25r11/2020 How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shell From Windows 10's File Explorer How-To Geek How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shell From Windows 10's File Explorer CHRIS HOFFMAN @chrisbhoffman UPDATED MARCH 15, 2018, 4:32PM EDT ©) Us Thee » Windows 1010) » Uses Biter . Bs cyete { sty i detiop eae 2 Documents aS 4 Downs chee Date Customer 2) Mave te E Picnees y Bh veos Undo Rename cae items Sse shared OpenaBashshe hee Launch Bash on Windows 10 and it will automatically open to your NIX nt's home folder. Rather than using the ed command to change to another folder, you can launch Bash directly from a folder in File Explorer. You can do this without any registry hacks or changes. It's just hidden. But if you're willing to dive into the registry, you can make it alittle more convenient. Here are our two recommended methods. Update: If you have multiple Linux environments installed, you can use the wsleonfig command to choose the default Linux environment that appears when you run the bash command. The Easy Option: Use the Address Bar RELATED: Everything You Can Do With Windows 10's New Bash Shell When you want to launch bash at a specific folder, just navigate to that folder in File Explorer normally. Click the address bar while hitps:twwn:howlogeek.com/2708 1O/how4o-quiely-launch-a-bash-shel-from-windoWs-0s-fle-exolorarl#~text=The Easy Opon’%3A Use the A... 725r11/2020 How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shell From Windows 10's File Explorer in that folder, type “bash”, and press Enter. Drie Toois Window 10) SSyitent [5 smoows-« sind amen eee [i Proga ies crenriveemr A rogram Fes 1 Pettooe Programa [Brogamric en roam ties!” < You'll get a Bash prompt window focused in the folder you selected For example, if you type "bash" directly in the root of the C: drive, Bash will open with the directory /nnt /c selected ies arage ° € fs > ThsPC > Windows 10(6) a ach The Right-Click Option: Add a Context Menu Option by Edi ig the Registry Perhaps you'd rather have a context menu option like the “Open command window here” option that appears when you hold Shift and right-click inside a folder in File Explorer. To get this kind of Bash shortcut, you'll need to edit the registry and add this feature yourself. If you'd rather not do this by hand, hitps:twn howlogeek com/27081OMhow to-quichy-launch-a-bash-shel-trom-windows-10s-Ale-oxolorerlt~toxt=The Easy Oplion"%3A Use the A... 2/725r11/2020 How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shell From Windows 10's File Explorer we have a quick .reg file you can run below instead. RELATED: Learning to Use the Registry Editor Like a Pro Standard warning: The Registry Editor is a powerful tool and misusing it can render your system unstable or even inoperable This is a pretty simple hack and as long as you stick to the instructions, you shouldn't have any problems. That said, if you've never worked with it before, consider reading about how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. And definitely back up the Registry (and your computer!) before making changes. First, open the registry editor by pressing the Windows key, typing “regedit” into the Start menu, and pressing “Enter”. one test match ge cont Web P regedit regeait Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell Right-click the “shell” key and select New > Key. htps:twn howlogeek com/2708 1 OMhow-to-quichy-launch-a-bash-shel-(rom-windows-10s-Alo-exploreri#t~text=The Easy Option"%3A Use the A. a2511/2020 How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shell From Windows 10's File Explorer file E6t Ven Favortes Help Comguter MEY CLASSES ROOT Deen Afocgroundchal 2B orebcinen Te Dae Rec st (valent) sting valve Binary ae DeoRD (2-i tue ‘WORD (Vue at-Suing Value Pesos. Beer837) Copp Key pandabe sting ue DikMeneg_ ont Name the key “bash” or something similar. You can name it anything you want. This name doesn't appear in Windows anywhere, and is just used to keep track of the entry in the registry. File Edt View Favortes Help Comnpteh MEY CLASSES COT DectanABocgrounelhalseh > = Bil naa re ry : Oda Feast (alenotset Select “bash” (or whatever you named the key) in the left pane. Double-click “(Default)” in the right pane and enter whatever name you want to appear in File Explorer's context menu, For example, you could enter “Open a Bash shell here" or just “Bash”. WE tesco a Fle t_Viw Favoites Hp Commuter MEY CLASSES ROOT\ Decor Afockgroundshalbsh SB Obese] ene a = * paar eau REG. lalue not s [ll Bockground Bocoun =A i wt ga aes 3 Bh reweta ee a (Detast) i a ee) ae ao > lj Deectshow | orate + & hitps:wwn:howlogeek.com/2708 1 Ohow4o-quiely-launch-a-bash-shel-from-windows-0s-fle-exolorerl#~text=The Easy Option'%3A Use the A. ar25r11/2020 How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shell From Windows 10's File Explorer Next, right-click the "bash” key and select New > Key. Name it “command”. Uf Dreetory || mane wpe Date [Background oot reas Oper 2 Bash shall hee Sing Yate : Renme WORD G2-be Yue 9 Discord ee ‘QWORD (6b Value > adscorearn, OE NsSing Vale DitManegem panda Suing Yue > 51 DiskManoger, Copy KeyName With the “command” key selected in the left pane, double-click “(Default)” in the right pane and enter the following value: C:\Windows\system32\bash.exe WE tesco a Fle Edt View Favoites_Help Comnpeh MEY CLASSES GOT Dectan/Bockgyounl halberd I Drcctony A] name pe Dae Rodan Feast (ake notset Va aa == > discon s7zrzagusse619 Diskfaragemert. Comes w You're done. You can now right-click a folder in File Explorer and select “Open a Bash shell here” (or whatever you named the option) to quickly open a Bash shell to that specific folder. This option will appear immediately, so you don't have to sign out or reboot first. hitps:wwn:howlogeek.com/2708 1 Ohow4o-quiely-launch-a-bash-shel-from-windows-0s-fle-exolorerl#~text=The Easy Option'%3A Use the A. si25r11/2020 + LD» There > Windows 19(0) > Uses ative B20 0bjecs bets 2 Documents How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shall From Windows 10's File Explorer Search Ute e vie View sonby Group by fran Downs eee detoutuse® | OvRLraySenic 3 masic -;7 EiPictares Peat shorat BE vies: Undo Renome cane “= Wadewsi0(G) | OpeneBeshshelhae fy Tieme Siete @Bstwe! | Grescceste i Use Our One-Click Registry Hack Rather than doing all the registry editing work above, you can download our one-click .reg file. It does the exact same thing the above registry hack does. If you decide you want to remove the option, we've also included a one-click .reg file that will quickly remove the option. Download our one-click “Add Bash to the Context Menu” registry hack and unzip the file. Double-click the “Add Bash to Your Context Menu.reg' file and agree to add the information to your registry to get the context menu option. Double-click the "Remove Bash From Your Context Menu. reg’ file if you ever want to remove the option. Hae- IREEENEE) Reicher cone a PRET ere ote ee name ° ce a sine bate anes =o a i desenp a (Ay teatro con engin ni cng Sepvoting crt Kyou erties cette eran Elite onload tour Cote enh aed bah ou Contat ‘eyousure you wont to continue? heme” Te selected 270 bytes You should only add registry files from sources you trust. If you're ever curious about what a .reg file does, you can right-click it in hitps:wwn:howlogeek.com/2708 1 Ohow4o-quiely-launch-a-bash-shel-from-windows-0s-fle-exolorerl#~text=The Easy Option'%3A Use the A. or2ors2020 How to Quickly Launch a Bash Shall From Windows 10's Fle Explorer Windows and select "Edit" to inspect the .reg file and see exactly what information it will add or remove from your registry. READ NEXT > How to Disable “Get Even More Out of Windows” on Windows 10 > How to Stream the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade > How to Kill Zombie Processes on Linux > Why You Should Delay Your macOS Upgrades » How to Turn on Dark Mode on Android CHRIS HOFFMAN Chris Hoffman is Editor in Chief of How-To Geek. : He's written about technology for nearly a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami's NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read more than 500 million times—and that's just here at How-To Geek. READ FULL BIO » The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support How-To Geek, How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times. Want to know more? tps: howlogeek.com/2708 1Ohow4o-quiely-launch-a-bash-shel-from-windoWs-10s-le-exolorarl#~taxt=The Easy Option’&3A Use the A... 7/7