Copy Path of a File to the Clipboard in Windows 7 or Vista

How often have you opened an Open dialog and wished you could just quickly paste in the path of the file you are already looking at in Windows Explorer? Well… now you can, in Windows Vista.

All you have to do is hold down the shift key, and right-click the file:

Choose the Copy as Path from the menu. Here’s an example of what’s on the clipboard after clicking that:

“C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures\Creek.jpg”

Note: This will also allow you to copy the path of a folder to the clipboard.

The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. This article was written on 01/13/07 and tagged with: Managing Files and Folders, Windows Vista

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Comments (10)

1. July 24, 2007 4:44 pm
   Jodie Miners

   So how do you get it to copy without the annoying quotation marks – is there a registry tweak for that?

2. July 24, 2007 5:06 pm
   The Geek

   The quotation marks are always added because a lot of file paths have spaces in them. I don’t know of any way to remove them, however.

3. July 26, 2007 6:09 pm
   Jodie Miners

   I use path copy all the time – ie every time I want to do a hyperlink I find the file in explorer first (usually because I’m already in explorer working on it) then copy the path and paste it into the Hyperlink box, rather than navigating that silly awful small navigation box for hyperlinks. And Hyperlinks don’t need quotation marks around it, so with the silly vista path copy I have to go and remove them first. The other reason I use copy Path a lot is for linking to things from Sharepoint and that needs a UNC path. I find most apps now will handle the spaces with the %20 symbols.
   I love Ninotech Path Copy (http://home.worldonline.dk/ninotech/) becuase it has many options for different ways of copying paths. Unfortunately I can’t work out how to install an .inf file in Vista. Any ideas on how you install an .inf file in Vista?

4. July 27, 2007 9:35 pm
   Joe Mazziliano

   Check out the neat gadget that moves or copies where you tell it and sorts files in the process.
   TheMagicFolder.Gadget is its name, check it out.

   http://davecra.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!9DEE6858F87A00BB!192.entry

   I also installed your method….thanks, it works great.

5. August 1, 2007 9:50 pm
   Jodie Miners

   I don’t know what I was trying before but I just tried again and I can install an .inf file in Vista, so Ninotech Path Copy is now installed!!!! Yeah!!!

6. October 18, 2007 6:35 pm
   Wil

   I used clickie 1.1 in vista and it works just fine
   http://www.defoortsoftware.com.....l#download

7. December 27, 2007 7:44 am
   Marzaban

   Thanks for the help.

8. February 14, 2008 3:11 pm
   Jamey

   Okay this is extreemly useful, so is there a way to leave the “Copy as path” in the menu without having to hold shift?

9. May 5, 2008 6:34 am
   Rov

   hi geek.. i wondered if there is any way of doing this without needing to hold shift, i know it’s quite unnessessary, but i would really love it, as i do alot of picture work and programming, so i need it all the time.. i just can’t find out of it -.- can u please help..?

10. July 5, 2008 4:04 pm
    MilesAhead

    afa the double quotes around the paths, you can Search & Replace with EditPad lite. Doing a Replace All with a double quote character in the find box and nothing in the replace box, will remove them all.
    As an alternative, in FreeCommander Edit Menu, Copy Full Name as Text you don’t get double quotes even if there are spaces in the filename. Pick your poison.