To copy a file’s path in Windows 10, hold down Shift, right-click the file in File Explorer, and select Copy as path. You can also select the file and choose Copy path on the Home tab. Press Ctrl + V to paste it. The path comes with quotation marks around it.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked on September 27, 2026. Microsoft doesn’t have a page for this, so the steps follow Windows 10 File Explorer.
Use Copy as path
- Open File Explorer and find the file. See how to open File Explorer in Windows 10.
- Hold down Shift and right-click the file.
- Select Copy as path.
- Paste the path where you need it with Ctrl + V.
Copy as path only shows up when you hold Shift.
Use the Home tab
- Select the file in File Explorer.
- On the Home tab, select Copy path.
This works for several files at once. Each path is pasted on its own line.
Copy a folder’s path
Click in the address bar at the top of File Explorer. It changes to the full path, like C:\Users\Alex\Documents\Contoso. Press Ctrl + C to copy it.
Drag a file into a command window
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell, then drag the file from File Explorer into the window. Its full path is typed in for you, with quotation marks if it has spaces. This is the quickest way when you’re about to run a command on that file.
Copy the paths of every file in a folder
Open PowerShell in the folder, for example by typing powershell in File Explorer’s address bar and pressing Enter. Then run (Get-ChildItem).FullName | Set-Clipboard. Every file and folder path is copied, one per line, ready to paste into a document or spreadsheet.
Remove the quotation marks
Both methods add quotation marks. Keep them when you paste into Command Prompt, because they keep paths with spaces together. Delete them if a box doesn’t accept them. See how to open Command Prompt in Windows 10.
Troubleshooting
- Copy as path isn’t in the menu. Hold Shift before you right-click, or use Copy path on the Home tab.
- A program won’t open the pasted path. Remove the quotation marks, or check that the path didn’t get cut off at a line break.
- The path points to a drive letter that others can’t open. Mapped drive letters are personal. Share the network address, such as \\server\folder, instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t the path show the file type?
It does. The path always ends with the file extension, like .docx. To see extensions in File Explorer too, see how to show file extensions in Windows 10.
How do I paste a path?
Press Ctrl + V, or right-click and select Paste. See how to copy and paste in Windows 10.
More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Copied paths are handy when you compare folders. See how to compare two folders in Windows 10.
How do I copy just the file name?
Select the file, press F2 to rename it, press Ctrl + A and then Ctrl + C, and press Esc to leave the name unchanged.
Can I copy a path on Windows 11 the same way?
Yes. In Windows 11, right-click the file and select Copy as path directly, or press Ctrl + Shift + C with the file selected.
Why is the path so long?
Files inside your user folder start with C:\Users\YourName, and OneDrive adds its own folder. Long paths are normal. Very long ones, over about 260 characters, can cause errors in older programs, so keep folder names short.
How do I open a path I copied?
Paste it into File Explorer’s address bar and press Enter, or into the Run box (Windows + R). Windows opens the file or folder.
Can I always show Copy as path without holding Shift?
Not with a built-in setting in Windows 10. Holding Shift, or using Copy path on the Home tab, are the supported ways. Windows 11 shows Copy as path in its normal right-click menu.
Does Copy as path work for folders too?
Yes. Hold Shift, right-click the folder, and select Copy as path.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.