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Windows 7: Shell Command


Shell Command

How to Use and See All Windows 7 Shell Commands
Published 07 Mar 2009
Published by
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How to See and Use a List of All Windows 7 Shell Commands

information   Information
This will show you a list of Windows 7 Shell commands that can be used to open certain special folders directly from the Start menu or Run dialog window.
Tip   Tip
You can find the shell commands listed at this registry location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\FolderDescriptions

Note   Note
The Shell commands that are new in Windows 7 from Vista are bolded in red.

You can use the shell commands with either format below:

shell:command

OR

explorer shell:command




Here's How:
1. Open the Start menu and type in the shell command in bold below for the folder that you want to open, then press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Shell Command-start_menu.jpg
OR

2. Open the Run dialog window, and type in the shell command in bold below for the folder that you want to open, then press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Shell Command-run.jpg
Shell Command Path of Folder it Opens
shell:AddNewProgramsFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Get Programs
shell:Administrative Tools hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
shell:AppData hidden C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming
shell:AppUpdatesFolder Installed Updates
shell:Cache hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
shell:CD Burning hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\Burn
shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features
shell:Common Administrative Tools hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
shell:Common AppData hidden C:\ProgramData
shell:Common Desktop C:\Users\Public\Desktop
shell:Common Documents C:\Users\Public\Documents
shell:CommonDownloads C:\Users\Public\Downloads
shell:CommonMusic C:\Users\Public\Music
shell:CommonPictures C:\Users\Public\Pictures
shell:Common Programs hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
shell:CommonRingtones hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones
shell:Common Start Menu hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
shell:Common Startup hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
shell:Common Templates hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
shell:CommonVideo C:\Users\Public\Videos
shell:ConflictFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Conflicts
shell:ConnectionsFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network Connections
shell:Contacts C:\Users\User-Name\Contacts
shell:ControlPanelFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items
shell:Cookies hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies
shell:Cookies\Low hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\Low
shell:CredentialManager hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials
shell:CryptoKeys hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Crypto
shell:default Gadgets C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets
shell:desktop C:\Users\User-Name\Desktop
shell:device Metadata Store hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStore
shell:documentsLibraryLibraries\Documents
shell:downloads C:\Users\User-Name\Downloads
shell:dpapiKeys hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Protect
shell:Favorites C:\Users\User-Name\Favorites
shell:Fonts C:\Windows\Fonts
shell:Gadgets hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets
shell:Games Games
shell:GameTasks hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer
shell:History hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History
Shell:HomeGroupFolderHomegroup
shell:ImplicitAppShortcutshidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts
shell:InternetFolder 32-bit Internet Explorer.
shell:Links C:\Users\User-Name\Links
shell:LibrariesLibraries
shell:Local AppData hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local
shell:LocalAppDataLow hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\LocalLow
shell:MusicLibraryLibraries\Music
shell:My Music C:\Users\User-Name\Music
shell:My Pictures C:\Users\User-Name\Pictures
shell:My Video C:\Users\User-Name\Videos
shell:MyComputerFolder Computer
shell:NetHood hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
shell:NetworkPlacesFolder Network
shell:Personal C:\Users\User-Name\Documents
shell:PicturesLibraryLibraries\Pictures
shell:PrintersFolder All Control Panel Items\Printers
shell:PrintHood hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
shell:Profile C:\Users\User-Name
shell:ProgramFiles C:\Program Files
shell:ProgramFilesCommon C:\Program Files\Common Files
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64C:\Program Files\Common Files (in 64-bit Windows only)
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86 C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files (in 64-bit Windows only)
shell:ProgramFilesX64C:\Program Files (in 64-bit Windows only)
shell:ProgramFilesX86 C:\Program Files (x86) (in 64-bit Windows only)
shell:Programs hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
shell:Public C:\Public
shell:PublicGameTasks hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer
Shell:PublicLibraries C:\Users\Public\Libraries
shell:PublicSuggestedLocationsC:\Users\Public\Library\PublicSuggestedLocations
shell:Quick Launch hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
shell:Recent hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
shell:RecycleBinFolder Recycle Bin
shell:ResourceDir C:\Windows\Resources
shell:Ringtoneshidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Ringtones
shell:SampleMusic C:\Users\Public\Music\Sample Music
shell:SamplePictures C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures
shell:SampleVideos C:\Users\Public\Videos\Sample Videos
shell:SavedGames C:\Users\User-Name\Saved Games
shell:Searches C:\Users\User-Name\Searches
shell:SearchHomeFoldersearch-ms:
shell:SendTo hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
shell:Start Menu hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
shell:Startup hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
shell:SyncCenterFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center
shell:SyncResultsFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Sync Results
shell:SyncSetupFolder Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Sync Center\Sync Setup
shell:System C:\Windows\System32
shell:SystemCertificates hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
shell:SystemX86 C:\Windows\SysWOW64
shell:Templates hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
shell:User Pinnedhidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned
shell:UserProfiles C:\Users
shell:UsersFilesFolder C:\Users\User-Name
shell:UsersLibrariesFolderLibraries
shell:VideosLibrary Libraries\Videos
shell:Windows C:\Windows
Need more help? Try searching our extensive help and support site.
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09 Mar 2009  
Airbot

 
Another good one Shawn. Especially since now we can copy and paste in the start menu! We appreciate all your hard work in making the tutorials.

My System SpecsSystem Spec

09 Mar 2009  
Brink

 
It made my day to when we could finally copy and paste in the Start menu search line using the right click and not without having to use Ctrl+V again.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
09 Mar 2009  
Airbot

 
It just shows you how something so simple can be missed if gone.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


09 Mar 2009  
Romulinx2

 
Thanks, useful info to know.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
09 Mar 2009  
Brink

 
You're welcome Romulinx.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07 Jan 2010  
artinusa

 
Very useful share..thank you
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07 Jan 2010  
Brink

 
You're welcome Artinusa.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
18 Feb 2011  
frantheman7

 
Great job, fantastic! Thanks a ton
My System SpecsSystem Spec
18 Feb 2011  
Brink

 
You're most welcome Fran, and welcome to Seven Forums.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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