How to List All Files in a Folder and Subfolders in Windows: Complete Guide with Command Line and GUI Methods

Managing files across multiple folders and subfolders is a common task for Windows users, whether you’re organizing personal documents, analyzing project structures, or performing system administration. This comprehensive guide covers various methods to list all files in a folder and its subfolders, from simple GUI approaches to powerful command-line techniques.

Understanding Windows File Structure

Before diving into listing methods, it’s essential to understand how Windows organizes files in a hierarchical structure. Each folder can contain files and additional subfolders, creating a tree-like organization.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt (CMD)

The Command Prompt offers several powerful commands for listing files recursively through folder structures.

Basic DIR Command

The most fundamental approach uses the dir command with the /s parameter to search subdirectories:

dir /s

Example Output:

C:\Users\YourName\Documents>dir /s

 Directory of C:\Users\YourName\Documents

08/29/2025  07:15 PM    <DIR>          .
08/29/2025  07:15 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/29/2025  07:10 PM             1,234 report.docx
08/29/2025  07:12 PM             5,678 presentation.pptx
               2 File(s)          6,912 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Projects

08/29/2025  07:13 PM    <DIR>          .
08/29/2025  07:13 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/29/2025  07:14 PM             2,345 project1.txt
               1 File(s)          2,345 bytes

Enhanced DIR Commands

For more specific results, combine multiple parameters:

List Only Files (No Directories)

dir /s /b /a-d

List Specific File Types

dir *.txt /s /b

Include File Attributes and Timestamps

dir /s /q /t:c

Parameter Explanations:

• /s – Include subdirectories
• /b – Bare format (filenames only)
• /a-d – Show files only, exclude directories
• /q – Display file owner information
• /t:c – Sort by creation time

Saving Output to File

To save the file list for later use:

dir /s /b > filelist.txt

Method 2: Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides more advanced and flexible options for file listing with better formatting and filtering capabilities.

Get-ChildItem Command

The primary PowerShell cmdlet for listing files:

Get-ChildItem -Recurse

List Files Only

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -File

List Directories Only

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Directory

Advanced PowerShell Examples

Filter by File Extension

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Include "*.pdf", "*.docx"

Exclude Certain Files

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Exclude "*.tmp", "*.log"

Format Output as Table

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -File | Format-Table Name, Length, LastWriteTime

Example Output:

Name                Length LastWriteTime
----                ------ -------------
report.docx           1234 8/29/2025 7:10:15 PM
presentation.pptx     5678 8/29/2025 7:12:30 PM
project1.txt          2345 8/29/2025 7:14:45 PM

Export to CSV

Create a comprehensive file inventory:

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -File | Select-Object Name, FullName, Length, CreationTime, LastWriteTime | Export-Csv -Path "file_inventory.csv" -NoTypeInformation

Method 3: Using Windows File Explorer

For users who prefer graphical interfaces, File Explorer offers built-in search capabilities.

File Explorer Search Method

1. Open the folder you want to search
2. Click in the search box (top-right corner)
3. Type *.* to search for all files
4. Press Enter

Advanced Search Techniques

Search by File Type

• type:document – All document files
• *.pdf – Only PDF files
• size:>1MB – Files larger than 1MB

Date-based Searches

• datemodified:today – Files modified today
• datecreated:this week – Files created this week

Method 4: Using Tree Command

The tree command provides a visual representation of the folder structure:

tree /f

Example Output:

C:\USERS\USERNAME\DOCUMENTS
├───Projects
│   ├───WebDev
│   │       index.html
│   │       style.css
│   │       script.js
│   └───Python
│           main.py
│           requirements.txt
├───Images
│       photo1.jpg
│       photo2.png
└───Reports
        annual_report.pdf
        quarterly_summary.xlsx

Tree Command Parameters

• /f – Display filenames
• /a – Use ASCII characters instead of extended characters

Method 5: Using FORFILES Command

The forfiles command offers advanced filtering and processing capabilities:

Basic FORFILES Syntax

forfiles /s /m *.* /c "cmd /c echo @path"

Practical Examples

List Files Modified in Last 7 Days

forfiles /s /m *.* /d -7 /c "cmd /c echo @path - @fdate"

List Large Files (>10MB)

forfiles /s /m *.* /c "cmd /c if @fsize gtr 10485760 echo @path - @fsize bytes"

Method 6: Creating Batch Scripts

Automate file listing tasks with custom batch files:

Simple File Listing Script

@echo off
echo Generating file list for %1
echo Date: %date% Time: %time%
echo.
dir "%1" /s /b /a-d > "%1\filelist_%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.txt"
echo File list saved to filelist_%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.txt

Enhanced Batch Script with Categories

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set "folder=%1"
if "%folder%"=="" set "folder=%cd%"

echo === COMPLETE FILE INVENTORY ===
echo Folder: %folder%
echo Generated: %date% %time%
echo.

echo === DOCUMENT FILES ===
dir "%folder%\*.doc*" "%folder%\*.pdf" "%folder%\*.txt" /s /b 2>nul

echo.
echo === IMAGE FILES ===
dir "%folder%\*.jpg" "%folder%\*.png" "%folder%\*.gif" /s /b 2>nul

echo.
echo === EXECUTABLE FILES ===
dir "%folder%\*.exe" "%folder%\*.msi" /s /b 2>nul

Method 7: Third-Party Tools

Several third-party applications enhance file listing capabilities:

Popular Tools

• Everything – Lightning-fast file search
• Directory List & Print – Professional file listing
• TreeSize – File size analysis with listing
• WinDirStat – Visual directory statistics

Comparison of Methods

Method	Speed	Customization	Output Format	Best For
Command Prompt (DIR)	Fast	Limited	Text	Quick listings
PowerShell	Fast	Excellent	Multiple	Advanced filtering
File Explorer	Moderate	Basic	Visual	Casual users
Tree Command	Fast	Limited	Visual Tree	Structure visualization
Batch Scripts	Fast	High	Custom	Automation

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Access Denied Errors

Run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator to access protected directories:

• Right-click Command Prompt/PowerShell
• Select “Run as administrator”
• Confirm UAC prompt

Path Too Long Errors

For paths exceeding 260 characters, use PowerShell with the -LiteralPath parameter or enable long path support in Windows.

Memory Issues with Large Directories

For directories with millions of files:

• Use dir /s /b instead of PowerShell for better memory efficiency
• Process subdirectories separately
• Use third-party tools designed for large datasets

Best Practices and Tips

Performance Optimization

• Use specific file patterns instead of *.* when possible
• Exclude system directories to improve speed
• Consider using SSD storage for faster directory traversal

Data Management

• Save file listings with timestamps for version control
• Use CSV format for easy import into spreadsheet applications
• Implement regular automated listings for change tracking

Security Considerations

• Be cautious with file listings containing sensitive paths
• Consider excluding personal directories from automated scripts
• Use appropriate permissions when sharing file inventories

Advanced Use Cases

System Administration

Create comprehensive system audits:

Get-ChildItem C:\ -Recurse -File | Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 1GB} | Sort-Object Length -Descending | Format-Table Name, Length, FullName

Project Management

Generate project file inventories with metadata:

Get-ChildItem -Recurse -File | Select-Object Name, DirectoryName, Length, @{Name='SizeMB';Expression={[math]::Round($_.Length/1MB,2)}}, LastWriteTime | Export-Csv project_files.csv

Backup Verification

Compare file listings between source and backup locations:

# Generate source listing
Get-ChildItem "C:\Source" -Recurse -File | Select FullName, Length | Export-Csv source_files.csv

# Generate backup listing  
Get-ChildItem "D:\Backup" -Recurse -File | Select FullName, Length | Export-Csv backup_files.csv

Conclusion

Listing files in folders and subfolders is a fundamental Windows administration skill with multiple approaches available. Command Prompt’s dir command offers quick results, while PowerShell provides advanced filtering and formatting capabilities. File Explorer serves casual users well, and batch scripts enable automation for repetitive tasks.

Choose the method that best fits your specific needs: simple GUI searches for occasional use, command-line tools for power users, or automated scripts for regular file management tasks. Understanding these various approaches ensures you can efficiently manage and inventory files across any Windows system, regardless of complexity or scale.

Remember to consider security implications, performance requirements, and output format needs when selecting your preferred file listing method. With these comprehensive techniques, you’ll have complete control over file discovery and organization in your Windows environment.