Shell Command

How to See and Use a List of All Windows 7 Shell Commands​

   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

You can find the shell commands listed at this registry location:

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

   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)

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 | 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:documentsLibrary |Libraries\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:HomeGroupFolder |Homegroup
shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts | hidden 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:Libraries |Libraries
shell:Local AppData | hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local
shell:LocalAppDataLow | hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\LocalLow
shell:MusicLibrary |Libraries\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
shellersonal | C:\Users\User-Name\Documents
shellicturesLibrary |Libraries\Pictures
shellrintersFolder | All Control Panel Items\Printers
shellrintHood | hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
shellrofile | C:\Users\User-Name
shellrogramFiles | C:\Program Files
shellrogramFilesCommon | C:\Program Files\Common Files
shellrogramFilesCommonX64 |C:\Program Files\Common Files (in 64-bit Windows only) shellrogramFilesCommonX86 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files (in 64-bit Windows only) shellrogramFilesX64 |C:\Program Files (in 64-bit Windows only) shellrogramFilesX86 | C:\Program Files (x86) (in 64-bit Windows only) shellrograms | hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
shellublic | C:\Public
shellublicGameTasks | hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer
ShellublicLibraries | C:\Users\Public\Libraries
shellublicSuggestedLocations |C:\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:Ringtones | hidden 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:SearchHomeFolder |search-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 Pinned | hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned
shell:UserProfiles | C:\Users
shell:UsersFilesFolder | C:\Users\User-Name
shell:UsersLibrariesFolder |Libraries
shell:VideosLibrary | Libraries\Videos
shell:Windows | C:\Windows

Related Tutorials

---

• A List of Shortcut Keys for Windows 7
• A List of Run Commands for Windows 7
• A List of Command Prompt Commands Used in Windows 7
• CLSID Key List for Windows 7

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[Airbot]

It just shows you how something so simple can be missed if gone.

 

[Romulinx2]

Thanks, useful info to know.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Romulinx.

 

[artinusa]

Very useful share..thank you

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Artinusa.

 

[frantheman7]

Great job, fantastic! Thanks a ton

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Fran, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[bawldiggle]

Shell:cmd for Start > Programs

Is there a SHELL:command to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs ...?

shellrograms goes to C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Thank you

 

[Brink]

Is there a SHELL:command to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs ...?

shellrograms goes to C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Thank you

Hello mate,

You can use shell:Common Programs for that path.