell:MyComputerFolder" | This PC | |
explorer "shell:My Music" | %UserProfile%\Music | |
explorer "shell:My Pictures" | %UserProfile%\Pictures | |
explorer "shell:My Video" | %UserProfile%\Videos | |
explorer "shell:NetHood" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts | |
explorer "shell:NetworkPlacesFolder" | Network | |
explorer "shell:OneDrive" | OneDrive | |
explorer "shell:OneDriveCameraRoll" | %UserProfile%\OneDrive\Pictures\Camera Roll | |
explorer "shell:OneDriveDocuments" | %UserProfile%\OneDrive\Documents | |
explorer "shell:OneDriveMusic" | %UserProfile%\OneDrive\Music | |
explorer "shell:OneDrivePictures" | %UserProfile%\OneDrive\Pictures | |
explorer "shell:Personal" | %UserProfile%\Documents | |
explorer "shell:PicturesLibrary" | Libraries\Pictures | |
explorer "shell:PrintersFolder" | All Control Panel Items\Printers | |
explorer "shell:PrintHood" |
| |
explorer "shell:Profile" | %UserProfile% | |
explorer "shell:ProgramFiles" | %ProgramFiles% | |
explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommon" | %ProgramFiles%\Common Files | |
explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64" | %ProgramFiles%\Common Files | |
explorer "shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86" | %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Common Files | |
explorer "shell:ProgramFilesX64" | %ProgramFiles% | |
explorer "shell:ProgramFilesX86" | %ProgramFiles(x86)% | |
explorer "shell:Programs" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs | |
explorer "shell:Public" | %Public% | |
explorer "shell:PublicAccountPictures" | %Public%\AccountPictures | |
explorer "shell:PublicGameTasks" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer | |
explorer "shell:PublicLibraries" | %Public%\Libraries | |
explorer "shell:Quick Launch" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch | |
explorer "shell:Recent" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent | |
explorer "shell:RecycleBinFolder" | Recycle Bin | |
explorer "shell:ResourceDir" | %WinDir%\Resources | |
explorer "shell:Retail Demo" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\RetailDemo | |
explorer "shell:Ringtones" | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones | |
explorer "shell:Roaming Tiles" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\RoamingTiles | |
explorer "shell:SavedGames" | %UserProfile%\Saved Games | |
explorer "shell:SavedPictures" | %UserProfile%\Pictures\Saved Pictures | |
explorer "shell:SavedPicturesLibrary" | Libraries\Saved Pictures | |
explorer "shell:Screenshots" | %UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots | |
explorer "shell:Searches" | %UserProfile%\Searches | |
explorer "shell:SearchHistoryFolder" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\History | |
explorer "shell:SearchHomeFolder" | search-ms: | |
explorer "shell:SearchTemplatesFolder" | %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\Templates | |
explorer "shell:SendTo" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo | |
explorer "shell:Start Menu" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu | |
explorer "shell:Startup" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup | |
explorer "shell:SyncCenterFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center | |
explorer "shell:SyncResultsFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Sync Results | |
explorer "shell:SyncSetupFolder" | Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Sync Setup | |
explorer "shell:System" | %WinDir%\System32 | |
explorer "shell:SystemCertificates" | %AppData%\Microsoft\SystemCertificates | |
explorer "shell:SystemX86" | %WinDir%\SysWOW64 | |
explorer "shell:Templates" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates | |
explorer "shell:ThisDeviceFolder" | This Device | |
explorer "shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder" | This PC > Desktop | |
explorer "shell:User Pinned" | %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned | |
explorer "shell:UsersFilesFolder" | %UserProfile% | |
explorer "shell:UserProfiles" | %HomeDrive%\Users | |
explorer "shell:UserProgramFiles" | %LocalAppData%\Programs | |
explorer "shell:UserProgramFilesCommon" | %LocalAppData%\Programs\Common | |
explorer "shell:UsersLibrariesFolder" | Libraries | |
explorer "shell:VideosLibrary" | Libraries\Videos | |
explorer "shell:Windows" | %WinDir% |
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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