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.