Open a folder in explorer using Java

Question

From Java code, how do I open a specific folder (e.g. C:\Folder) in the platform's file explorer (e.g. Windows Explorer)? The examples are for Windows but I need a cross platform solution.

I don't get why this is closed as not a real question. It seems very clear and useful to me. I do wish we could close some of the comments instead. — AnnTea, Apr 23 '18 at 12:49

score 90 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 22 '19 at 21:03

90

Quite simply:

Desktop.getDesktop().open(new File("C:\\folder"));

Note: java.awt.Desktop was introduced in JDK 6.

edited Mar 22 '19 at 21:03

Nathan

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answered Apr 08 '13 at 09:11

Buhake Sindi

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1

Surround with 'try/catch' or add 'throws' clause for IOException – Shreyas Aug 24 '17 at 22:47
This answer, as well as the other answers, do not work on my computer (Debian/KDE). Perhaps someone can come with solution that works on most platforms? (on my computer it should open the Dolphin file manager) – user42723 Feb 01 '18 at 00:17
This method hangs the JVM in ubuntu. – Sodrul Amin Shaon Sep 05 '21 at 08:54

score 19 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 08 '13 at 09:11

Yes, you can do it with JDK 6 with the below code:

import java.awt.Desktop;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;

public class OpenFolder {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
        File dirToOpen = null;
        try {
            dirToOpen = new File("c:\\folder");
            desktop.open(dirToOpen);
        } catch (IllegalArgumentException iae) {
            System.out.println("File Not Found");
        }
    }
}

Note:

Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();

is not supported in JDK 5

score 12 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 08 '13 at 09:12

12

Try

 Runtime.getRuntime().exec("explorer C:\bin");

answered Apr 08 '13 at 09:12

Jaydeep Rajput

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Worth noting that this would only work in Windows – Hendra Anggrian Mar 01 '18 at 18:43

Open a folder in explorer using Java

3 Answers3

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