27

I am trying to cd to the Program Files directory, but I'm getting an error. Here is the screen shot.

PowerShell Error Message

Here's the command I'm running and the error message:

PS C:\> cd C:\Program Files

Set-Location : A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name 'Files'. At line:1 char:3 + cd <<<< C:\Program Files

2
  • 1
    there's whitespace, escape it.
    – Prinzhorn
    Sep 23, 2012 at 17:20
  • 11
    cd "C:\Program Files" Sep 23, 2012 at 17:21

7 Answers 7

16

Type cd c:\ . Now press the tab key (this is auto-complete, which will save you a lot of typing) repeatedly until it shows you a directory with spaces in the name. Notice how it delimits the path with apostrophes '. Use the same character when you're typing.

Edit: Make sure to use an apostrophe, not a backtick.

1
  • @downvoter What was wrong with this answer? How could I improve it? May 4, 2023 at 18:59
44

You need to surround the path in double quotes if there is a space in the path!

cd "C:\Program Files"
8

You can also use the ProgramFiles environment variable

cd $env:ProgramFiles
5

Try this

C:\>cd "Program Files"

This will work.

1

METHOD1: With Quotes

cd "C:/Prgram Files (x86)"

cd 'C:/Program Files (x86)'

Method2: Without using Quotes

cd Program\ Files \(x86\)

Similarly it will go for Program Files.

-2

Try then 8.3 filename version:

cd C:\Progra~1

Also try:

cd C:\Program*
-3

You should try with

cd C:\Program\ Files
2
  • 2
    No, he shouldn't. The backslash is a path separator here, not an escape character. He must either quote the path (as has already suggested) or escape spaces with backticks: cd C:\Program` Files Sep 23, 2012 at 17:28
  • Even the suggested edit is wrong. Declined. Dec 21, 2018 at 22:04

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