Windows Libraries

A folder shortcut feature starting in Windows 7. Libraries show up in Explorer and application Open/Save dialogs along with all the other folders. The default Libraries point to the Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos folders, and users can create and name their own. Although a Library is only a shortcut to a folder, a subfolder can be created within a Library, and Windows creates it physically in the real folder. In Mac computers, there is a counterpart to Windows Libraries (see Mac folder shortcuts).

Later Hidden
Starting with Windows 8, Libraries default to not showing. To enable Libraries, in Explorer, select View/Navigation Pane/Show libraries.

Optimize by Content Type
For fast searching, Libraries can be optimized based on type of content. To configure this, right click the Library name and select Properties/Optimize this library for: and choose a category. See Windows, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Standard Libraries

Four standard Libraries point to the Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos folders in the computer.

Standard Libraries

Four standard Libraries point to the Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos folders in the computer.