Create a Virtual Drive for Your Desired Folder in My Computer Using Subst Command

Today I’m going to tell you about a secret DOS command “subst” which can be used to create a virtual drive letter for any of your desired folder in My Computer window.

For example, if you frequently use a folder named “Wallpapers” which is situated in E:\Data\Gallery\Wallpapers”, then you can create a virtual drive say “H:” in My Computer which will goto this folder directly whenever you’ll double click on it or access it from RUN or Command Prompt. It’ll save a lot of time.

Here is how to do it:

1. Open Command Prompt and provide following command:

subst drive_letter: folder_path

for example, if you want to create a virtual drive letter H: for a folder “E:\Wallpapers”, then use following command:

subst H: E:\Wallpapers

2. It’ll immediately create a virtual drive H: which will represent the “Wallpapers” folder:

Before using subst command:

After using subst command:

3. As you can see. A new drive letter H: has been created which directly goes to “E:\Wallpapers” folder upon double-click.

4. If you want to delete this virtual drive, then provide following command:

subst drive_letter: /D

for example, we created H: drive in Step1, so our command to delete this virtual drive would be:

subst H: /D

5. You can view a list of all existing virtual drives by simply giving subst command without any parameter in Command Prompt.

NOTE:

A. Remember! You can’t use existing drive letters for creating virtual drives, e.g. if you have 2 partitions C: and D:, then you can’t use them for subst command.

B. You should not use chkdsk, diskcomp, diskcopy, format, label and recover commands on virtual drives created using subst command as these virtual drives are not real and these commands either will not work or can cause problems for the actual drives where the folders reside.

What Next?

14 Replies:

Hari Maurya said:

Awesome Trick Vishal !
YUGANDHAR said:

GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
karthik said:

nice trick!!!
but the virtual drive is deleted when the computer is rebooted……..is it only temporary???
Manan said:

This is surely a useful trick.
Riza said:

Super trick. I like it.
As I can see there is no oportunity to rename new “drive’s” label , it remains with corresponding drive label where is original folder.
Saurabh said:

Well Vg u r simply Great as u keep providing us New Tutes n increasing our knowledge. Thnx a lot.
But as always i hv got sumthing to ask u (beleive not bothering too much).

I hv got Gmail drive installed on my system viz. a virtual drive but d command SUBST does not show it in cmd, why so?
Also u may write a new tute on Gmail Drive as its a very useful utility (If u feel so).
VG said:

^^ Simple. Because Gmail is not a virtual drive made by using subst command. Its actually an extension to Explorer which works like a drive.
kishore reddy said:

excelent site for who are interseted in pc tricks
KHaR said:

VG, u’re simply great man..
tq so much for all the tricks/tips tutorial..
and thx for sharing with us, really appreciate it..
jyoti said:

gr8 work vishal
but tell me which theme r u using(can i use it in windows xp)
VG said:

^^ Its “AeroVG” theme for Windows Vista. You can get it in “Vista Themes” section.
aex said:

IT DOES NOT WORK…
VG said:

^^ It works. Make sure you are logged in as Administrator. Otherwise run Command Prompt as Administrator.
oskQ said:

Vishal, it worked for me in Windows XP Pro, and i am limited account.
So if this trick goes away next time i reboot my pc, then i just create
.bat file that contains all that code what i want and my pc shows again
that drive.