Here are some very quick and simple instructions on how to create a text file listing all files and folders in a certain Windows directory. It’ll only take a minute.
Windows 10 Instructions
- In Windows Explorer go to the location of the folder which you want to print a contents list.
- Press Alt -> D on your keyboard (the address bar of Windows Explorer will now be in focus).
- Type cmd and press Enter. (the command prompt will open in the path that you chose above).
- Copy and paste the following to the command prompt:
dir > files_and_folders.txt - Press Enter on your keyboard.
In your directory you’ll now have a file called files_and_folders.txt that lists your folders and files.
Windows 2012 Server Instructions
- In Windows Explorer go to the location of the folder which you want to print a contents list.
- Press Shift and alternate mouse click on your folder in Windows Explorer
- Click Open command window here.
- Copy and paste the following to the command prompt:
dir > files_and_folders.txt - Press Enter on your keyboard.
Per the Windows 10 instructions, you’ll now have a file called files_and_folders.txt that lists your folders and files.
Try the freeware program “YourDir”. It is a little quirky (you can only export to a csv. file) but it does the job fairly fast and accurately. I’ve used it since my early XP days and it still works just fine in windows 10. I’ve been able to get a complete listing of files on directory trees with 100,000 files and subdirectories.
excellent tips – thanks!
The Windows 10 advice above worked great and really bailed me out. Somewhat amazing though that you can’t really do this in Windows 10 with a menu option as you might expect. You have to execute an MS/DOS command from the command window to get it done. Wow.
Unworkable unless you know how windos 10 works. I didn’t, so the tipe was useless. Sorry
HAVE THE FILE “FOLDERS AND FILES” BUT IT WOULDN’T OPEN UNTIL I CHOSE “OPEN IN MSWORD.” THANKS FOR THE HELP.
Doesnt work alt D on windows 10
I’m running Windows 10 and Alt-D works for me.
Alt-D wants to delete the folder. Windows 10 here as well.
Alt+d should select the address bar – see https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts
thanks! this worked for me as well
Is there a way to get the entire tree, including subdirectories and sub-subdirectories?
thank you. im in shock. ive been using windows since like day one and I never knew this. it just shows that you can always learn. its so useful too. really im in shock that I never knew this. im a programmer, have been for over 35 years and it still amazes me that you can learn something new every day. just shows I should read more instruction documents lol thanks mate
I just tried this, but all it gave me was a list of 20 recent files, not a list of all the files in the folder I chose.
Thanks a lot, perfect!
Does not work with UNC Names as cmd does not support UNC naming.
I get “access denied” from one external disk when i hit “all files and folders”
Does not work with UNC Names – just map it as a network drive and it works.
In XP(?) you could print the entire file tree. How can this be done in Windows 10? Other than downloading & using an outside app?
nice tip. Try also “tree /f /a > file.txt” for a nicely formatted tree
Thanks. That was very helpful.
If the methods above are not working, try this:
From the start button, select Windows Accessories
Click on Notepad in the Widows Accessories list to open it.
In Notepad, select File and then select Open.
In the Open dialog box, navigate to the folder whose contents you want to print.
When the folder is selected, a file is displayed called “printit”.
Double-click the printit file.
You can now print or copy the text. 🙂
actually not useless and works the same in windows 7 as it does in windows 10. just follow it thru, have to right click to paste as you cannot ctrl v the entry.
yes! simply add “/s” to include subdirectories, here are a couple options 1) “dir *.*/s>myfile.txt” will give you all directories and files 2) “dir *./s>myfile.txt” for directories only (and other files with no extension, notice there’s no asterisk after the dot). For those who are unfamiliar with doing this in any version of windows, simply run the “Command Prompt” application, from there enter the drive letter you want “O:”, then change to the target directory “CD mystuff\coolfiles”, then you can simply execute the “Dir” command above. I hope this helps.
AhHA! Brilliant! Thank you!
Yes, this works nicely! Displays all subfolders and files.
Great tip for the tree …
Yes, just add “/s” to the command, to indicate you want subdirectories. You might get a large report though!
Rather than going to a DOS cmd prompt, or capturing an printing an image of a directory as other sites advise, use your browser. CMD prompts require exact syntax. This can be a frustrating challenge when directories are deeply nested in the file system. And of course, capturing an image of a directory listing and printing it is not the same as printing an actual list of files in a directory which you might want to modify for presentation: Here is the easiest way to get an editable and printable file listing: In your browser enter: file:///C:/Users/Home/[directoryname]/. Then print it, or copy/paste the HTML page elsewhere.
The tree format is so nice…thanks!
change entry to dir/s > (you can use any text here).txt press enter. It will list the all files from the root.
Alt+D and cmd – if I knew it before! thank you Gary.
what it will do is make the address in the address bad highlight. Then you just type in the cmd and hit enter, and it will open a new window. They probably could have used some illustrations or screen shots to show how to do it. However, if does work with Windows 10.
This worked perfectly in Win 10 instead of “dir > files_and_folders.txt” as written at the top of the page which only seemed to give me the file and folder names in the directory I targeted.
This gave a full file list of everything in the directory and sub directories.
I started programming back when we used BASIC and FORTRAN, so DOS doesn’t frighten me all that much. What I find amazing is the fact that it never occurred to anyone that being able to print out what is essentially a Table of Contents/Index might be a useful thing? Because, having to go through all of this is quite ridiculous.
It’s A List. We live on lists — thrive on list — and we can’t print one?