Where Is The Documents Folder in Windows 11 & 10

Every user account in Windows has its own Documents (My Documents) folder. It is generally used to store documents and several programs & games also use it to store their backups, configuration files, and save files. I specifically remember several games storing their save files in the Documents or My Documents folder for quick and easy access.

In older Windows versions, the documents folder is available directly on the desktop. However, on Windows 10 and Windows 11, that is no longer the case. If you are a beginner and wondering where your My Documents folder is located, this tutorial is for you. It shows multiple ways to find and open the Documents folder in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Let’s get started.

Open My Documents Folder Using File Explorer

Just like any other folder on your system, you can open the Documents folder using File Explorer. You can use the option on the sidebar or the environment variable path. Here’s how.

Open Documents From File Explorer Sidebar

1. Press the “Windows key + E” shortcut to open File Explorer.
2. Select “Documents” under “Quick Access” on the left sidebar.
3. This opens your Documents folder in Windows.

Open Documents Using Environment Variable Path

As an alternative, you can also use the environment variable path to open the Documents folder in Windows 10 and Windows 11. This method is helpful if you cannot find the Documents option under Quick Access in the File Explorer’s left sidebar.

1. Press the “Windows key + E” shortcut to open File Explorer.
2. Paste %USERPROFILE%\Documents in the address bar.
3. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
4. This opens your Documents folder in Windows.

If you are wondering, %USERPROFILE% is an environment variable in Windows that represents the path to your user profile folder. For example: C:\Users\YourUserName.

Open My Documents Using Run Dialog

To make it simpler, you can also use the Run dialog to open the My Documents folder. This is especially useful for those who don’t want to use the mouse for navigating.

1. First, press “Windows key + R” to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “documents” in the Run field.
3. Press the “Enter” button.
4. With that, the Documents folder opens in the File Explorer.

Create Desktop Shortcut for the Documents Folder

If you want to access your Documents folder from the desktop itself, you can create a custom shortcut for it using the environment variable path. Here’s how.

1. Go to desktop by pressing the “Windows key + D” shortcut.
2. Right-click and select “New” and then “Shortcut“.
3. Type %USERPROFILE%\Documents in the blank field and click “Next“.
4. Type “Documents” in the Name field.
5. Click “Finish“.
6. With that, you created a custom Documents folder shortcut on the desktop.
7. To open the Documents folder, double-click the newly created shortcut.

—

That is all. I hope this tutorial answered the “where is my documents folder” question. Follow the methods and steps shown to quickly open the Documents folder whenever you want. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

Good to know: How to add library folders to the Start menu in Windows 11