Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.

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Navigate using the Address bar

The Address bar appears at the top of every folder and displays your current location as a series of links separated by arrows. Using the Address bar, you can see your current location on the computer or on a network. For example, here's how the Pictures folder might appear in the Address bar:

Picture of the Address barThe Address bar

You can change your location by either typing or clicking a new location within the Address bar.

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  • To go directly to a location that's already visible in the Address bar, click the location in the Address bar.
    – or –
    To go to the subfolder of a location that's visible in the Address bar, click the arrow to the right of the location in the Address bar, and then click the new location in the list.

    Picture of the Address bar displaying a list of locationsThe Address bar displaying a list of locations

  1. Click a blank space in the Address bar anywhere to the right of the text that displays the current location.

    The Address bar changes to display the folder path to the current location.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • For most locations, type the complete folder name or path to the new location (such as C:\Users\Public), and then press ENTER.

    • For common locations, type the name (such as Documents), and then press ENTER. Here is a list of common locations you can type directly into the Address bar:

      • Computer

      • Contacts

      • Control Panel

      • Documents

      • Favorites

      • Games

      • Music

      • Pictures

      • Recycle Bin

      • Videos

Tips

Tips

  • You can click the Forward and Back buttons to the left of the Address bar to navigate through locations you have already visited, just as if you were surfing the Internet.

  • You can surf the Internet by typing a web address (URL) into the Address bar, which causes the folder window to switch to Internet Explorer.

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