The Print Directory feature generates a clean, readable text list or document containing all the files and folders inside a specific directory. Surprisingly, Windows File Explorer has never included a simple, native “Print” button for folders. When you have a massive directory and do not want to manually type out every filename, this feature becomes essential.
Depending on how you want to achieve it, you can use built-in Windows shortcuts or third-party cataloging tools. 📂 Common Ways to Use the Feature 1. The Quick Built-in Fix (Command Prompt)
You can quickly export a complete, indexable text list of any folder using Windows commands without downloading any software. Step 1: Open the target folder in File Explorer.
Step 2: Click the address bar at the top, type cmd, and hit Enter (this opens Command Prompt pointed exactly at that folder). Step 3: Type one of the following commands and hit Enter:
dir > list.txt — Creates a basic list of all files, including sizes and modification dates.
dir /b > list.txt — Creates a clean list showing only the bare filenames.
dir /s /b > list.txt — Creates a list of all files including those tucked inside subfolders.
Step 4: Open the newly generated list.txt file from your folder and print it normally. 2. The Copy-and-Paste Method
If you need the data in Microsoft Excel or Word to format it yourself, you can bypass text files entirely:
Open the folder, press Ctrl + A to highlight everything, and click Copy Path in the top ribbon menu.
Paste (Ctrl + V) directly into Excel to sort, filter, or print the path links. 3. Modifying the Right-Click Menu Add Print Directory feature for folders – Windows Server
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