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Is there a keyboard shortcut in Windows Explorer (Windows 7), to put the cursor into the address bar (where the current path is shown)?

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6 Answers 6

Reset to default
121

Found it, it's possible with the following two shortcuts:

  • Alt+D selects the current path in English versions (see comments for other languages)
  • on Windows 8, Ctrl+L can also be used to select the current path (all languages)
  • F4 will put the cursor at the end of the current path and expand the dropdown list of the address bar (all languages)

BTW: here's a complete list of keyboard shortcuts in windows 7: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Keyboard-shortcuts

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9
  • Those shortcuts also work on IE, and ALT+D works on all browsers.
    – paradroid
    Sep 8, 2010 at 7:00
  • 6
    Alt+D doesn't work on non-English versions of Windows 7 (tried on Brazilian Portuguese and German, probably affects others).
    – muriloq
    Oct 25, 2011 at 18:48
  • 3
    Alt+D doesn't work in Ukrainian and Russian versions as well.
    – kolobok
    Jul 14, 2013 at 20:14
  • 9
    Alt+E works in the German Windows 7
    – handle
    Jun 24, 2015 at 6:22
  • 1
    The link for the shortcuts is broken. This one works
    – Chrᴉz remembers Monica
    Jul 25, 2018 at 8:55
5

If you're using non-English version, you can use AutoHotkey with this script:

#IfWinActive ahk_class CabinetWClass
   !d::ControlClick,ToolbarWindow322
return
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2
  • 1
    I went with ^l:: for Control+L.
    – Marc.2377
    Dec 20, 2018 at 12:55
  • For anyone stumbling on this in late 2020 (and possibly later), it should now be ToolbarWindow323 instead of ToolbarWindow322.
    – Jeto
    Dec 23, 2020 at 15:10
3

Another AutoHotKey solution based on the one from @epifun

@epifun 's solution does not work if the address in the addressbar is very long. 

#IfWinActive ahk_class CabinetWClass
   !d::
   ControlFocus, ToolbarWindow322
   send {space}
return
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1
  • For anyone stumbling on this in late 2020 (and possibly later), it should now be ToolbarWindow323 instead of ToolbarWindow322.
    – Jeto
    Dec 23, 2020 at 15:11
2

I can't verify this myself at the moment since I'm using Mac OS X, but this webpage suggests that Alt-D is what you're looking for (see section "Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts").

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2

Ctrl+L seems to be working in many browsers, in File Explorer too. It's in Windows 8 (in Windows 7 it does not work).

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1
  • That's because in Windows 7 one is still able to reach it by cycling via F6 between panes, while in Windows 10 you have no chance other than by using CTRL+L.
    – AmigoJack
    Feb 9 at 9:49
-2

F6 does the trick for me.

(PC, successive versions of Windows including 8.1, as I write.)

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3
  • 1
    <kbd>F6</kbd> changes focus to the column header for me in Windows 7.
    – Jason Aller
    May 19, 2015 at 16:57
  • 2
    Windows 8.1 here and F6 doesn't work for me. It seems to select the next Windows pane, similar to pressing Tab. I believe your solution is for Internet Explorer (not Windows Explorer) and other browsers, where F6 does change focus to the Address Bar.
    – Josh
    May 19, 2015 at 17:59
  • Have you guys pressed F6 repeatedly? Tab is for controls, F6 for whole regions/panes - both are relative (as per current focus), not absolute. Try handling programs like Outlook with keyboard alone - then you'll notice how F6 is intended.
    – AmigoJack
    Feb 9 at 9:52

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