Command-Line Switches for Windows Explorer

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This article was previously published under Q130510

SUMMARY

This article lists command-line switches you can use when you start Windows Explorer (EXPLORER.EXE).

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MORE INFORMATION

Syntax

EXPLORER.EXE [/n][/e][,/root,<object>][[,/select],<sub object>]

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Switches

/n:  Opens a new window in single-paned (My Computer) view for each item
     selected, even if the new window duplicates a window that is
     already open.

/e:  Uses Windows Explorer view. Windows Explorer view is most similar
     to File Manager in Windows version 3.x. Note that the default view
     is Open view.

/root,<object>:  Specifies the root level of the specified view. The
                 default is to use the normal namespace root (the
                 desktop). Whatever is specified is the root for the
                 display.

/select,<sub object>:  Specifies the folder to receive the initial
                       focus. If "/select" is used, the parent folder
                       is opened and the specified object is selected.

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Examples

To open a Windows Explorer view to explore only objects on \\<server name>, use the following syntax:
explorer /e,/root,\\<server name>
To view the C:\WINDOWS folder and select CALC.EXE, use the following syntax:
explorer /select,c:\windows\calc.exe

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