When you need to list all the files in a folder, along with their paths and sizes, you can easily achieve this using both Command Prompt and PowerShell on Windows.
This guide will show you how to save these details into a CSV file, which you can then open using software like Microsoft Excel.
Using Command Prompt for Basic File List
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type cmd and press Enter or click OK.
Step 2: Navigate to the Folder
Browse to the folder you want to list the files from. Use the cd command to change directories. For example:
cd C:\Path\To\Your\Folder
Step 3: Execute the Command
Type in and execute the following command:
dir /b /s > basic_output.csv
This command lists all the files and folders in the current directory and its subdirectories. The full paths of the files will be saved in a CSV file called basic_output.csv.
Using PowerShell for Detailed File List
Step 1: Open PowerShell
Press the Windows key + X and select “Windows PowerShell” from the menu.
Step 2: Navigate to the Folder
Browse to the folder you want to list the files from. Use the cd command, just like in Command Prompt:
cd C:\Path\To\Your\Folder
Step 3: Execute the Command
Type in and execute the following command:
Get-ChildItem -Recurse | Select-Object FullName, Length | Export-Csv -Path "detailed_output.csv" -NoTypeInformation
This PowerShell command provides a detailed list, including the full paths and file sizes. All these details will be saved in a CSV file named detailed_output.csv.
Note:
- Always ensure you’re in the correct directory before running commands.
- Both Command Prompt and PowerShell commands are case-insensitive on Windows