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Windows 11 Shell Commands – the complete list

Here is the full list of Windows 11 Shell Commands that includes both friendly named commands and GUID locations. All modern Windows versions come with a number of shell commands. Such commands start with the shell: prefix which is followed by some friendly name, like shell:Startup, or by a GUID value. You can use shell commands to open some system folder, built-in feature, or a Control Panel applet directly.

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A good example of such commands is shell:Startup. This is one of the most useful commands that opens the Startup folder directly for the current user.

The similar commands can be used to open the a ton of other tools and folders. There is a shell command that opens the the famous All Task folder, also known as God Mode.

Windows 11 Shell Commands

So, here is the full list of Windows 11 Shell Commands.

The list of Shell Commands in Windows 11

The following tables contain the full list of shell commands available in Windows 11. The first table includes commands with friendly names, such as shell:some command name. They are easy to remember, and you can tell what they do at a glance. The next table includes a different category of shell commands, which have no friendly names, but can be started using the following syntax: shel:::{GUID}. Long story short, let's see the commands.

Windows 11 Shell commands with friendly names

To try these commands in action, copy a commands from the first column, then press Win + R and paste it to the Run box. After you hit the Enter key, Windows 11 will execute the shell command.

Shell CommandWhat opens
shell:3D Objects3D Objects
shell:AccountPicturesAccount Pictures
shell:AddNewProgramsFolderAddNewProgramsFolder
shell:Administrative ToolsWindows Tools
shell:AppDataAppData
shell:AppDataDesktopAppDataDesktop
shell:AppDataDocumentsAppDataDocuments
shell:AppDataFavoritesAppDataFavorites
shell:AppDataProgramDataAppDataProgramData
shell:Application ShortcutsApplication Shortcuts
shell:AppModsApplication Mods
shell:AppsFolderAppsFolder
shell:AppUpdatesFolderAppUpdatesFolder
shell:CacheCache
shell:Camera RollCamera Roll
shell:CameraRollLibraryCamera Roll
shell:CapturesCaptures
shell:CD BurningTemporary Burn Folder
shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolderChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
shell:Common Administrative ToolsWindows Tools
shell:Common AppDataCommon AppData
shell:Common DesktopPublic Desktop
shell:Common DocumentsPublic Documents
shell:Common ProgramsPrograms
shell:Common Start MenuStart Menu
shell:Common Start Menu PlacesStart Menu
shell:Common StartupStartup
shell:Common TemplatesCommon Templates
shell:CommonDownloadsPublic Downloads
shell:CommonMusicPublic Music
shell:CommonPicturesPublic Pictures
shell:CommonRingtonesCommonRingtones
shell:CommonVideoPublic Videos
shell:ConflictFolderConflictFolder
shell:ConnectionsFolderConnectionsFolder
shell:ContactsContacts
shell:ControlPanelFolderControlPanelFolder
shell:CookiesCookies
shell:CredentialManagerCredentialManager
shell:CryptoKeysCryptoKeys
shell:CSCFolderCSCFolder
shell:DesktopDesktop
shell:Development FilesDevelopment Files
shell:Device Metadata StoreDevice Metadata Store
shell:DocumentsLibraryDocuments
shell:DownloadsDownloads
shell:DpapiKeysDpapiKeys
shell:FavoritesFavorites
shell:FontsFonts
shell:GameTasksGameTasks
shell:HistoryHistory
shell:ImplicitAppShortcutsImplicitAppShortcuts
shell:InternetFolderInternetFolder
shell:LibrariesLibraries
shell:LinksLinks
shell:Local AppDataLocal AppData
shell:Local DocumentsDocuments
shell:Local DownloadsDownloads
shell:Local MusicMusic
shell:Local PicturesPictures
shell:Local VideosVideos
shell:LocalAppDataLowLocalAppDataLow
shell:LocalizedResourcesDirLocalizedResourcesDir
shell:MAPIFolderMAPIFolder
shell:MusicLibraryMusic
shell:My MusicMusic
shell:My PicturesPictures
shell:My VideoVideos
shell:MyComputerFolderMyComputerFolder
shell:NetHoodNetHood
shell:NetworkPlacesFolderNetworkPlacesFolder
shell:OEM LinksOEM Links
shell:OneDriveOneDrive
shell:OneDriveCameraRollOneDriveCameraRoll
shell:OneDriveDocumentsOneDriveDocuments
shell:OneDriveMusicOneDriveMusic
shell:OneDrivePicturesOneDrivePictures
shell:Original ImagesOriginal Images
shell:PersonalDocuments
shell:PhotoAlbumsSlide Shows
shell:PicturesLibraryPictures
shell:PlaylistsPlaylists
shell:PrintersFolderPrintersFolder
shell:PrintHoodPrintHood
shell:ProfileProfile
shell:ProgramFilesProgram Files
shell:ProgramFilesCommonProgramFilesCommon
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64ProgramFilesCommonX64
shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86ProgramFilesCommonX86
shell:ProgramFilesX64ProgramFilesX64
shell:ProgramFilesX86Program Files (x86)
shell:ProgramsPrograms
shell:PublicPublic
shell:PublicAccountPicturesPublic Account Pictures
shell:PublicGameTasksPublicGameTasks
shell:PublicLibrariesPublicLibraries
shell:Quick LaunchQuick Launch
shell:RecentRecent Items
shell:Recorded CallsRecorded Calls
shell:RecordedTVLibraryRecorded TV
shell:RecycleBinFolderRecycleBinFolder
shell:ResourceDirResourceDir
shell:Retail DemoRetail Demo
shell:RingtonesRingtones
shell:Roamed Tile ImagesRoamed Tile Images
shell:Roaming TilesRoaming Tiles
shell:SavedGamesSaved Games
shell:SavedPicturesSaved Pictures
shell:SavedPicturesLibrarySaved Pictures
shell:ScreenshotsScreenshots
shell:SearchesSearches
shell:SearchHistoryFolderSearchHistoryFolder
shell:SearchHomeFolderSearchHomeFolder
shell:SearchTemplatesFolderSearchTemplatesFolder
shell:SendToSendTo
shell:Start MenuStart Menu
shell:StartupStartup
shell:SyncCenterFolderSyncCenterFolder
shell:SyncResultsFolderSyncResultsFolder
shell:SyncSetupFolderSyncSetupFolder
shell:SystemSystem
shell:SystemCertificatesSystemCertificates
shell:SystemX86SystemX86
shell:TemplatesTemplates
shell:ThisDeviceFolderThisDeviceFolder
shell:ThisPCDesktopFolderDesktop
shell:User PinnedUser Pinned
shell:UserProfilesUsers
shell:UserProgramFilesUserProgramFiles
shell:UserProgramFilesCommonUserProgramFilesCommon
shell:UsersFilesFolderUsersFilesFolder
shell:UsersLibrariesFolderUsersLibrariesFolder
shell:VideosLibraryVideos
shell:WindowsWindows

That's all about the friendly named shell commands. How, let's see the shell commands that are represented by GUID values.

Shell commands with GUID values

The commands in the table below may or may not have a corresponding "friendly named" equivalent. Their syntax is slightly different. So, to launch a GUID command, run it as follows: shell::{SOME GUID}. For example, the command shell::{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6} opens the OneDrive folder for the current user. The other command, shell::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}, open the classic Personalization dialog in Windows 7 style.

Shell command with GUIDWhat opens
shell:::{088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f}Downloads
shell:::{0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A}3D Objects
shell:::{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}Music
shell:::{24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8}Pictures
shell:::{2559a1f8-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}Windows Search
shell:::{3134ef9c-6b18-4996-ad04-ed5912e00eb5}Recent Files
shell:::{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}Downloads
shell:::{38A98528-6CBF-4CA9-8DC0-B1E1D10F7B1B}Connect To
shell:::{3ADD1653-EB32-4cb0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA}Pictures
shell:::{3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de}Music
shell:::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}My Documents
shell:::{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}Quick Access
shell:::{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C}Videos
shell:::{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}Documents
shell:::{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}Desktop
shell:::{d3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af}Documents
shell:::{f86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a}Videos
shell:::{D4480A50-BA28-11d1-8E75-00C04FA31A86}Add Network Place
shell:::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}All Control Panel Items
shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}All Tasks
shell:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}Applications
shell:::{c57a6066-66a3-4d91-9eb9-41532179f0a5}AppSuggestedLocations
shell:::{9C60DE1E-E5FC-40f4-A487-460851A8D915}AutoPlay
shell:::{28803F59-3A75-4058-995F-4EE5503B023C}Bluetooth Devices
shell:::{9343812e-1c37-4a49-a12e-4b2d810d956b}Classic Windows Search
shell:::{437ff9c0-a07f-4fa0-af80-84b6c6440a16}Command Folder
shell:::{d34a6ca6-62c2-4c34-8a7c-14709c1ad938}Common Places FS Folder
shell:::{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}Network Computers and Devices
shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}Control Panel
shell:::{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}Control Panel command object for Start menu and desktop
shell:::{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}Credential Manager
shell:::{b155bdf8-02f0-451e-9a26-ae317cfd7779}delegate folder that appears in Computer
shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}Devices and Printers
shell:::{289AF617-1CC3-42A6-926C-E6A863F0E3BA}Media Servers
shell:::{D555645E-D4F8-4c29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}Ease of Access Center
shell:::{ECDB0924-4208-451E-8EE0-373C0956DE16}Work Folders
shell:::{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}Favorites
shell:::{6DFD7C5C-2451-11d3-A299-00C04F8EF6AF}File Explorer Options
shell:::{93412589-74D4-4E4E-AD0E-E0CB621440FD}Font settings
shell:::{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}Frequent folders
shell:::{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}Fusion Cache
shell:::{F6B6E965-E9B2-444B-9286-10C9152EDBC5}File History
shell:::{67CA7650-96E6-4FDD-BB43-A8E774F73A57}HomeGroup
shell:::{0907616E-F5E6-48D8-9D61-A91C3D28106D}Remote File Browser
shell:::{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}Get Programs
shell:::{d450a8a1-9568-45c7-9c0e-b4f9fb4537bd}Installed Updates
shell:::{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}Linux
shell:::{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}Manage Wireless Networks
shell:::{63da6ec0-2e98-11cf-8d82-444553540000}Microsoft FTP Folder
shell:::{89D83576-6BD1-4c86-9454-BEB04E94C819}Microsoft Office Outlook
shell:::{5ea4f148-308c-46d7-98a9-49041b1dd468}Windows Mobility Center
shell:::{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}Network
shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}Network and Sharing Center
shell:::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}Network Connections
shell:::{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}Network Connections
shell:::{BD7A2E7B-21CB-41b2-A086-B309680C6B7E}Offline Files
shell:::{AFDB1F70-2A4C-11d2-9039-00C04F8EEB3E}Offline Files Folder
shell:::{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}OneDrive
shell:::{6785BFAC-9D2D-4be5-B7E2-59937E8FB80A}Homegroup
shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}Personalization
shell:::{35786D3C-B075-49b9-88DD-029876E11C01}Portable Devices
shell:::{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}Power Options
shell:::{9DB7A13C-F208-4981-8353-73CC61AE2783}Previous Versions
shell:::{a3c3d402-e56c-4033-95f7-4885e80b0111}Previous Versions Results Delegate Folder
shell:::{f8c2ab3b-17bc-41da-9758-339d7dbf2d88}Previous Versions Results Folder
shell:::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}Printers
shell:::{ed50fc29-b964-48a9-afb3-15ebb9b97f36}printhood delegate folder
shell:::{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}Programs and Features
shell:::{4336a54d-038b-4685-ab02-99bb52d3fb8b}Public Folder
shell:::{4564b25e-30cd-4787-82ba-39e73a750b14}Recent Items Instance Folder
shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99}Recent Places Folder
shell:::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}Recycle Bin
shell:::{863aa9fd-42df-457b-8e4d-0de1b8015c60}Remote Printers
shell:::{F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}Removable Drives
shell:::{a6482830-08eb-41e2-84c1-73920c2badb9}Removable Storage Devices
shell:::{2965e715-eb66-4719-b53f-1672673bbefa}Results Folder
shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}Run...
shell:::{D9EF8727-CAC2-4e60-809E-86F80A666C91}BitLocker Drive Encryption
shell:::{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}Security and Maintenance
shell:::{2559a1f7-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}Set Program Access and Computer Defaults
shell:::{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}Default Programs
shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}Show desktop
shell:::{58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A}Speech Recognition
shell:::{48e7caab-b918-4e58-a94d-505519c795dc}Start Menu
shell:::{F942C606-0914-47AB-BE56-1321B8035096}Storage Spaces
shell:::{9C73F5E5-7AE7-4E32-A8E8-8D23B85255BF}Sync Center
shell:::{2E9E59C0-B437-4981-A647-9C34B9B90891}Sync Setup Folder
shell:::{BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE}About System
shell:::{9FE63AFD-59CF-4419-9775-ABCC3849F861}System Recovery
shell:::{3f6bc534-dfa1-4ab4-ae54-ef25a74e0107}System Restore
shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}Taskbar
shell:::{0DF44EAA-FF21-4412-828E-260A8728E7F1}Taskbar
shell:::{5b934b42-522b-4c34-bbfe-37a3ef7b9c90}This Device
shell:::{f8278c54-a712-415b-b593-b77a2be0dda9}This Device
shell:::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}This PC
shell:::{C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}Troubleshooting
shell:::{60632754-c523-4b62-b45c-4172da012619}User Accounts
shell:::{7A9D77BD-5403-11d2-8785-2E0420524153}User Accounts
shell:::{1f3427c8-5c10-4210-aa03-2ee45287d668}User Pinned
shell:::{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}UsersFiles
shell:::{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}Libraries
shell:::{3080F90E-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}Switch between windows
shell:::{B98A2BEA-7D42-4558-8BD1-832F41BAC6FD}Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
shell:::{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}Windows Defender Firewall
shell:::{67718415-c450-4f3c-bf8a-b487642dc39b}Windows Features
shell:::{2559a1f2-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}Windows Security
shell:::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}Windows Tools
shell:::{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
shell:::{F874310E-B6B7-47DC-BC84-B9E6B38F5903}The Home folder in File Explorer

Finally, you can create a shortcut to any shell command from the tables above. Here's how you can do it.

Create a shortcut to a shell command in Windows 11

  1. Right-click your desktop, and select New item > Shortcut from the menu.Windows 11 Create New Shortcut
  2. In the object box, type explorer.exe shell:command. Substitute the "command" portion with the desired friendly name or GUID. Don't forget to add three colons to get the shell:::{GUID} value.Windows 11 Shell Command In Shortcut ObjectWindows 11 Shell Command In Shortcut Object
  3. Give your shortcut some meaningful name.Give Shell Command Shortcut Some Name
  4. Click on Finish to close the create new shortcut wizard.
  5. Finally, right-click your shortcut and change its icon to something other than the default Explorer icon.Change Shortcut Icon

For example, you can create a "minimize all windows" shortcut. The command is shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}. When you click this shortcut, it will minimize all windows to the taskbar.

That's it.

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Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

3 thoughts on “Windows 11 Shell Commands – the complete list”

  1. This is a great and wonderful list. Someone might ask “why are there 2 different ways to get to Downloads” (for example). I don’t know if this is typical across the entire list, but one of the Downloads is that which is a child to “This PC” and the other is a child to “Desktop”. Or in tree form:
    (USER) -> Desktop -> This PC -> Downloads
    -> Downloads
    Same great directory, just different parent. If you are like me and love the Up-Arrow button in File Explorer, then it makes a difference

  2. So much for the pretty picture. (The arrows were on separate lines, but the picture just shows the other “Downloads” as coming from “Desktop” directly.

  3. In windows 11 22h2, the shell location for the new “home” folder in file explorer is as follows –
    shell:::{F874310E-B6B7-47DC-BC84-B9E6B38F5903}

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