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.
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.
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 Command | What opens |
---|---|
shell:3D Objects | 3D Objects |
shell:AccountPictures | Account Pictures |
shell:AddNewProgramsFolder | AddNewProgramsFolder |
shell:Administrative Tools | Windows Tools |
shell:AppData | AppData |
shell:AppDataDesktop | AppDataDesktop |
shell:AppDataDocuments | AppDataDocuments |
shell:AppDataFavorites | AppDataFavorites |
shell:AppDataProgramData | AppDataProgramData |
shell:Application Shortcuts | Application Shortcuts |
shell:AppMods | Application Mods |
shell:AppsFolder | AppsFolder |
shell:AppUpdatesFolder | AppUpdatesFolder |
shell:Cache | Cache |
shell:Camera Roll | Camera Roll |
shell:CameraRollLibrary | Camera Roll |
shell:Captures | Captures |
shell:CD Burning | Temporary Burn Folder |
shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder | ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder |
shell:Common Administrative Tools | Windows 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 Start Menu Places | 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:Development Files | Development Files |
shell:Device Metadata Store | Device Metadata Store |
shell:DocumentsLibrary | Documents |
shell:Downloads | Downloads |
shell:DpapiKeys | DpapiKeys |
shell:Favorites | Favorites |
shell:Fonts | Fonts |
shell:GameTasks | GameTasks |
shell:History | History |
shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts | ImplicitAppShortcuts |
shell:InternetFolder | InternetFolder |
shell:Libraries | Libraries |
shell:Links | Links |
shell:Local AppData | Local AppData |
shell:Local Documents | Documents |
shell:Local Downloads | Downloads |
shell:Local Music | Music |
shell:Local Pictures | Pictures |
shell:Local Videos | Videos |
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:OneDriveCameraRoll | OneDriveCameraRoll |
shell:OneDriveDocuments | OneDriveDocuments |
shell:OneDriveMusic | OneDriveMusic |
shell:OneDrivePictures | OneDrivePictures |
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:Recorded Calls | Recorded Calls |
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:SavedPictures | Saved Pictures |
shell:SavedPicturesLibrary | Saved Pictures |
shell:Screenshots | Screenshots |
shell:Searches | Searches |
shell:SearchHistoryFolder | SearchHistoryFolder |
shell:SearchHomeFolder | SearchHomeFolder |
shell:SearchTemplatesFolder | SearchTemplatesFolder |
shell:SendTo | SendTo |
shell:Start Menu | Start Menu |
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:ThisDeviceFolder | ThisDeviceFolder |
shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder | Desktop |
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 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 GUID | What 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
- Right-click your desktop, and select New item > Shortcut from the menu.
- 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 theshell:::{GUID}
value. - Give your shortcut some meaningful name.
- Click on Finish to close the create new shortcut wizard.
- Finally, right-click your shortcut and change its icon to something other than the default Explorer 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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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
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.
In windows 11 22h2, the shell location for the new “home” folder in file explorer is as follows –
shell:::{F874310E-B6B7-47DC-BC84-B9E6B38F5903}