How to Create Windows Tools folder shortcut in Windows 10

You create a Windows Tools folder shortcut in Windows 10 to access all built-in tools, apps and accessories with one click. Windows Tools is a new folder that was first introduced in build 21343.

In recent releases, the Windows Accessories, Windows Administrative Tools, Windows PowerShell, and Windows System folders have now been removed from the Start menu. Their contents, i.e. app shortcuts within these folders can now be accessed via the Windows Tools folder that directs to the full apps list in File Explorer.

Being a shell location of File Explorer, the Windows Tools folder allows easily creating a shortcut for itself. In this post, we will review two methods you can use to get this task done.

Create Windows Tools folder shortcut in Windows 10

To create a Windows Tools shortcut, do the following.

1. Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows logo button or with the Win key on the keyboard.
2. Navigate to the Windows Tools folder and click on it.
3. Once the folder opens, click its icon in the Explorer address bar and drag-n-drop it to the desktop.
4. This will instantly create the shortcut for the Windows Tools folder with the proper name and icon.

You are done.

There is also an alternative way to create such a shortcut. You can do the same manually.

Manually create the Windows Tools shortcut

1. Right click the empty space on your Desktop. Select New - Shortcut from the context menu (see the screenshot).
2. In the location box, type or copy-paste the following: explorer.exe shell:::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}.
3. Use Windows Tools for the name of the shortcut. Actually, you can use any name you want. Click on the Finish button when done.
4. Now, right click the shortcut you created and select Properties.Tip: See How to open file or folder properties quickly in File Explorer
5. On the Shortcut tab, you can specify a new icon if you wish. Its default icon is located the c:\windows\system32\imageres.dll file.
6. Click OK to apply the icon, then click OK to close the shortcut properties dialog window.

You are done!

Now, you can move this shortcut to any convenient location, or add to Quick Launch. Also, you can pin it to taskbar or to Start. Just right-click the shortcut and select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.

Finally, Winaero Tweaker users can use it to create a shortcut for the Windows Tools folder, as well as for any other shell folder with ease.

Create shortcut with Winaero Tweaker

Run Winaero Tweaker, and go to Shortcuts > Shell Folder (CLSID) shortcut in the left pane. On the right, specify the destination folder for the shortcut file. It will use the Desktop folder by default, which should be fine for most users.

Now, click on the 'Select shell folders...' button, and find the Windows Tools folder using the search box to avoid scrolling and save your time.

Finally, place the check mark for the 'Windows Tools' entry and click on "Add". The app will instantly create the Windows Tools shortcut for you!

Download Winaero Tweaker here.

That's it.

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