Where is the startup folder in Windows 7 or Windows 8? Where is the all users desktop in Windows 7 or Windows 8? Allo me to share with you a really cool pro-tip that could save you a lot of time.

Back in the Windows XP days, finding special folders were somewhat easy. Folders such as the “All-Users Desktop”, or even the “All-Users Startup”.

Now with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, it’s not so easy. I find myself having to search the internet for the specific folder. Since time is money, I don’t want to have to go digging around the internet for something that shouldn’t be this difficult.

Instead, you can use shell commands. Turns out, these shell commands were around even in the Windows XP days. Since finding folders seem to be a lot easier back then, we didn’t have to find alternative ways to make our jobs easier.

About Shell Commands

You can run the below shell commands from a run dialog window, or better yet in Windows 7 and Windows 8, just press the Windows key on your keyboard and type the command.

This will bring up a Windows Explorer window with the specified directory and full path.

Shell Commands for Windows 8, 7, Vista

In addition to the XP shell commands down below on this page, here are some specific to Windows 8, 7, Vista

shell:SuggestedLocations

shell:RecordedTVLibrary

shell:UserProgramFiles

shell:DocumentsLibrary

shell:User Pinned

shell:UsersLibrariesFolder

shell:PicturesLibrary

shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts

shell:UserProgramFilesCommon

shell:Ringtones

shell:CommonRingtones

shell:Common Programs

shell:GameTasks

shell:UserProfiles

shell:MyComputerFolder

shell:SyncSetupFolder

shell:DpapiKeys

shell:SamplePlaylists

shell:Favorites

shell:My Video

shell:SearchHomeFolder

shell:Libraries

shell:MusicLibrary

shell:VideosLibrary

shell:OtherUsersFolder

shell:Device Metadata Store

shell:PublicSuggestedLocations

shell:System

shell:CommonVideo

shell:SyncResultsFolder

shell:LocalizedResourcesDir

shell:Cookies

shell:Original Images

shell:CommonMusic

shell:My Pictures

shell:Cache

shell:Downloads

shell:CommonDownloads

shell:AppData

shell:InternetFolder

shell:Quick Launch

shell:SystemCertificates

shell:Contacts

shell:TreePropertiesFolder

shell:Profile

shell:Start Menu

shell:Common AppData

shell:PhotoAlbums

shell:SyncCenterFolder

shell:My Music

shell:ConflictFolder

shell:SavedGames

shell:ConnectionsFolder

shell:Administrative Tools

shell:PrintersFolder

shell:Default Gadgets

shell:ProgramFilesX86

shell:Searches

shell:Common Startup

shell:ControlPanelFolder

shell:SampleVideos

shell:SendTo

shell:ResourceDir

shell:ProgramFiles

shell:CredentialManager

shell:PrintHood

shell:MAPIFolder

shell:CD Burning

shell:AppUpdatesFolder

shell:Common Start Menu

shell:LocalAppDataLow

shell:Templates

shell:Gadgets

shell:Programs

shell:Recent

shell:SampleMusic

shell:Desktop

shell:CommonPictures

shell:RecycleBinFolder

shell:CryptoKeys

shell:Common Templates

shell:Startup

shell:Links

shell:OEM Links

shell:SamplePictures

shell:Common Desktop

shell:NetHood

shell:Games

shell:CSCFolder

shell:Local AppData

shell:Windows

shell:UsersFilesFolder

shell:ProgramFilesCommon

shell:Fonts

shell:Personal

shell:Common Administrative Tools

shell:NetworkPlacesFolder

shell:SystemX86

shell:History

shell:AddNewProgramsFolder

shell:Playlists

shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86

shell:PublicGameTasks

shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder

shell:Public

shell:Common Documents

Shell Commands for Windows XP

shell:Cookies

shell:My Pictures

shell:Cache

shell:AppData

shell:My Music

shell:InternetFolder

shell:Profile

shell:Start Menu

shell:Common AppData

shell:Common Programs

shell:Favorites

shell:My Video

shell:System

shell:CommonVideo

shell:LocalizedResourcesDir

shell:ConnectionsFolder

shell:Administrative Tools

shell:PrintersFolder

shell:ProgramFiles

shell:Common Startup

shell:ControlPanelFolder

shell:SendTo

shell:ResourceDir

shell:ProgramFiles

shell:PrintHood

shell:Common Administrative Tools

shell:SystemX86

shell:History

shell:Common Documents

shell:Local AppData

shell:Windows

shell:Fonts

shell:Personal

shell:CD Burning

shell:Common Start Menu

shell:Templates

shell:Programs

shell:Recent

shell:Desktop

shell:CommonPictures

shell:RecycleBinFolder

shell:Common Templates

shell:Startup

shell:Common Desktop

shell:NetHood

SUMMARY

For me, this pro-tip is extremely useful. It saves me a lot of time from having to search the internet for the directory to some of the special folders in Windows 7 and 8.

Question For You

Did you know about these shell commands? Whether you did know about them or not, do you find them to be helpful?