Complete List of Windows Shell Commands: Basic and Advanced

Discover all commands in one place

Windows

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by Ivan Jenic 

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Key notes

  • Windows Shell commands help perform actions quickly instead of taking the GUI route.
  • There are over a hundred useful commands you can employ to simplify the the Windows experience.
  • You can execute these commands from Run, Command Prompt, and the File Explorer.
all the windows shell commands

If you want to learn the most useful Shell commands used in Windows 10, as well as many other specific commands, read this guide. We bet you probably didn’t know some of these commands were even available until now.

By using these Shell commands, you can access a specific system folder or one of the Control Panel applets available in your Windows 10 operating system. Keep reading to find all the Windows Shell Commands.

What are the various Windows Shell Commands?

Tip icon Tip
These commands can be executed via Run. Paste the one you want to execute and click OK.
  1. This command accesses the account pictures folder you have in your Windows 10 device- shell:AccountPictures
  2. Adds a new program folder- shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
  3. Accesses administrative tools folder- shell:Administrative Tools.
  4. Accesses AppData folder in the Windows 10 system- shell:AppData
  5. Accesses Application Shortcuts folder- shell:Application Shortcuts
  6. Accesses the Apps Folder- shell:AppsFolder
  7. Accesses the Apps updates folder- shell:AppUpdatesFolder
  8. Accesses the Cache folder- shell:Cache
  9. Access camera roll folder- shell:Camera Roll
  10. Accesses the temporary burn folder- shell:CD Burning
  11. Accesses the Remove/Change program folder- shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
  12. Accesses the Administrative Tools folder- shell:Common Administrative Tools
  13. Accesses the Common AppData folder- shell:Common AppData
  14. Accesses the public desktop folder- shell:Common Desktop
  15. Accesses Public Documents folder- shell:Common Documents
  16. Accesses Programs folder- shell:Common Programs
  17. Accesses the start menu folder- shell:Common Start Menu
  18. Accesses Startup folder situated in the Windows 10 system- shell:Common Startup
  19. Accesses Common Templates folder- shell:Common Templates
  20. Accesses Downloads folder- shell:CommonDownloads
  21. Accesses the music folder- shell:CommonMusic
  22. Accesses Pictures folder- shell:CommonPictures
  23. Accesses the ringtones folder- shell:CommonRingtones
  24. Accesses the public Video folder- shell:CommonVideo
  25. Accesses the Conflict folder in the Windows 10 system- shell:ConflictFolder
  26. Opens up the connections folder- shell:ConnectionsFolder
  27. Opens the Contact folder- shell:Contacts
  28. Opens the Control panel folder- shell:ControlPanelFolder
  29. Opens the Cookies folder- shell:Cookies
  30. Opens the Credential manager feature- shell:CredentialManager
  31. Opens up the Crypto keys folder- shell:CryptoKeys
  32. Opens the CSC Folder- shell:CSCFolder
  33. Opens up the Desktop folder- shell:Desktop
  34. Opens the metadata store folder- shell:Device Metadata Store
  35. Opens the Documents Library folder- shell:DocumentsLibrary
  36. Opens the Downloads folder- shell:Downloads
  37. Opens the DpapiKeys folder- shell:DpapiKeys
  38. Opens the Favorites folder- shell:Favorites
  39. Opens the Fonts folder- shell:Fonts
  40. Opens the Games folder- shell:Games
  41. Opens the Game Tasks folder- shell:GameTasks
  42. Opens the History folder- shell:History
  43. Opens the HomeGroup folder for the current user- shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder
  44. Opens HomeGroup folder- shell:HomeGroupFolder
  45. Opens the Implicit Apps shortcut folder- shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts
  46. Opens Internet Folder- shell:InternetFolder
  47. Opens Libraries folder- shell:Libraries
  48. Opens the Links folder- shell:Links
  49. Opens Local AppData folder- shell:Local AppData
  50. Opens Local AppDataLow folder- shell:LocalAppDataLow
  51. Opens LocalizedResources folder- shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
  52. Opens MAPI folder- shell:MAPIFolder
  53. Opens LusicLibrary folder- shell:MusicLibrary
  54. Opens My Music folder- shell:My Music
  55. Opens My Video folder- shell:My Video
  56. Opens MyComputer folder- shell:MyComputerFolder
  57. Opens NetHood folder- shell:NetHood
  58. Opens NetworkPlaces folder- shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
  59. Opens OEM Links folder- shell:OEM Links
  60. Opens OneDrive folder in Windows 10– shell:OneDrive
  61. Opens Original Images folder- shell:Original Images
  62. Opens Personal folder- shell:Personal
  63. Opens PhotoAlbums folder- shell:PhotoAlbums
  64. Opens PicturesLibrary folder- shell:PicturesLibrary
  65. Opens Playlists folder- shell:Playlists
  66. Opens Printer folder- shell:PrintersFolder
  67. Opens PrintHood folder- shell:PrintHood
  68. Opens Profile folder- shell:Profile
  69. Opens ProgramFiles folder- shell:ProgramFiles
  70. Opens ProgramFilesCommon folder- shell:ProgramFilesCommon
  71. Opens ProgramFilesCommonX64 folder- shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64
  72. Opens ProgramFilesCommonX86 folder- shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
  73. Opens ProgramFilesX64 folder- shell:ProgramFilesX64
  74. Opens ProgramFilesX86 folder- shell:ProgramFilesX86
  75. Opens Programs folder- shell:Programs
  76. Opens Public folder- shell:Public
  77. Opens PublicAccountPictures folder- shell:PublicAccountPictures
  78. Opens PublicGameTasks folder- shell:PublicGameTasks
  79. Opens PublicLibraries folder- shell:PublicLibraries
  80. Opens Quick Launch folder- shell:Quick Launch
  81. Opens up recent items folder- shell:Recent
  82. Opens up recorder file in the Windows 10 system- shell:RecordedTVLibrary
  83. Opens the system Recycle Bin folder- shell:RecycleBinFolder
  84. Opens up the Resource folder- shell:ResourceDir
  85. Opens up Demo folder- shell:Retail Demo
  86. Opens up the Ringtones folder in Windows 10– shell:Ringtones
  87. Opens up the Roamed Tile images folder- shell:Roamed Tile Images
  88. Opens the Roaming Tiles folder- shell:Roaming Tiles
  89. It opens the SavedGames folder you have in the Windows 10 system- shell:SavedGames
  90. Opens the Screenshots folder- shell:Screenshots
  91. Opens the Search folder- shell:Searches
  92. Opens the Search History folder you have in the system- shell:SearchHistoryFolder
  93. Opens the Search Home folder- shell:SearchHomeFolder
  94. Opens the Search templates folder- shell:SearchTemplatesFolder
  95. Opens the SendTo folder- shell:SendTo
  96. Opens the SkyDriveCameraRoll folder- shell:SkyDriveCameraRoll
  97. Opens the SkyDriveMusic folder- shell:SkyDriveMusic
  98. Opens the SkyDrivePictures folder- shell:SkyDrivePictures
  99. Opens up the Start menu folder- shell:Start Menu
  100. Opens the AllPrograms folder you have in the start menu- shell:StartMenuAllPrograms
  101. Opens the Startup folder- shell:Startup
  102. Opens the SyncCenter folder- shell:SyncCenterFolder
  103. Opens the SyncResults folder- shell:SyncResultsFolder
  104. Opens the SyncSetup folder- shell:SyncSetupFolder
  105. Opens the System folder- shell:System
  106. Opens the SystemCertificates folder- shell:SystemCertificates
  107. Opens SystemX86 folder- shell:SystemX86
  108. Opens the Templates folder- shell:Templates
  109. Opens the ThisPCDesktop folder- shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder
  110. Opens User pinned folder- shell:User Pinned
  111. Opens the user profiles folder- shell:UserProfiles
  112. Opens Program Files folder- shell:UserProgramFiles
  113. Opens Program Files Common folder- shell:UserProgramFilesCommon
  114. Opens the Files folder from a specific user you are logged in with- shell:UsersFilesFolder
  115. Opens the Libraries folder for a specific user- shell:UsersLibrariesFolder
  116. Opens Video library folder- shell:VideosLibrary
  117. Opens the Windows folder- shell:Windows

It’s worth mentioning that you can use the Windows shell commands listed above in CMD and File Explorer as well.

Before you leave, find out how to run a virus scan from the Command Prompt.

If you have any questions related to this guide, let us know in the comments below, and we will help you as soon as possible.

More about the topics: All the Windows 10 tips you need to Know, PowerShell

Ivan Jenic

Ivan Jenic Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.

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