With each version of Windows, Microsoft has changed how documents are accessed on a computer. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult for a computer user to know how and where to access their files. On this page, we show you the different ways My Documents or Documents can be accessed in all versions of Windows.
Opening Documents in Windows 10 and Windows 11
Showing Documents through Windows Explorer
- Open Windows Explorer.
- Double-click the This PC icon.
- Click the Documents folder.
Viewing Documents through the Start menu
By default, the Documents option is hidden in the Windows 10 and Windows 11 Start menu. However, you can re-enable this feature if you want to have another method of accessing your Documents.
Early versions of Windows refer to the folder that holds your documents as “My Documents.” However, all of the recent versions of Windows (Vista and later) now refer to this folder as “Documents.” Although they have different names, they are the same folder.
Opening Documents in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Opening Documents in Windows 8.
Opening Documents in Windows 7.
Opening Documents in Windows Vista.
Opening My Documents in Windows XP.
How to show the Documents in the Windows Start menu.
Browsing to the Documents folder in Windows Explorer
- Open Windows Explorer.
- Under This PC, click the C: drive.
- In the C: drive, double-click the Users folder.
- Double-click the
folder, where is the name of your user account. For example, if your account name is Nathan, click Nathan. - Double-click the Documents folder.
Showing Documents on the desktop
In earlier versions of Microsoft Windows, the My Documents folder was on the desktop, by default. However, Windows 10 and Windows 11 disables this feature. If you want this folder on the desktop, see: Missing My Computer, My Network Places, or My Documents icon.
Once Documents is visible on the desktop, double-clicking this folder lets you access your saved documents on the computer.
Opening Documents in Windows 8
Open Windows Explorer.
Double-click the This PC icon.
Double-click the Documents folder.
Open Windows Explorer.
Under This PC double-click the C: drive.
In the C: drive, double-click the Users folder.
Double-click the
, where is the name of your user account. For example, if your login name is Nathan, click Nathan. Double-click the Documents folder.
In early versions of Microsoft Windows, the My Documents folder was on the desktop by default. However, Windows 8 has the start screen and has disabled this feature by default. If you want this folder on the desktop, see: Missing My Computer, My Network Places, or My Documents icon.
Once Documents is visible on the desktop, double-clicking this folder lets you access your saved documents on your computer.
Opening Documents in Windows 7
Open Windows Explorer.
Double-click the Libraries folder
Double-click the Documents folder.
Double-click the My Documents folder.
Click Start in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Click Documents on the right side of the Start menu that pops up.
Open Windows Explorer.
Under Computer double-click the C: drive.
In the C: drive, double-click the Users folder.
Double-click the
, where is the name of your user account. For example, if your login name is Nathan, click Nathan. Double-click the My Documents folder.
In early versions of Microsoft Windows, the My Documents folder was on the desktop by default. However, Windows 7 disables this feature by default. If you want this folder on the desktop, see: Missing My Computer, My Network Places, or My Documents icon.
Opening Documents in Windows Vista
Open Windows Explorer.
Double-click the
, where is the name of your user account. For example, if your login name is Muriel, click Muriel. Double-click Documents, as shown in the picture.
Open Windows Explorer.
Under Computer double-click the C: drive.
In the C: drive, double-click the Users folder.
Double-click the
, where is the name of your user account. For example, if your login name is Nathan, click Nathan. Double-click the Documents folder.
In early versions of Microsoft Windows, the My Documents folder could was on the desktop by default. However, Windows Vista disables this feature by default. If you want this folder on the desktop, see: Missing My Computer, My Network Places, or My Documents icon.
Opening My Documents in Windows XP
Open My Computer.
Double-click the C: drive.
In the C: drive, double-click the Documents and Settings folder.
In Documents and Settings, double-click the folder for the users My Documents you want to see. Using the same example as above, if your login is “John” you’d click the “John” folder.
In your user’s name folder open the My Documents folder.
Click Start in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Click Documents on the right side of the menu that pops up.
Showing My Documents on the desktop
By default, the My Documents folder is on the Windows XP desktop. However, this folder can be disabled or hidden. To hide and show the My Documents folder on the desktop, see: Missing My Computer, My Network Places, or My Documents icon.
Once Documents is visible on the desktop, double-clicking that folder lets you access your saved documents on the computer.
Related information
- See our My Documents page for further information and related links.
- Microsoft Windows help and support.
