Environment.SpecialFolder Environment.SpecialFolder Environment.SpecialFolder Environment.SpecialFolder Enum

Definition

Namespace:
System System System System
Assemblies:
mscorlib.dll, netstandard.dll, System.Runtime.Extensions.dll

Specifies enumerated constants used to retrieve directory paths to system special folders.

public: enum class Environment::SpecialFolder
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)]
public enum Environment.SpecialFolder
type Environment.SpecialFolder = 
Public Enum Environment.SpecialFolder
Inheritance
ObjectObjectObjectObject
ValueTypeValueTypeValueTypeValueType
EnumEnumEnumEnum
Environment.SpecialFolderEnvironment.SpecialFolderEnvironment.SpecialFolderEnvironment.SpecialFolder
Attributes
ComVisibleAttribute

Fields

AdminTools AdminTools AdminTools AdminTools 48

The file system directory that is used to store administrative tools for an individual user. The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) will save customized consoles to this directory, and it will roam with the user. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
ApplicationData ApplicationData ApplicationData ApplicationData 26

The directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data for the current roaming user.
CDBurning CDBurning CDBurning CDBurning 59

The file system directory that acts as a staging area for files waiting to be written to a CD. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonAdminTools CommonAdminTools CommonAdminTools CommonAdminTools 47

The file system directory that contains administrative tools for all users of the computer. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonApplicationData CommonApplicationData CommonApplicationData CommonApplicationData 35

The directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data that is used by all users.
CommonDesktopDirectory CommonDesktopDirectory CommonDesktopDirectory CommonDesktopDirectory 25

The file system directory that contains files and folders that appear on the desktop for all users. This special folder is valid only for Windows NT systems. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonDocuments CommonDocuments CommonDocuments CommonDocuments 46

The file system directory that contains documents that are common to all users. This special folder is valid for Windows NT systems, Windows 95, and Windows 98 systems with Shfolder.dll installed. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonMusic CommonMusic CommonMusic CommonMusic 53

The file system directory that serves as a repository for music files common to all users. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
58

This value is recognized in Windows Vista for backward compatibility, but the special folder itself is no longer used. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonPictures CommonPictures CommonPictures CommonPictures 54

The file system directory that serves as a repository for image files common to all users. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonProgramFiles CommonProgramFiles CommonProgramFiles CommonProgramFiles 43

The directory for components that are shared across applications.

To get the x86 common program files directory on a non-x86 system, use the ProgramFilesX86 member.
CommonProgramFilesX86 CommonProgramFilesX86 CommonProgramFilesX86 CommonProgramFilesX86 44

The Program Files folder. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonPrograms CommonPrograms CommonPrograms CommonPrograms 23

A folder for components that are shared across applications. This special folder is valid only for Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP systems. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonStartMenu CommonStartMenu CommonStartMenu CommonStartMenu 22

The file system directory that contains the programs and folders that appear on the Start menu for all users. This special folder is valid only for Windows NT systems. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonStartup CommonStartup CommonStartup CommonStartup 24

The file system directory that contains the programs that appear in the Startup folder for all users. This special folder is valid only for Windows NT systems. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonTemplates CommonTemplates CommonTemplates CommonTemplates 45

The file system directory that contains the templates that are available to all users. This special folder is valid only for Windows NT systems. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
CommonVideos CommonVideos CommonVideos CommonVideos 55

The file system directory that serves as a repository for video files common to all users. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
Cookies Cookies Cookies Cookies 33

The directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies.
Desktop Desktop Desktop Desktop 0

The logical Desktop rather than the physical file system location.
DesktopDirectory DesktopDirectory DesktopDirectory DesktopDirectory 16

The directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop.
Favorites Favorites Favorites Favorites 6

The directory that serves as a common repository for the user's favorite items.
Fonts Fonts Fonts Fonts 20

A virtual folder that contains fonts. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
History History History History 34

The directory that serves as a common repository for Internet history items.
InternetCache InternetCache InternetCache InternetCache 32

The directory that serves as a common repository for temporary Internet files.
LocalApplicationData LocalApplicationData LocalApplicationData LocalApplicationData 28

The directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data that is used by the current, non-roaming user.
LocalizedResources LocalizedResources LocalizedResources LocalizedResources 57

The file system directory that contains localized resource data. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
MyComputer MyComputer MyComputer MyComputer 17

The My Computer folder.
MyDocuments MyDocuments MyDocuments MyDocuments 5

The My Documents folder.
MyMusic MyMusic MyMusic MyMusic 13

The My Music folder.
MyPictures MyPictures MyPictures MyPictures 39

The My Pictures folder.
MyVideos MyVideos MyVideos MyVideos 14

The file system directory that serves as a repository for videos that belong to a user. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
NetworkShortcuts NetworkShortcuts NetworkShortcuts NetworkShortcuts 19

A file system directory that contains the link objects that may exist in the My Network Places virtual folder. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
Personal Personal Personal Personal 5

The directory that serves as a common repository for documents.
PrinterShortcuts PrinterShortcuts PrinterShortcuts PrinterShortcuts 27

The file system directory that contains the link objects that can exist in the Printers virtual folder. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
ProgramFiles ProgramFiles ProgramFiles ProgramFiles 38

The program files directory.

On a non-x86 system, passing ProgramFiles to the GetFolderPath(Environment+SpecialFolder) method returns the path for non-x86 programs. To get the x86 program files directory on a non-x86 system, use the ProgramFilesX86 member.
ProgramFilesX86 ProgramFilesX86 ProgramFilesX86 ProgramFilesX86 42

The x86 Program Files folder. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
Programs Programs Programs Programs 2

The directory that contains the user's program groups.
Recent Recent Recent Recent 8

The directory that contains the user's most recently used documents.
Resources Resources Resources Resources 56

The file system directory that contains resource data. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
SendTo SendTo SendTo SendTo 9

The directory that contains the Send To menu items.
StartMenu StartMenu StartMenu StartMenu 11

The directory that contains the Start menu items.
Startup Startup Startup Startup 7

The directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program group.
System System System System 37

The System directory.
SystemX86 SystemX86 SystemX86 SystemX86 41

The Windows System folder. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
Templates Templates Templates Templates 21

The directory that serves as a common repository for document templates.
UserProfile UserProfile UserProfile UserProfile 40

The user's profile folder. Applications should not create files or folders at this level; they should put their data under the locations referred to by ApplicationData. Added in the .NET Framework 4.
Windows Windows Windows Windows 36

The Windows directory or SYSROOT. This corresponds to the %windir% or %SYSTEMROOT% environment variables. Added in the .NET Framework 4.

Examples

The following example shows how to use Environment.SpecialFolder with the GetFolderPath method to get the System directory. 

// Sample for the Environment::GetFolderPath method
using namespace System;
int main()
{
   Console::WriteLine();
   Console::WriteLine( "GetFolderPath: {0}", Environment::GetFolderPath( Environment::SpecialFolder::System ) );
}

/*
This example produces the following results:

GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
*/

// Sample for the Environment.GetFolderPath method
using System;

class Sample 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
    Console.WriteLine();
    Console.WriteLine("GetFolderPath: {0}", 
                 Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System));
    }
}
/*
This example produces the following results:

GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
*/

' Sample for the Environment.GetFolderPath method
Imports System

Class Sample
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      Console.WriteLine()
      Console.WriteLine("GetFolderPath: {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System))
   End Sub 'Main
End Class 'Sample
'
'This example produces the following results:
'
'GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
'

Remarks

The system special folders are folders such as Program Files, Programs, System, or Startup, which contain common information. Special folders are set by default by the system, or explicitly by the user, when installing a version of Windows.

The GetFolderPath method returns the locations associated with this enumeration. The locations of these folders can have different values on different operating systems, the user can change some of the locations, and the locations are localized.

For more information about special folders, see the KNOWNFOLDERID constants in the Windows documentation.

Applies to