Launching Windows Special Folders

Tip by kenz0, JSMorley and the community

Windows has many "special folders" like "My Computer" and "Recycle Bin" that are not part of the normal folder system you can specify with a "path" on an action in Rainmeter, or launch differently then they appear in Explorer.

Windows Shell: commands

These folders can be accessed by using the Windows Shell: command and the CLSID identifier codes that Windows assigns to these folders in the Windows Registry. If you know the codes, you can launch these with ease.

Add Network Location							::{D4480A50-BA28-11d1-8E75-00C04FA31A86}
Administrative Tools							::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
Applications									::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}
AutoPlay										::{9C60DE1E-E5FC-40f4-A487-460851A8D915}
BitLocker Drive Encryption						::{D9EF8727-CAC2-4e60-809E-86F80A666C91}
Bluetooth Devices								::{28803F59-3A75-4058-995F-4EE5503B023C}
Color Management								::{B2C761C6-29BC-4f19-9251-E6195265BAF1}
Command Folder									::{437ff9c0-a07f-4fa0-af80-84b6c6440a16}
Common Places FS Folder							::{d34a6ca6-62c2-4c34-8a7c-14709c1ad938}
Control Panel									::{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}
Control Panel (All Tasks)						::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Control Panel (always Category view)			::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}
Control Panel (always Icons view)				::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Credential Manager								::{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
Date and Time									::{E2E7934B-DCE5-43C4-9576-7FE4F75E7480}
Default Programs								::{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
delegate folder that appears in Computer		::{b155bdf8-02f0-451e-9a26-ae317cfd7779}
Desktop (folder)								::{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}
Device Manager									::{74246bfc-4c96-11d0-abef-0020af6b0b7a}
Devices and Printers							::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}
Display											::{C555438B-3C23-4769-A71F-B6D3D9B6053A}
Documents (folder)								::{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}
Downloads (folder)								::{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}
Ease of Access Center							::{D555645E-D4F8-4c29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}
E-mail (default e-mail program)					::{2559a1f5-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
Family Safety									::{96AE8D84-A250-4520-95A5-A47A7E3C548B}
Favorites										::{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}
File Explorer Options							::{6DFD7C5C-2451-11d3-A299-00C04F8EF6AF}
File History									::{F6B6E965-E9B2-444B-9286-10C9152EDBC5}
Font Settings									::{93412589-74D4-4E4E-AD0E-E0CB621440FD}
Fonts (folder)									::{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}
Frequent folders								::{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}
Games Explorer									::{ED228FDF-9EA8-4870-83b1-96b02CFE0D52}
Get Programs									::{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
Help and Support								::{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
HomeGroup (settings)							::{67CA7650-96E6-4FDD-BB43-A8E774F73A57}
HomeGroup (users)								::{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}
Hyper-V Remote File Browsing					::{0907616E-F5E6-48D8-9D61-A91C3D28106D}
Indexing Options								::{87D66A43-7B11-4A28-9811-C86EE395ACF7}
Infared (if installed)							::{A0275511-0E86-4ECA-97C2-ECD8F1221D08}
Installed Updates								::{d450a8a1-9568-45c7-9c0e-b4f9fb4537bd}
Internet Options (Internet Explorer)			::{A3DD4F92-658A-410F-84FD-6FBBBEF2FFFE}
Keyboard Properties								::{725BE8F7-668E-4C7B-8F90-46BDB0936430}
Language settings								::{BF782CC9-5A52-4A17-806C-2A894FFEEAC5}
Libraries										::{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
Location Information (Phone and Modem)			::{40419485-C444-4567-851A-2DD7BFA1684D}
Location Settings								::{E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B}
Media Servers									::{289AF617-1CC3-42A6-926C-E6A863F0E3BA}
Mouse Properties								::{6C8EEC18-8D75-41B2-A177-8831D59D2D50}
Music (folder)									::{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}
My Documents									::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
Network											::{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}
Network and Sharing Center						::{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}
Network Connections (in PC settings)			::{38A98528-6CBF-4CA9-8DC0-B1E1D10F7B1B}
Network Connections								::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
	OR											::{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
Network (WorkGroup)								::{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Notification Area Icons							::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
NVIDIA Control Panel (if installed)				::{0bbca823-e77d-419e-9a44-5adec2c8eeb0}
Offline Files Folder							::{AFDB1F70-2A4C-11d2-9039-00C04F8EEB3E}
OneDrive										::{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}
Pen and Touch									::{F82DF8F7-8B9F-442E-A48C-818EA735FF9B}
Personalization									::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}
Pictures (folder)								::{3ADD1653-EB32-4cb0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA}
Portable Devices								::{35786D3C-B075-49b9-88DD-029876E11C01}
Power Options									::{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
Previous Versions Results Folder				::{f8c2ab3b-17bc-41da-9758-339d7dbf2d88}
printhood delegate folder						::{ed50fc29-b964-48a9-afb3-15ebb9b97f36}
Printers										::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
	OR											::{863aa9fd-42df-457b-8e4d-0de1b8015c60}
Programs and Features							::{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}
Public (folder)									::{4336a54d-038b-4685-ab02-99bb52d3fb8b}
Quick access									::{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}
Recent places									::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99}
Recovery										::{9FE63AFD-59CF-4419-9775-ABCC3849F861}
Recycle Bin										::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Region and Language								::{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}
RemoteApp and Desktop Connections				::{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
Remote Printers									::{863aa9fd-42df-457b-8e4d-0de1b8015c60}
Removable Storage Devices						::{a6482830-08eb-41e2-84c1-73920c2badb9}
Results Folder									::{2965e715-eb66-4719-b53f-1672673bbefa}
Run												::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
Search											::{9343812e-1c37-4a49-a12e-4b2d810d956b}
Search Everywhere (modern)						::{2559a1f8-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
Search Files (modern)							::{2559a1f0-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
Security and Maintenance						::{BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}
Set Program Access and Computer Defaults		::{2559a1f7-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
Show Desktop									::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}
Sound											::{F2DDFC82-8F12-4CDD-B7DC-D4FE1425AA4D}
Speech Recognition								::{58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A}
Storage Spaces									::{F942C606-0914-47AB-BE56-1321B8035096}
Sync Center										::{9C73F5E5-7AE7-4E32-A8E8-8D23B85255BF}
Sync Setup Folder								::{2E9E59C0-B437-4981-A647-9C34B9B90891}
System											::{BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE}
System Icons									::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
Tablet PC Settings								::{80F3F1D5-FECA-45F3-BC32-752C152E456E}
Taskbar and Navigation properties				::{0DF44EAA-FF21-4412-828E-260A8728E7F1}
Text to Speech									::{D17D1D6D-CC3F-4815-8FE3-607E7D5D10B3}
This PC											::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Troubleshooting									::{C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}
User Accounts									::{60632754-c523-4b62-b45c-4172da012619}
User Accounts (netplwiz)						::{7A9D77BD-5403-11d2-8785-2E0420524153}
User Pinned										::{1f3427c8-5c10-4210-aa03-2ee45287d668}
%UserProfile%									::{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}
Videos (folder)									::{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C}
Web browser (default)							::{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
Windows Defender								::{D8559EB9-20C0-410E-BEDA-7ED416AECC2A}
Windows Mobility Center							::{5ea4f148-308c-46d7-98a9-49041b1dd468}
Windows Features								::{67718415-c450-4f3c-bf8a-b487642dc39b}
Windows Firewall								::{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
Windows To Go									::{8E0C279D-0BD1-43C3-9EBD-31C3DC5B8A77}
Windows Update									::{36eef7db-88ad-4e81-ad49-0e313f0c35f8}
Work Folders									::{ECDB0924-4208-451E-8EE0-373C0956DE16}
[MeterMyComputer]
Meter=IMAGE
ImageName=MyComputer.png
X=0
Y=0
W=38
H=38
LeftMouseDownAction=[Shell:::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}]

Or you can use named Shell: commands supported by your version of Windows:

These commands open specific system folders:

shell:AccountPictures											Account Pictures
shell:AddNewProgramsFolder										AddNewProgramsFolder
shell:Administrative Tools										Administrative Tools
shell:AppData													AppData
shell:Application Shortcuts										Application Shortcuts
shell:AppsFolder												AppsFolder
shell:AppUpdatesFolder											AppUpdatesFolder
shell:Cache														Cache
shell:Camera Roll												Camera Roll
shell:CD Burning												Temporary Burn Folder
shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder								ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
shell:Common Administrative Tools								Administrative 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 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:Device Metadata Store										Device Metadata Store
shell:DocumentsLibrary											Documents
shell:Downloads													Downloads
shell:DpapiKeys													DpapiKeys
shell:Favorites													Favorites
shell:Fonts														Fonts
shell:Games														Games
shell:GameTasks													GameTasks
shell:History													History
shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder								HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder
shell:HomeGroupFolder											HomeGroupFolder
shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts										ImplicitAppShortcuts
shell:InternetFolder											InternetFolder
shell:Libraries													Libraries
shell:Links														Links
shell:Local AppData												Local AppData
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: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: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:Screenshots												Screenshots
shell:Searches													Searches
shell:SearchHistoryFolder										SearchHistoryFolder
shell:SearchHomeFolder											SearchHomeFolder
shell:SearchTemplatesFolder										SearchTemplatesFolder
shell:SendTo													SendTo
shell:SkyDriveCameraRoll										SkyDriveCameraRoll
shell:SkyDriveDocuments											SkyDriveDocuments
shell:SkyDriveMusic												SkyDriveMusic
shell:SkyDrivePictures											SkyDrivePictures
shell:Start Menu												Start Menu
shell:StartMenuAllPrograms										StartMenuAllPrograms
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:ThisPCDesktopFolder										ThisPCDesktopFolder
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
[MeterMyComputer]
Meter=IMAGE
ImageName=MyPictures.png
X=0
Y=0
W=38
H=38
LeftMouseDownAction=["Shell:My Pictures"]

General Shortcut Commands

Another way to access certain special Windows folders and functions is by knowing and using some commands Windows supports:

  • My Computer with C drive selected
    explorer.exe /select,c
  • Task Manager
    taskmgr.exe
  • Control Panel
    control
  • Windows Version Info
    winver
  • Windows Update
    wupdmgr
  • Internet Options
    inetcpl.cpl
  • Computer Management
    compmgmt.msc
  • System Properties
    sysdm.cpl
  • Date/Time Properties
    timedate.cpl
  • Volume Control
    sndvol32.exe
  • Volume Control (tray)
    sndvol32.exe /tray Normal
  • Logoff
    shutdown.exe -l
  • Switch User / Lock Computer
    rundll32.exe user32.dll LockWorkStation
  • Hibernate
    rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState
  • Restart
    shutdown.exe -r
  • Shutdown
    shutdown.exe -s
  • Shutdown (abort)
    shutdown.exe -a

Basic usage examples:

LeftMouseUpAction=[sndvol32.exe /tray Normal]
LeftMouseUpAction=[shell:Desktop]

If a space is included, you need to enclose with double quotes. e.g. ["shell:Start Menu"]

You can send multiple commands simultaneously by surrounding each command in brackets.

LeftMouseUpAction=[shell:Desktop][shell:SendTo]["shell:Start Menu"]

Windows UWP Apps Commands

Launching UWP "apps"

Note: These commands exist only from Windows 8 onwards.

Since Windows 8, Microsoft introduced a new software enviourment known as UWP (formerly known as Metro-style apps). These can be run using the Shell:AppsFolder command, along with special parameters.

The command should take the form of Shell:AppsFolder\FolderName!ShortCutName.

The necesary info for lunching an app are:

  • The Folder name
    • Found by opening the "C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Packages" folder
  • The Shortcut name
    • Found by opening the Shell:AppsFolder folder (to get there, put that path into Windows Run), creating a Desktop shortcut of the app you want and inspecting its proprieties.
    • Note: The majority of the time, the Shortcut name will be App, there are exceptions however, like for the Calendar app.


So, to get the necesary info you will have to:

  • Open the folder "C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Packages"
  • Find the application you want, and copy that "folder"'s name.
  • Inside the folder, copy the name of the "shortcut" (usually "App" with applications included with Windows)
  • Put the two on a shell command of Shell:AppsFolder\FolderName!ShortCutName

An example for the Camera app would be:

  • The folder name is "Microsoft.WindowsCamera_8wekyb3d8bbwe"
  • The shortcut name inside the folder is "App"
LeftMouseUpAction=["Shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.WindowsCamera_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"]

Lunching Windows Settings app

To launch the Settings app and tabs within it, use the ms-settings: URI scheme. All the URIs can be found here.

LeftMouseUpAction=[ms-settings:]
LeftMouseUpAction=[ms-settings:bluetooth]