Open a folder with File explorer using .bat
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Open a Folder with File Explorer Using a Batch File
Learn how to create simple batch files to quickly open specific folders in Windows File Explorer, enhancing your workflow and accessibility.
Batch files (.bat) are powerful scripting tools in Windows that allow you to automate various tasks, from running programs to manipulating files and directories. One common and highly useful application is to create a shortcut that opens a specific folder in File Explorer. This can save you time navigating through deeply nested directories or frequently accessed project folders. This article will guide you through the process of creating such a batch file, explaining the commands and providing practical examples.
The start Command: Your Gateway to File Explorer
The core command used to open applications, documents, or folders in a batch file is start. When used with a directory path, start will automatically launch File Explorer and navigate to the specified location. This command is versatile and can also be used to open web pages in your default browser or launch executable files.
start "" "C:\Path\To\Your\Folder"
Basic start command to open a folder.
"" after start are important. They serve as a placeholder for the optional 'title' parameter of the start command. Without them, if your folder path contains spaces, the first part of the path might be interpreted as the title, leading to an error.Creating Your First Batch File
Creating a batch file is straightforward and only requires a text editor like Notepad. You'll save the file with a .bat extension, making it executable by the Windows command processor.
1. Open Notepad or a text editor
Launch Notepad (or any other plain text editor) on your Windows machine.
2. Enter the command
Type the start command followed by the full path to the folder you wish to open. Remember to enclose the path in double quotes, especially if it contains spaces. For example, to open your 'Documents' folder, you might type: start "" "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents".
3. Save the file
Go to File > Save As.... In the 'Save as type' dropdown, select 'All Files (.)'. Name your file with a .bat extension, for example, OpenMyDocs.bat. Choose a convenient location to save it, such as your Desktop or a dedicated 'Scripts' folder.
4. Execute the batch file
Navigate to where you saved the .bat file and double-click it. File Explorer should immediately open to the specified folder.
Workflow for creating and using a folder-opening batch file.
Advanced Usage: Opening Relative Paths and Multiple Folders
Batch files aren't limited to absolute paths. You can use relative paths, which are useful if the batch file is located within a project structure and needs to open a subfolder. You can also open multiple folders with a single batch file.
@echo off
start "" ".\SubFolder"
start "" "..\AnotherFolder"
pause
Batch file opening a subfolder and a parent's sibling folder using relative paths.
@echo off command prevents the commands themselves from being displayed in the command prompt window, making the output cleaner. pause keeps the command prompt window open after execution until you press a key, which is useful for debugging.start "" "C:\Projects\ProjectA"
start "" "D:\Data\Reports"
start "" "\\NetworkShare\SharedDocs"
Batch file opening multiple distinct folders, including a network share.