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@scotgabriel
Last active September 15, 2023 00:27
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How to access Windows Special Folders using Shell Commands

Since Windows Vista, the list of available shell shortcuts can be found here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\

Command Win 10 Win 8 Win 7 Vista XP
shell:AccountPictures x x - - -
shell:Roaming Tiles x x - - -
shell:Common Programs x x x x x
shell:PublicAccountPictures x x - - -
shell:GameTasks x x x x -
shell:UserProfiles x x x x -
shell:MyComputerFolder x x x x -
shell:SearchHistoryFolder x x - - -
shell:Local Pictures x - - - -
shell:SyncSetupFolder x x x x -
shell:DpapiKeys x x x x -
shell:Retail Demo x - - shell:SamplePlaylists -
shell:Favorites x x x x x
shell:My Video x x x x x
shell:SearchHomeFolder x x x x -
shell:RecordedTVLibrary x x x - -
shell:System x x x x x
shell:Libraries x x x - -
shell:ThisDeviceFolder x x - - -
shell:AppsFolder x x - - -
shell:MusicLibrary x x x - -
shell:CommonVideo x x x x x
shell:LocalizedResourcesDir - - x x x
shell:OneDriveDocuments x shell:SkyDriveDocuments - - -
shell:SyncResultsFolder x x x x -
shell:Cookies x x x x x
shell:CameraRollLibrary x - - - -
shell:Original Images x x x x -
shell:Recorded Calls x - - - -
shell:3D Objects x - - - -
shell:CommonMusic x x x x -
shell:OneDrivePictures x shell:SkyDrivePictures - - -
shell:My Pictures x x x x x
shell:Cache x x x x x
shell:Local Videos x - - - -
shell:Downloads x x x x -
shell:SavedPictures x - - - -
shell:CommonDownloads x x x x -
shell:AppData x x x x x
shell:SyncCenterFolder x x x x -
shell:PublicLibraries x x - - -
shell:VideosLibrary x x x - -
shell:OtherUsersFolder - - x - -
shell:My Music x x x x x
shell:ConflictFolder x x x x -
shell:SavedGames x x x x -
shell:InternetFolder x x x x x
shell:HomeGroupFolder x x - - -
shell:Quick Launch x x x x -
shell:SystemCertificates x x x x -
shell:Contacts x x x x -
shell:TreePropertiesFolder - - x x -
shell:UserProgramFiles x x x - -
shell:Device Metadata Store x x x - -
shell:PublicSuggestedLocations - - x - -
shell:SuggestedLocations - - x - -
shell:Profile x x x x x
shell:Start Menu x x x x x
shell:Common AppData x x x x x
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64 x - - - -
shell:PhotoAlbums x x x x -
shell:ProgramFilesX64 x - - - -
shell:ConnectionsFolder x x x x x
shell:Administrative Tools x x x x x
shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder x x - - -
shell:OneDriveCameraRoll x shell:SkyDriveCameraRoll - - -
shell:PrintersFolder x x x x x
shell:Default Gadgets - - x x -
shell:DocumentsLibrary x x x - -
shell:ProgramFilesX86 x x x x
shell:Searches x x x x -
shell:Local Downloads x - - - -
shell:SearchTemplatesFolder x x - - -
shell:Common Startup x x x x x
shell:ControlPanelFolder x x x x x
shell:SampleVideos - - x x -
shell:SendTo x x x x x
shell:ResourceDir x x x x x
shell:ProgramFiles x x x x x
shell:CredentialManager x x x x -
shell:PrintHood x x x x x
shell:MAPIFolder x x x x -
shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder x x - - -
shell:User Pinned x x x - -
shell:CD Burning x x x x x
shell:Local Music x - - - -
shell:UsersLibrariesFolder x x x - -
shell:AppUpdatesFolder x x x x -
shell:Application Shortcuts x x - - -
shell:Common Start Menu x x x x x
shell:Common Start Menu Places x - - - -
shell:LocalAppDataLow x x x x -
shell:OneDrive x x - - -
shell:Templates x x x x x
shell:Gadgets - - x x -
shell:Programs x x x x x
shell:PicturesLibrary x x x - -
shell:Roamed Tile Images x x - - -
shell:Camera Roll x x - - -
shell:Recent x x x x x
shell:SampleMusic - - x x -
shell:Desktop x x x x x
shell:Virtual Machines x - - - -
shell:CommonPictures x x x x x
shell:RecycleBinFolder x x x x x
shell:Screenshots x x - - -
shell:CryptoKeys x x x x -
shell:Common Templates x x x x x
shell:Startup x x x x x
shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts x x x - -
shell:UserProgramFilesCommon x x x - -
shell:Links x x x x -
shell:OEM Links x x x x -
shell:SamplePictures - - x x -
shell:OneDriveMusic x shell:SkyDriveMusic - - -
shell:Common Desktop x x x x x
shell:NetHood x x x x x
shell:Ringtones x x x - -
shell:Games x x x x -
shell:Common Administrative Tools x x x x x
shell:NetworkPlacesFolder x x x x -
shell:SystemX86 x x x x x
shell:History x x x x x
shell:Development Files x - - - -
shell:AddNewProgramsFolder x x x x -
shell:Playlists x x x x -
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86 x x x x -
shell:PublicGameTasks x x x x -
shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder x x x x -
shell:Public x x x x -
shell:SavedPicturesLibrary x - - - -
shell:CommonRingtones x x x - -
shell:Common Documents x x x x x
shell:Captures x - - - -
shell:CSCFolder x x x x -
shell:Local AppData x x x x x
shell:StartMenuAllPrograms x x - - -
shell:Windows x x x x x
shell:UsersFilesFolder x x x x -
shell:Local Documents x - - - -
shell:ProgramFilesCommon x x x x -
shell:Fonts x x x x x
shell:Personal x x x x x
@dcgithub
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legendary!

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