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I'm looking for a reference list of shortcuts like %TEMP%.

When I'm using Windows+R or Windows Explorer and type %temp%, the Windows Explorer takes me to the Temp directory. Are there more of these shortcuts?

UPDATE:
I found a helpful reference page for environment variables (might not be up-to-date with Windows 7).

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  • 1
    Similar question Dec 3, 2010 at 2:46
  • This should be community-wiki since it’s too general a question with no actual answer (it’s definitely a discussion question).
    – Synetech
    May 25, 2011 at 4:10
  • 3
    The question is quite straight forward, I need a list of environment variables (which is a fixed list) and is answered by Dennis Williamson.
    – rdkleine
    May 25, 2011 at 13:26
  • 1
    I realize this is an old question, but the link posted under the heading UPDATE: is no longer active.
    – Brian Lacy
    Feb 2, 2016 at 19:51
  • 3
    Could this question be answered by someone, please? The answers below are mildly interested, but are not a list of OS-defined aliases (e.g., %appdata%, %localappdata%). We have one response which lists binaries in windows, one response that points to the environment variable setting (which is not a type of alias, although an environment variable can redefine an alias), and one response that points to control panels, and a lot of outdated links to documentation for old versions of Windows, but nobody has answered this bit of Windows arcana.
    – sgfit
    Jul 3, 2016 at 2:39

5 Answers 5

403

There are 156 run commands at mypchell.com.
Here is a more complete list including the Windows Environment Commands (e.g. %temp%, %HomeDrive%, etc)

Windows Environment Path Variables

%AllUsersProfile% - Open the All User's Profile C:\ProgramData
%AppData% - Opens AppData folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming
%CommonProgramFiles% - C:\Program Files\Common Files
%CommonProgramFiles(x86)% - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
%HomeDrive% - Opens your home drive C:\
%LocalAppData% - Opens local AppData folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local
%ProgramData% - C:\ProgramData
%ProgramFiles% - C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)
%ProgramFiles(x86)% - C:\Program Files (x86)
%Public% - C:\Users\Public
%SystemDrive% - C:
%SystemRoot% - Opens Windows folder C:\Windows
%Temp% - Opens temporary file Folder C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Local\Temp
%UserProfile% - Opens your user's profile C:\Users\{username}
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup - Opens Windows 10 Startup location for program shortcuts


Win+R

Run commands

Calc - Calculator
Cfgwiz32 - ISDN Configuration Wizard
Charmap - Character Map
Chkdisk - Repair damaged files
Cleanmgr - Cleans up hard drives
Clipbrd - Windows Clipboard viewer
Cmd - Opens a new Command Window (cmd.exe)
Control - Displays Control Panel
Dcomcnfg - DCOM user security
Debug - Assembly language programming tool
Defrag - Defragmentation tool
Drwatson - Records programs crash & snapshots
Dxdiag - DirectX Diagnostic Utility
Explorer - Windows Explorer
Fontview - Graphical font viewer
Ftp - ftp.exe program
Hostname - Returns Computer's name
Ipconfig - Displays IP configuration for all network adapters
Jview - Microsoft Command-line Loader for Java classes
MMC - Microsoft Management Console
Msconfig - Configuration to edit startup files
Msinfo32 - Microsoft System Information Utility
Nbtstat - Displays stats and current connections using NetBios over TCP/IP
Netstat - Displays all active network connections
Nslookup - Returns your local DNS server
Odbcad32 - ODBC Data Source Administrator
Ping - Sends data to a specified host/IP
Regedit - registry Editor
Regsvr32 - register/de-register DLL/OCX/ActiveX
Regwiz - Registration wizard
Sfc /scannow - System File Checker
Sndrec32 - Sound Recorder
Sndvol32 - Volume control for soundcard
Sysedit - Edit system startup files (config.sys, autoexec.bat, win.ini, etc.)
Systeminfo - display various system information in text console
Taskmgr - Task manager
Telnet - Telnet program
Taskkill - kill processes using command line interface
Tskill - reduced version of Taskkill from Windows XP Home
Tracert - Traces and displays all paths required to reach an internet host
Winchat - simple chat program for Windows networks
Winipcfg - Displays IP configuration

Microsoft Office suite

winword - Microsoft Word
excel - Microsoft Excel
powerpnt - Microsoft PowerPoint
msaccess - Microsoft Access
outlook - Microsoft Outlook
ois - Microsoft Picture Manager
winproj - Microsoft Project

Management Consoles

certmgr.msc - Certificate Manager
ciadv.msc - Indexing Service
compmgmt.msc - Computer management
devmgmt.msc - Device Manager
dfrg.msc - Defragment
diskmgmt.msc - Disk Management
fsmgmt.msc - Folder Sharing Management
eventvwr.msc - Event Viewer
gpedit.msc - Group Policy (< XP Pro)
iis.msc - Internet Information Services
lusrmgr.msc - Local Users and Groups
mscorcfg.msc - Net configurations
ntmsmgr.msc - Removable Storage
perfmon.msc - Performance Manager
secpol.msc - Local Security Policy
services.msc - System Services
wmimgmt.msc - Windows Management

Control Panel utilities

access.cpl - Accessibility Options
hdwwiz.cpl - Add New Hardware Wizard
appwiz.cpl - Add/Remove Programs
timedate.cpl - Date and Time Properties
desk.cpl - Display Properties
inetcpl.cpl - Internet Properties
joy.cpl - Joystick Properties
main.cpl keyboard - Keyboard Properties
main.cpl - Mouse Properties
ncpa.cpl - Network Connections
ncpl.cpl - Network Properties
telephon.cpl - Phone and Modem options
powercfg.cpl - Power Management
intl.cpl - Regional settings
mmsys.cpl sounds - Sound Properties
mmsys.cpl - Sounds and Audio Device Properties
sysdm.cpl - System Properties
nusrmgr.cpl - User settings
firewall.cpl - Firewall Settings (sp2)
wscui.cpl - Security Center (sp2)
Wupdmgr - Takes you to Microsoft Windows Update

Thanks to The New Tech for the original forum posting.

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56

Open a CMD prompt and type this in to see a complete list of the environmental variables (eg. %TEMP%) on your system:

set

You can also use this list to open special locations in Explorer, using the Start Menu search box.

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  • 8
    Use dir env: to do the same in PowerShell. (PowerShell treats the environment, registry, ... rather like more (disk) drives.)
    – Richard
    Dec 2, 2010 at 12:05
  • 4
    Give a man a fish, feed him for a day, teach him how to fish, feed him until he upgrades to a new OS.
    – Carl G
    Oct 2, 2011 at 2:30
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    For a complete list in NT you should add some more to what's returned by set. Think of %time%, %cd%, %random%... Some more undocumented variables: pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,33812,00.asp Aug 6, 2014 at 11:17
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Also if you're interested in Windows Vista or Windows 7 shortcuts then there's also the 'Godmode' folders.

The “Monster” Control Panel

The godmode will enable the “Monster control panel” that includes all functions and is quite large. See below for specific codes to create specific links.

  1. Create a new folder (right-click and click on “New Folder”). Right-click on the folder and click on rename, copy and paste this:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

  1. This folder will now be a shortcut to the Windows 7 godmode. The godmode allows you to quickly access many Windows 7 functions via a GUI.

Specific Godmode Codes

There are other codes for specific features and functions. The “monster control panel” above will give you the complete list of all features at once, but that list is quite lengthy so you might want to create multiple, smaller and specific links:

Important: To use the codes below you don't have to use the word “Godmode”. It can be anything you like.

Example: Foobar.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}

Control panel features Code

Enter a default location.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
Use biometric devices with Windows.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
Select a power plan.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
Select which icons and notifications appear on taskbar.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
Store credentials for automatic logon.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
Install a program from the network.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
Choose the programs that Windows uses by default.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
Assembly Cache Viewer.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
Manage wireless networks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
Network.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Devices and Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
Windows Firewall.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
Windows Explorer.{62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}
System.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}

Read more: http://windows7themes.net/windows-7-enable-secret-godmode.html#ixzz16x8qbk8b

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  • Interresting! Will be looking into this soon
    – rdkleine
    Dec 2, 2010 at 11:56
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    There's nothing special about the string "Godmode"; it can be any name you like, so long as it is followed by a period and then the value in curly braces.
    – phogg
    Dec 2, 2010 at 15:37
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    This is a bit of infrastructure in windows that was intended for the system itself. This expanded listing allows helps the start menu search find items on the control panel. There is nothing here that cannot be reached by more conventional means. But it is kind of neat. Dec 2, 2010 at 17:25
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    With Windows 10, GodMode was changed to JeezMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} Sep 8, 2017 at 8:32
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    @SilapAliyev a little late to the party for that joke. See phogg's comment above.
    – NH.
    Jan 29, 2019 at 20:51
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This isn't a complete answer but I just wanted to mention a shortcut I didn't see on any of the links mentioned in the other answers.

Typing startup in the address bar of File Explorer redirects to the Startup Programs folder i.e. to

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Similarly, typing start menu redirects to

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

I mainly use the first one more frequently.

2
  • this is awesome! Jun 9, 2020 at 19:16
  • Under Windows 11: startup opens the Webbrowser on URL startup/. start menu also opens the Webbrowser but fires up Bing search engine to look for start menu.
    – MA-Maddin
    Jan 25 at 15:43
2

This is the link to official documentation for Recognized Environment Variables

Here is the link to the respective markdown file in GitHub.

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