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How to Get the Public User's Profile Directory in Batch Script

In a multi-user Windows environment, you often need to place files or shortcuts in a location that is accessible to every user who logs into the machine. This is the purpose of the Public user profile. Common examples include placing a shortcut for a shared application on every user's desktop or providing a common set of documents for all users. Hardcoding a path like C:\Users\Public is unreliable, as the Users folder can be on a different drive or have a different name.

This guide will teach you the standard, built-in method for reliably finding the path to the Public user's profile directory using the %PUBLIC% environment variable.

The simplest, most direct, and most reliable method for finding the Public profile directory is to use the built-in %PUBLIC% environment variable. This variable is set by the system and always points to the correct location.

Syntax: "%PUBLIC%"

This variable expands to the full, absolute path of the Public user profile, which by default is C:\Users\Public.

The Alternative Method (Advanced): Querying the Registry​

To understand where the %PUBLIC% variable gets its value, you can query the Windows Registry. This is the authoritative source for system-wide profile paths.

Syntax: REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" /v Public

This command queries the ProfileList key for the value named Public. This is useful for diagnostics but is more complex than simply using the environment variable in a script.

Basic Example: A Simple "Show Public Path" Script​

This script displays the path provided by the %PUBLIC% variable and lists the contents of the Public Desktop.

@ECHO OFF
ECHO --- Finding the Public User Profile Path ---
ECHO.
ECHO The Public profile directory is located at:
ECHO %PUBLIC%
ECHO.
ECHO Listing the contents of the Public Desktop folder:
DIR "%PUBLIC%\Desktop"

Output:

--- Finding the Public User Profile Path ---

The Public profile directory is located at:
C:\Users\Public

Listing the contents of the Public Desktop folder:
 Volume in drive C is Windows
 ...
 Directory of C:\Users\Public\Desktop
...

How the %PUBLIC% Variable Works​

The %PUBLIC% variable is a standard, system-level environment variable. Its value is set by the operating system based on the Public value in the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. Because it's a system variable, it is available in all user sessions and provides a consistent and reliable way to find this shared folder.

Common Pitfalls and How to Solve Them​

Problem: The Path Contains Spaces​

While the default path C:\Users\Public does not contain spaces, it is possible on some systems for this path to be different. The universal rule in batch scripting is to always assume a path might contain spaces.

Solution: Always quote your paths. By enclosing the variable in double quotes (e.g., "%PUBLIC%\Desktop"), you ensure your script will work reliably, regardless of the path's contents.

Problem: Permissions for Writing to Public Folders​

While the Public folder is generally readable by all users, writing to its subdirectories (especially Public Desktop or the public Start Menu) often requires administrative privileges.

Solution: Any script that needs to create files or shortcuts in these shared public locations must be run as an Administrator.

Practical Example: Creating a Shortcut on the Public Desktop​

This is a very common administrative task. This script creates a shortcut for a shared application on the desktop of every user on the machine. This script must be run as an Administrator.

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
TITLE Create Public Shortcut

SET "ShortcutName=My Shared App"
SET "TargetExe=C:\Program Files\MyCompany\SharedApp.exe"
SET "PublicDesktopPath=%PUBLIC%\Desktop"
SET "ShortcutFile=%PublicDesktopPath%\%ShortcutName%.lnk"

ECHO --- Creating a Shortcut for All Users ---
ECHO.
IF NOT EXIST "%TargetExe%" (ECHO [ERROR] Target executable not found. & GOTO :End)

ECHO Shortcut will be placed at: "%ShortcutFile%"

REM --- Use PowerShell to create the shortcut file ---
powershell -Command "$ws = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell; $s = $ws.CreateShortcut('%ShortcutFile%'); $s.TargetPath = '%TargetExe%'; $s.Save()"

ECHO.
ECHO [SUCCESS] Shortcut has been created on the Public Desktop.
ECHO It will appear the next time users log in.

:End
ENDLOCAL

Conclusion​

Using the Public user profile is the correct way to make files and shortcuts available to all users on a single computer.

Key takeaways:

  • The %PUBLIC% environment variable is the standard, simplest, and most reliable method for getting the path.
  • Common subfolders include %PUBLIC%\Desktop, %PUBLIC%\Documents, and %PUBLIC%\Music.
  • Always enclose the path in double quotes ("%PUBLIC%\...") to handle spaces correctly.
  • You must run your script as an Administrator to write files or create shortcuts in most of the Public profile subdirectories.

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