System variables

%windir%

Alias for the Windows directory or system root.

Typical path:

C:\Windows

Example:

%windir%\Temp

%system%

System32 folder.

Typical path:

C:\Windows\system32

Example:

%system%\drivers\etc\hosts

%system(x86)%

System32 equivalent for 32-bit binaries on 64-bit systems.

Typical path:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64

Example:

%system(x86)%\drivers\etc\hosts

%programfiles%

Program Files folder for 64-bit applications.

Typical path:

C:\Program Files

Example:

%programfiles%\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud

%programfiles(x86)%

Program Files folder for 32-bit applications (on 64-bit systems).

Typical path:

C:\Program Files (x86)

Example:

%programfiles(x86)%\Common Files

%commonprogramfiles%

Shared files for 64-bit applications.

Typical path:

C:\Program Files\Common Files

Example:

%commonprogramfiles%\Microsoft Shared

%commonprogramfiles(x86)%

Shared files for 32-bit applications.

Typical path:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files

Example:

%commonprogramfiles(x86)%\Adobe

%commonappdata%

Application data shared among all users.

Typical path:

C:\ProgramData

Example:

%programdata%\MyApplication\Logs

%programdata%

Application data shared among all users.

Typical path:

C:\ProgramData

Example:

%programdata%\MyApplication\Logs

%alluserprofile%

Alias for the All Users profile folder.

Typical path:

C:\ProgramData

Example:

%alluserprofile%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

%commondocuments%

Shared "Documents" folder across all users.

Typical path:

C:\Users\Public\Documents

Example:

%commondocuments%\logs

%commondesktop%

Shared desktop folder across all users.

Typical path:

C:\Users\Public\Desktop

Example:

%commondesktop%\help.lnk

%commonmusic%

Shared "Music" folder across all users.

Typical path:

C:\Users\Public\Music

Example:

%commonmusic%\soundtrack.mp3

%commonvideo%

Shared "Videos" folder across all users.

Typical path:

C:\Users\Public\Videos

Example:

%commonvideo%\intro.mp4

%commonpictures%

Shared "Pictures" folder across all users.

Typical path:

C:\Users\Public\Pictures

Example:

%commonpictures%\wallpaper.jpg

%userprofile%

Root directory of the current user’s profile.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}

Example:

%userprofile%\Downloads

%appdata%

Roaming AppData folder for the current user.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming

Example:

%appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox

%localappdata%

Local (non-roaming) AppData folder for the user.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local

Example:

%localappdata%\Temp

%mydocuments%

User's personal "Documents" folder.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\Documents

Example:

%mydocuments%\policy.json

%desktop%

User's Desktop folder.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\Desktop

Example:

%desktop%\installer.lnk

%mymusic%

User's "Music" folder.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\Music

Example:

%mymusic%\song.mp3

%myvideo%

User's "Videos" folder.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\Videos

Example:

%myvideo%\demo.mp4

%mypictures%

User's "Pictures" folder.

Typical path:

C:\Users\{username}\Pictures

Example:

%mypictures%\screenshot.jpg

%systemdrive%

Drive letter of the volume where Windows is installed.

The typical drive letter is C:.

Example:

%systemdrive%\Installers\application.exe

$HOME

User's profile folder.

Typical path:

/Users/{username}

Example:

$HOME/Documents/scripts/utilities

~

User's profile folder.

Typical path:

/Users/{username}

Example:

~/Downloads/installers