Printing a list of files in a folder on Windows 10 is kinda handy, especially if you’re juggling a bunch of documents, photos, or whatever else cluttering your drives. Sometimes it’s just easier to have a physical copy or an organized list, rather than digging through folders every time. But honestly, the process can seem a little intimidating if you’ve never played around with Command Prompt before. It’s not rocket science though — just a handful of commands that make this possible. Plus, once you get the hang of it, you can do it in seconds and maybe even automate it later. It’s a good skill to have in your back pocket, especially if you deal with a ton of files regularly.
How To Print List of Files in Folder Windows 10
This method uses the Command Prompt to create a text file containing all the filenames in a specific folder. You then open that text file and hit print. Simple. It’s faster than clicking around in File Explorer, and on some setups, it’s the only way to get a clean, list-based output. Expect it to work pretty smoothly once you’ve done it once or twice, but be aware that occasionally things might act a little funny—like paths with spaces or subdirectory stuff. No big deal though, just workflow quirks you’ll get used to.
Open Command Prompt
First off, hit the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. Yeah, it’s that easy. If you want, you can also open it via Search or even pin a shortcut. It’s the oldest Windows utility but still super useful. If you’re on a machine where User Account Control asks for permission, just grant it, and you’ll be good to go.
Navigate to the Folder You Wanna List
Type cd followed by the folder’s full path. Say your folder is in C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Work Files, you’d type:
cd "C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Work Files"Make sure to use quotes if the path has spaces—that trip up a lot of folks. You can find the folder path by right-clicking the folder in File Explorer, then choosing Copy as path. Pasting that right into CMD makes life easier rather than typing everything manually.
Generate the List of Files
This is the fun part. Type:
dir /b > filelist.txtPress Enter and voilà, Windows creates a filelist.txt inside that folder. The /b switch means “bare, ” so you just get the filenames—no extra info like size or date. If you want a more detailed list, just remove the /b, but for printing, plain filenames usually suffice.
Locate the File and Prepare for Printing
The filelist.txt is now sitting in the folder you specified. Just open it with Notepad, WordPad, or whatever you use. Hit Ctrl + P to print. Easy, right? On some setups, it might open in an editor you don’t recognize, but just stick with Notepad—most of the time that works without issues. If you want to make it look fancier or add headers, editing in Word can be a good move.
Extra Tips & Tricks
- Copy Path Easily: Right-click the folder in File Explorer and pick Copy as path. Pasting that in the command line saves you from typos.
- Include Subfolders: Use
dir /s /b > filelist.txtto include files from subdirectories—handy if you need a complete inventory. - Sort Files: Add
/o:nto sort alphabetically by name, likedir /b /o:n > filelist.txt. - File Types Only: For example,
dir *.jpg /b > images.txtwill list just JPEG images.
FAQ
What if the folder has spaces in its name?
Always put quotes around the path, like cd "C:\My Files\Photos". Otherwise, the command freaks out because it thinks there’s more than one part to the path.
Can I get more info, like file size or date modified?
Sure. Just remove the /b switch in the dir command. That’ll give you more details, but the output gets less tidy for printing.
How do I list only certain types of files?
Use wildcards, like dir *.txt /b > filelist.txt for text files only. Change the extension as needed.
What if I want the list sorted differently?
Add /o with your preference: dir /b /o:-n for reverse name sort, or /o:-d for newest first.
Can this method be used on external drives?
Definitely. Just navigate to the drive first with cd. For example, cd "E:\Music". Your external should behave just like a local folder.
Summary
- Use
cdto go to the folder - Run
dir /b > filename.txt - Find and open the text file
- Print away and marvel at your organizing skills
Wrap-up
This whole process is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. No need for fancy software—Windows’ built-in Command Prompt does the trick. It’s especially useful if you’re managing lots of files or need to share a list quickly. On one setup it worked on the first try; on another, I had to reopen the CMD window or restart a couple of times, because Windows can be weird like that. But overall, once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes second nature. Just a little tip that’s actually useful for organizing or inventorying, especially when dealing with huge folders — saves a ton of time!
Fingers crossed this helps someone streamline their file management chores a bit. Just mess around with the commands, and you’ll probably find a setup that works best for your needs.