There are lots of shell commands in Windows 10, that you can access by typing shell:<SomeFriendlyName> into the "Run" dialog or the Start menu search box. In most cases, these shell commands open some system folder or Control panel applet. For example, you can access the Startup folder quickly, if you type the following in the Run dialog:
shell:Startup
These commands can also show some hidden secret features like the two so called "God Mode" folders - All Tasks and All Settings. Today I would like to share with you the exclusive list of the shell commands in Windows 10. It is the most complete list and includes every single command that exists in Microsoft's latest OS.
| Shell Command | Purpose |
| shell:AccountPictures | Account Pictures |
| shell:AddNewProgramsFolder | AddNewProgramsFolder |
| shell:Administrative Tools | Administrative Tools |
| shell:AppData | AppData |
| shell:Application Shortcuts | Application Shortcuts |
| shell:AppsFolder | AppsFolder |
| shell:AppUpdatesFolder | AppUpdatesFolder |
| shell:Cache | Cache |
| shell:Camera Roll | Camera Roll |
| shell:CD Burning | Temporary Burn Folder |
| shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder | ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder |
| shell:Common Administrative Tools | Administrative Tools |
| shell:Common AppData | Common AppData |
| shell:Common Desktop | Public Desktop |
| shell:Common Documents | Public Documents |
| shell:Common Programs | Programs |
| shell:Common Start Menu | Start Menu |
| shell:Common Startup | Startup |
| shell:Common Templates | Common Templates |
| shell:CommonDownloads | Public Downloads |
| shell:CommonMusic | Public Music |
| shell:CommonPictures | Public Pictures |
| shell:CommonRingtones | CommonRingtones |
| shell:CommonVideo | Public Videos |
| shell:ConflictFolder | ConflictFolder |
| shell:ConnectionsFolder | ConnectionsFolder |
| shell:Contacts | Contacts |
| shell:ControlPanelFolder | ControlPanelFolder |
| shell:Cookies | Cookies |
| shell:CredentialManager | CredentialManager |
| shell:CryptoKeys | CryptoKeys |
| shell:CSCFolder | CSCFolder |
| shell:Desktop | Desktop |
| shell:Device Metadata Store | Device Metadata Store |
| shell:DocumentsLibrary | Documents |
| shell:Downloads | Downloads |
| shell:DpapiKeys | DpapiKeys |
| shell:Favorites | Favorites |
| shell:Fonts | Fonts |
| shell:Games | Games |
| shell:GameTasks | GameTasks |
| shell:History | History |
| shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder | HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder |
| shell:HomeGroupFolder | HomeGroupFolder |
| shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts | ImplicitAppShortcuts |
| shell:InternetFolder | InternetFolder |
| shell:Libraries | Libraries |
| shell:Links | Links |
| shell:Local AppData | Local AppData |
| shell:LocalAppDataLow | LocalAppDataLow |
| shell:LocalizedResourcesDir | LocalizedResourcesDir |
| shell:MAPIFolder | MAPIFolder |
| shell:MusicLibrary | Music |
| shell:My Music | Music |
| shell:My Pictures | Pictures |
| shell:My Video | Videos |
| shell:MyComputerFolder | MyComputerFolder |
| shell:NetHood | NetHood |
| shell:NetworkPlacesFolder | NetworkPlacesFolder |
| shell:OEM Links | OEM Links |
| shell:OneDrive | OneDrive |
| shell:Original Images | Original Images |
| shell:Personal | Documents |
| shell:PhotoAlbums | Slide Shows |
| shell:PicturesLibrary | Pictures |
| shell:Playlists | Playlists |
| shell:PrintersFolder | PrintersFolder |
| shell:PrintHood | PrintHood |
| shell:Profile | Profile |
| shell:ProgramFiles | Program Files |
| shell:ProgramFilesCommon | ProgramFilesCommon |
| shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64 | ProgramFilesCommonX64 |
| shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86 | ProgramFilesCommonX86 |
| shell:ProgramFilesX64 | ProgramFilesX64 |
| shell:ProgramFilesX86 | Program Files (x86) |
| shell:Programs | Programs |
| shell:Public | Public |
| shell:PublicAccountPictures | Public Account Pictures |
| shell:PublicGameTasks | PublicGameTasks |
| shell:PublicLibraries | PublicLibraries |
| shell:Quick Launch | Quick Launch |
| shell:Recent | Recent Items |
| shell:RecordedTVLibrary | Recorded TV |
| shell:RecycleBinFolder | RecycleBinFolder |
| shell:ResourceDir | ResourceDir |
| shell:Retail Demo | Retail Demo |
| shell:Ringtones | Ringtones |
| shell:Roamed Tile Images | Roamed Tile Images |
| shell:Roaming Tiles | Roaming Tiles |
| shell:SavedGames | Saved Games |
| shell:Screenshots | Screenshots |
| shell:Searches | Searches |
| shell:SearchHistoryFolder | SearchHistoryFolder |
| shell:SearchHomeFolder | SearchHomeFolder |
| shell:SearchTemplatesFolder | SearchTemplatesFolder |
| shell:SendTo | SendTo |
| shell:SkyDriveCameraRoll | SkyDriveCameraRoll |
| shell:SkyDriveDocuments | SkyDriveDocuments |
| shell:SkyDriveMusic | SkyDriveMusic |
| shell:SkyDrivePictures | SkyDrivePictures |
| shell:Start Menu | Start Menu |
| shell:StartMenuAllPrograms | StartMenuAllPrograms |
| shell:Startup | Startup |
| shell:SyncCenterFolder | SyncCenterFolder |
| shell:SyncResultsFolder | SyncResultsFolder |
| shell:SyncSetupFolder | SyncSetupFolder |
| shell:System | System |
| shell:SystemCertificates | SystemCertificates |
| shell:SystemX86 | SystemX86 |
| shell:Templates | Templates |
| shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder | ThisPCDesktopFolder |
| shell:User Pinned | User Pinned |
| shell:UserProfiles | Users |
| shell:UserProgramFiles | UserProgramFiles |
| shell:UserProgramFilesCommon | UserProgramFilesCommon |
| shell:UsersFilesFolder | UsersFilesFolder |
| shell:UsersLibrariesFolder | UsersLibrariesFolder |
| shell:VideosLibrary | Videos |
| shell:Windows | Windows |
That's it. Please let me know if I missed anything.
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Hey, alternatively you can run it using CMD too. Just type “start (and the list of shell commands above)” then enter. Without quotes of course. :)
This also works using the file explorer address bar to enter any of the above shell: arguments.
Also works in other versions down to win7
I recently invoked SHELL:RECENT to add recent items list in Explorer win 10. HOw do I undo this?
Thank you.
What do you mean exactly?
While you’re at it, what is wrapping % around a directory all about? e.g., %windir%
Thanks…
This is an Environment variable.
Hi, great list – thanks for compiling and sharing!
I did notice that a few of the shell folders did not seem to work/exist when I tried (list included below), and wondered if there was any further info (e.g. if some of the folders are optional, or only apply if you have perticular options set, etc)?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
List of shell folders I could not run:
– shell:CSCFolder
– shell:Games
– shell:InternetFolder
– shell:MAPIFolder
– shell:OEM Links
– shell:Original Images
– shell:Retail Demo
– shell:Roamed Tile Images
– shell:Screenshots
– shell:SearchHistoryFolder
– shell:SearchTemplatesFolder