Common folder variables
Folder variables refer to folders that are located differently on various Windows platforms and even individual computers.
These variables are used by both legitimate applications and malware when accessing, changing, or creating files
or folders. This page provides a reference for the default locations referenced by common folder variables.
To quickly open the actual location referenced by a folder variable on your computer:
- Open a Windows Explorer window (the keyboard shortcut is Windows logo key +
E).
- Type the name of the variable in the address bar, including the %sign at the start and end of the variable
(such as %APPDATA%). Press Enter.
- The actual folder refered to by the variable will open. This folder can vary between computers.
NOTE: This procedure applies only to variables defined by % symbols, such as %APPDATA%.
In Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista , variable folders are called known folders.
In Windows XP and Windows 2000, variable folders are called CSIDL values.
Default locations of common folder variables in various platforms
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | Referred to as %ProgramData% |
%APPDATA%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming |
<commonappdata>| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\ProgramData |
%CommonProgramFiles%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Program Files\Common Files |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Program Files\Common Files |
%HOMEPATH%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name> |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name> |
%LOCALAPPDATA%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local |
%ProgramData%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | Referred to as %ALLUSERSPROFILE% |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\ProgramData |
%ProgramFiles%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) |
%ProgramW6432%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | N/A |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | N/A for Windows Vista; varies on other platorms, see WOW64 Implementation Details |
%PUBLIC%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | N/A |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\Public |
$recycle.bin| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | Windows recycle bin (hidden location) |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | Windows recycle bin (hidden location) |
| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Start Menu or C:\Users\<user name>\Start
Menu |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu |
<startup folder>| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup |
%SystemDrive%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C: |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C: |
<system folder>| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\WinNT\System32 |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Windows\System32 |
%SystemRoot%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Windows |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Windows |
%TEMP%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Temp |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Temp |
%USERPROFILE%| Windows XP and Windows 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\<user name> or C:\Users\<user name> |
| Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista | C:\Users\<user name> |
