It happens with normal users that most of times they need shell commands to perform a operation. For example, suppose you’re creating a shortcut to access a particular folder via desktop context menu, but you don’t know what shell command to give.

In such cases without shell commands, you can’t do anything because using simple location path of format like (C:\Windows\Users\Kapil Arya\My Music) either generates error or simply do nothing. So what to do? How to tell Windows to access the desired folder?

Ultimate Collection Of Shell Commands For Windows 8.1

Don’t worry! We’re here to help you. In this article, we’re going to share you the most used shell commands so that you can use them wherever you need without a hitch. So here we go:

Usage

For Command Prompt & Registry Editor

  • explorer shell:Name

For example, to open My Music from Command Prompt, use : explorer shell:My Music

  • explorer.exe shell:::{CLSID}

For example, to open My Music from Command Prompt, use : explorer.exe shell:::{{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}}

For Creating New Shortcuts

  • %WinDir%explorer shell:Name

For example, to create My Music shortcut, use : %WinDir%explorer shell:My Music

  • %WinDir%explorer.exe shell:::{CLSID}

For example, to create My Music shortcut, use : %WinDir%explorer.exe shell:::{{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}}

  • explorer.exe shell:::{CLSID}
  • explorer shell:Name

For Run Dialog Box & Windows Explorer Address Bar

  • shell:Name

For example, to open My Music from Run, use : shell:My Music

  • shell:::{CLSID}

For example, to open My Music from Run, use : shell:::{{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}}

  • explorer.exe shell:::{CLSID}
  • explorer shell:Name

NOTE : Commands shown in green color are newly introduced commands in Windows 8.

Name CLSID Path of Folder it Opens
AccountPictures {008CA0B1-55B4-4C56-B8A8-4DE4B299D3BE} C:Users(user-name)AccountPictures
AddNewProgramsFolder {de61d971-5ebc-4f02-a3a9-6c82895e5c04} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsGet Programs
Administrative Tools {724EF170-A42D-4FEF-9F26-B60E846FBA4F} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsAdministrative Tools
AppData {3EB685DB-65F9-4CF6-A03A-E3EF65729F3D} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoaming
AppsFolder {1e87508d-89c2-42f0-8a7e-645a0f50ca58} Applications
Application Shortcuts {A3918781-E5F2-4890-B3D9-A7E54332328C} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsApplication Shortcuts
AppUpdatesFolder {a305ce99-f527-492b-8b1a-7e76fa98d6e4} Installed Updates
Cache {352481E8-33BE-4251-BA85-6007CAEDCF9D} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsTemporary Internet Files
CD Burning {9E52AB10-F80D-49DF-ACB8-4330F5687855} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsBurnBurn
ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder {df7266ac-9274-4867-8d55-3bd661de872d} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsPrograms and Features
Common Administrative Tools {D0384E7D-BAC3-4797-8F14-CBA229B392B5} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsAdministrative Tools
Common AppData {62AB5D82-FDC1-4DC3-A9DD-070D1D495D97} C:ProgramData
Common Desktop {C4AA340D-F20F-4863-AFEF-F87EF2E6BA25} C:UsersPublicDesktop
Common Documents {ED4824AF-DCE4-45A8-81E2-FC7965083634} C:UsersPublicDocuments
CommonDownloads {3D644C9B-1FB8-4f30-9B45-F670235F79C0} C:UsersPublicDownloads
CommonMusic {3214FAB5-9757-4298-BB61-92A9DEAA44FF} C:UsersPublicMusic
CommonPictures {B6EBFB86-6907-413C-9AF7-4FC2ABF07CC5} C:UsersPublicPictures
Common Programs {0139D44E-6AFE-49F2-8690-3DAFCAE6FFB8} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms
CommonRingtones {E555AB60-153B-4D17-9F04-A5FE99FC15EC} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsRingtones
Common Start Menu {A4115719-D62E-491D-AA7C-E74B8BE3B067} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart Menu
Common Startup {82A5EA35-D9CD-47C5-9629-E15D2F714E6E} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup
Common Templates {B94237E7-57AC-4347-9151-B08C6C32D1F7} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsTemplates
CommonVideo {2400183A-6185-49FB-A2D8-4A392A602BA3} C:UsersPublicVideos
ConflictFolder {4BFEFB45-347D-4006-A5BE-AC0CB0567192} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsSync CenterConflicts
ConnectionsFolder {6F0CD92B-2E97-45D1-88FF-B0D186B8DEDD} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork Connections
Contacts {56784854-C6CB-462B-8169-88E350ACB882} C:Users(user-name)Contacts
ControlPanelFolder {82A74AEB-AEB4-465C-A014-D097EE346D63} Control PanelAll Control Panel Items
Cookies {2B0F765D-C0E9-4171-908E-08A611B84FF6} C:Users{user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsCookies
CookiesLow C:Users{user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsCookiesLow
CredentialManager {915221FB-9EFE-4bda-8FD7-F78DCA774F87} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftCredentials
CryptoKeys {B88F4DAA-E7BD-49a9-B74D-02885A5DC765} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftCrypto
Default Gadgets {7B396E54-9EC5-4300-BE0A-2482EBAE1A26} C:Program FilesWindows SidebarGadgets
Desktop {B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641} C:Users(user-name)Desktop
Device Metadata Store {5CE4A5E9-E4EB-479D-B89F-130C02886155} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsDeviceMetadataStore
DocumentsLibrary {7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c} LibrariesDocuments
Downloads {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} C:Users(user-name)Downloads
DpapiKeys {10C07CD0-EF91-4567-B850-448B77CB37F9} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftProtect
Favorites {1777F761-68AD-4D8A-87BD-30B759FA33DD} C:Users(user-name)Favorites
Fonts {FD228CB7-AE11-4AE3-864C-16F3910AB8FE} C:WindowsFonts
Gadgets {A75D362E-50FC-4fb7-AC2C-A8BEAA314493} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindows SidebarGadgets
Games {CAC52C1A-B53D-4edc-92D7-6B2E8AC19434} Games
GameTasks {054FAE61-4DD8-4787-80B6-090220C4B700} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsGameExplorer
History {D9DC8A3B-B784-432E-A781-5A1130A75963} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsHistory
HomeGroupFolder {52528A6B-B9E3-4add-B60D-588C2DBA842D} Homegroup
ImplicitAppShortcuts {bcb5256f-79f6-4cee-b725-dc34e402fd46} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchUser PinnedImplicitAppShortcuts
InternetFolder {4D9F7874-4E0C-4904-967B-40B0D20C3E4B} Internet Explorer
Libraries {1B3EA5DC-B587-4786-B4EF-BD1DC332AEAE} Libraries
Links {bfb9d5e0-c6a9-404c-b2b2-ae6db6af4968} C:Users(user-name)Links
Local AppData {F1B32785-6FBA-4FCF-9D55-7B8E7F157091} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocal
LocalAppDataLow {A520A1A4-1780-4FF6-BD18-167343C5AF16} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalLow
MusicLibrary {2112AB0A-C86A-4ffe-A368-0DE96E47012E} LibrariesMusic
MyComputerFolder {0AC0837C-BBF8-452A-850D-79D08E667CA7} Computer
My Music {4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43} C:Users(user-name)Music
My Pictures {33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB} C:Users(user-name)Pictures
My Video {18989B1D-99B5-455B-841C-AB7C74E4DDFC} C:Users(user-name)Videos
NetHood {C5ABBF53-E17F-4121-8900-86626FC2C973} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsNetwork Shortcuts
NetworkPlacesFolder {D20BEEC4-5CA8-4905-AE3B-BF251EA09B53} Network
Personal {FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7} C:Users(user-name)Documents
PicturesLibrary {A990AE9F-A03B-4e80-94BC-9912D7504104} LibrariesPictures
PrintHood {9274BD8D-CFD1-41C3-B35E-B13F55A758F4} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsPrinter Shortcuts
PrintersFolder {76FC4E2D-D6AD-4519-A663-37BD56068185} All Control Panel ItemsPrinters
Profile {5E6C858F-0E22-4760-9AFE-EA3317B67173} C:Users(user-name)
ProgramFiles {905e63b6-c1bf-494e-b29c-65b732d3d21a} C:Program Files
ProgramFilesCommon {F7F1ED05-9F6D-47A2-AAAE-29D317C6F066} C:Program FilesCommon Files
ProgramFilesCommonX64 {6365D5A7-0F0D-45e5-87F6-0DA56B6A4F7D} C:Program FilesCommon Files (64-bit Windows only)
ProgramFilesCommonX86 {DE974D24-D9C6-4D3E-BF91-F4455120B917} C:Program Files (x86)Common Files (64-bit Windows only)
ProgramFilesX86 {7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E} C:Program Files (x86) (64-bit Windows only)
ProgramFilesX64 {6D809377-6AF0-444b-8957-A3773F02200E} C:Program Files (64-bit Windows only)
Programs {A77F5D77-2E2B-44C3-A6A2-ABA601054A51} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms
Public {DFDF76A2-C82A-4D63-906A-5644AC457385} C:Public
PublicAccountPictures {0482af6c-08f1-4c34-8c90-e17ec98b1e17} C:UsersPublicAccountPictures
PublicGameTasks {DEBF2536-E1A8-4c59-B6A2-414586476AEA} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsGameExplorer
PublicLibraries {48daf80b-e6cf-4f4e-b800-0e69d84ee384} C:UsersPublicLibraries
Quick Launch {52a4f021-7b75-48a9-9f6b-4b87a210bc8f} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick Launch
Recent {AE50C081-EBD2-438A-8655-8A092E34987A} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsRecent
RecycleBinFolder {B7534046-3ECB-4C18-BE4E-64CD4CB7D6AC} Recycle Bin
ResourceDir {8AD10C31-2ADB-4296-A8F7-E4701232C972} C:WindowsResources
Ringtones {C870044B-F49E-4126-A9C3-B52A1FF411E8} C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsRingtones
Roaming Tiles {00BCFC5A-ED94-4e48-96A1-3F6217F21990} C:Users(user-name)AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsRoamingTiles
Startup {B97D20BB-F46A-4C97-BA10-5E3608430854} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup
SavedGames {4C5C32FF-BB9D-43b0-B5B4-2D72E54EAAA4} C:Users(user-name)Saved Games
Searches {7d1d3a04-debb-4115-95cf-2f29da2920da} C:Users(user-name)Searches
SearchHomeFolder {190337d1-b8ca-4121-a639-6d472d16972a} search-ms:
SendTo {8983036C-27C0-404B-8F08-102D10DCFD74} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsSendTo
Start Menu {625B53C3-AB48-4EC1-BA1F-A1EF4146FC19} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart Menu
SyncCenterFolder {43668BF8-C14E-49B2-97C9-747784D784B7} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsSync Center
SyncResultsFolder {289A9A43-BE44-4057-A41B-587A76D7E7F9} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsSync CenterSync Results
SyncSetupFolder {0F214138-B1D3-4a90-BBA9-27CBC0C5389A} Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsSync CenterSync Setup
System {1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7} C:WindowsSystem32
SystemX86 {D65231B0-B2F1-4857-A4CE-A8E7C6EA7D27} C:WindowsSysWOW64
SystemCertificates {54EED2E0-E7CA-4fdb-9148-0F4247291CFA} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftSystemCertificates
Templates {A63293E8-664E-48DB-A079-DF759E0509F7} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsTemplates
User Pinned {9e3995ab-1f9c-4f13-b827-48b24b6c7174} C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchUser Pinned
UserProfiles {0762D272-C50A-4BB0-A382-697DCD729B80} C:Users
UsersFilesFolder {f3ce0f7c-4901-4acc-8648-d5d44b04ef8f} C:Users(user-name)
UsersLibrariesFolder {A302545D-DEFF-464b-ABE8-61C8648D939B} Libraries
VideosLibrary {491E922F-5643-4af4-A7EB-4E7A138D8174} LibrariesVideos
Windows {F38BF404-1D43-42F2-9305-67DE0B28FC23} C:Windows

Hope you find them useful!

10 Comments

Add your comment

  • andre

    whoa ..thanks mr.kapil

  • ExEin

    Yeah its good list for beginners :)

  • PojoWER

    how do we got them.. i mean where they are located in WINDOWS?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You can find them manually inside following registry location:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerFolderDescriptions

  • PojoWER

    thanks again kapil :D

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You’re most welcome :)

  • Niko Holmen

    Thanks for the information :) :d

  • Alex

    Anone any clue, why “Recent Places” in Win8 Win81 nowhere in above (or referenced source) lists?
    I have found “Recent Places” folder opens from RUN, using:
    shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99}, but this CLSID does NOT work with other syntax above in RUN. eg.
    shell:recent opens to “recent items” folder; but
    shell:recent folders does not work.
    Any clue on Windows logic for explanation, please?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for the insights Alex; shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99} works perfectly. I too wondering why shell:::{AE50C081-EBD2-438A-8655-8A092E34987A} or C:Users(user-name)AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsRecent is opening Recent Items rather than opening Recent Places. Have to look around for it :)

  • david23

    @ alex have you tried shell:recent places?

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