Common folder variables

Common folder variables

A variable folder is a folder that might refer to different places on different PCs.

The opposite of a variable folder is a hardcoded folder, which is always in the same place on every PC.

The default locations of the variable folders that we use in our encyclopedia are listed on this page.

You can find the location of a variable folder that starts and ends with %:

    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 location of that variable on your PC will be shown. This may change between different PCs.

    This will not work for variables that do not start and end with %, such as <system folder> or <start menu>. Instead, your Internet browser will open search the web for the variable.

Malware will often use a variable folder when it tries to access, change, or create files and folders on your PC.

In Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, variable folders are called known folders.

In Windows 2003, XP, and 2000, variable folders are called CSIDL values.

%ALLUSERPROFILE%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 Referred to as %ProgramData%
%APPDATA%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming
<commonappdata>
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\ProgramData
%CommonProgramFiles%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Program Files\Common Files
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Program Files\Common Files
%HOMEPATH%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  \Documents and Settings\<user name>
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 \Users\<user name>
%LOCALAPPDATA%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local
%ProgramData%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  Referred to as %ALLUSERPROFILE%
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\ProgramData
%ProgramFiles%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)
%PUBLIC%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  N/A
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\Public
<start menu>
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Start Menu or
C:\Users\<user name>\Start Menu
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
<startup folder>
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
%SystemDrive%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:
<system folder>
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\WinNT\System32
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Windows\System32
%SystemRoot%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Windows
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Windows
%TEMP%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\DOCUME~1\<user name>\LOCALS~1\Temp
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Temp
%USERPROFILE%
Windows 2000, XP, and 2003  C:\Documents and Settings\<user name> or
C:\Users\<user name>
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 C:\Users\<user name>