Windows 11 Shell commands complete list

Shell commands give you quick access to known folder locations on Windows 11, and here's the complete list.

Windows 11 Shell commands
Windows 11 Shell commands

On Windows 11, the “shell” commands refer to the system shortcuts designed for navigating common folders without typing the full path. For example, you would use the “Shell:Startup” shortcut to open the “Startup” folder in C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. The “Shell:AppData” shortcut to open the “AppData” folder in C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming, and so on to open the “Windows,” “Documents,” “Pictures,” and many of the available folders.

Shell commands can be helpful in many scenarios. However, they’re handy for network administrators and tech-savvy users to access the many different folders from the “Run” command dialog or File Explorer to complete a specific task, including troubleshooting and fixing problems on Windows 11.

In this guide, you will learn the different shell commands you can use to open known folders in File Explorer on Windows 11

Shell commands cheat sheet for Windows 11

Shell commandsFolder locations
shell:AccountPictures%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures
shell:Administrative Tools%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Tools
shell:AppData%AppData%
shell:AddNewProgramsFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Get Programs
shell:Application Shortcuts%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts
shell:AppsFolderApplications
shell:AppUpdatesFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features\Installed Updates
shell:Cache%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache
shell:Camera Roll%UserProfile%\Pictures\Camera Roll
shell:CameraRollLibraryLibraries\Camera Roll
shell:Captures%UserProfile%\Videos\Captures
shell:CD Burning%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\Burn
shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features
shell:Common Administrative Tools%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Tools
shell:Common AppData%ProgramData%
shell:Common Desktop%Public%\Desktop
shell:Common Documents%Public%\Documents
shell:CommonDownloads%Public%\Downloads
shell:CommonMusic%Public%\Music
shell:CommonPictures%Public%\Pictures
shell:Common Programs%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
shell:CommonRingtones%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones
shell:Common Start Menu%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
shell:Common Startup%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
shell:Common Templates%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
shell:CommonVideo%Public%\Videos
shell:ConflictFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Conflicts
shell:ConnectionsFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network Connections
shell:Contacts%UserProfile%\Contacts
shell:ControlPanelFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items
shell:Cookies%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies
shell:CredentialManager%AppData%\Microsoft\Credentials
shell:CryptoKeys%AppData%\Microsoft\Crypto
shell:DesktopDesktop
shell:Device Metadata Store%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStore
shell:DocumentsLibraryLibraries\Documents
shell:Downloads%UserProfile%\Downloads
shell:dpapiKeys%AppData%\Microsoft\Protect
shell:Favorites%UserProfile%\Favorites
shell:Fonts%WinDir%\Fonts
shell:GameTasks%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer
shell:History%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\History
shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts
shell:LibrariesLibraries
shell:Links%UserProfile%\Links
shell:Local AppData%LocalAppData%
shell:LocalAppDataLow%UserProfile%\AppData\LocalLow
shell:Local DocumentsDocuments
shell:Local DownloadsDownloads
shell:Local MusicMusic
shell:Local PicturesPictures
shell:Local Videos Videos
shell:MusicLibraryLibraries\Music
shell:MyComputerFolderThis PC
shell:My Music%UserProfile%\Music
shell:My Pictures%UserProfile%\Pictures
shell:My Video%UserProfile%\Videos
shell:NetHood%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
shell:NetworkPlacesFolderNetwork
shell:OneDriveOneDrive
shell:OneDriveCameraRoll%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Pictures\Camera Roll
shell:OneDriveDocuments%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Documents
shell:OneDriveMusic%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Music
shell:OneDrivePictures%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Pictures
shell:Personal%UserProfile%\Documents
shell:PicturesLibraryLibraries\Pictures
shell:PrintersFolderAll Control Panel Items\Printers
shell:PrintHood%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
shell:Profile%UserProfile%
shell:ProgramFiles%ProgramFiles%
shell:ProgramFilesCommon%ProgramFiles%\Common Files
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64%ProgramFiles%\Common Files
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Common Files
shell:ProgramFilesX64%ProgramFiles%
shell:ProgramFilesX86%ProgramFiles(x86)%
shell:Programs%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
shell:Public%Public%
shell:PublicAccountPictures%Public%\AccountPictures
shell:PublicGameTasks%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer
shell:PublicLibraries%Public%\Libraries
shell:Quick Launch%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
shell:Recent%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
shell:RecycleBinFolderRecycle Bin
shell:ResourceDir%WinDir%\Resources
shell:Ringtones%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones
shell:Roaming Tiles%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\RoamingTiles
shell:SavedGames%UserProfile%\Saved Games
shell:SavedPictures%UserProfile%\Pictures\Saved Pictures
shell:SavedPicturesLibraryLibraries\Saved Pictures
shell:Screenshots%UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots
shell:Searches%UserProfile%\Searches
shell:SearchHistoryFolder%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\History
shell:SearchHomeFoldersearch-ms:
shell:SearchTemplatesFolder%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\ConnectedSearch\Templates
shell:SendTo%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
shell:Start Menu%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
shell:Startup%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
shell:SyncCenterFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center
shell:SyncResultsFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Sync Results
shell:SyncSetupFolderControl Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Sync Setup
shell:System%WinDir%\System32
shell:SystemCertificates%AppData%\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
shell:SystemX86%WinDir%\SysWOW64
shell:Templates%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
shell:ThisDeviceFolderThis Device
shell:ThisPCDesktopFolderDesktop
shell:User Pinned%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned
shell:UsersFilesFolder%UserProfile%
shell:UserProfiles%HomeDrive%\Users
shell:UserProgramFiles%LocalAppData%\Programs
shell:UserProgramFilesCommon%LocalAppData%\Programs\Common
shell:UsersLibrariesFolderLibraries
shell:VideosLibraryLibraries\Videos
shell:Windows%WinDir%

To run shell commands on Windows is straightforward, use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command, type the command like “Shell:AppsFolder” and click the OK button. You can also type the shell command in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter to navigate to the shortcut’s folder path.

While we focus this guide on Windows 11, the majority of these commands will also apply to Windows 10.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.