How to Copy a Folder with Batch File

PDF download Download Article
Use a Windows batch file to copy folders with this user-friendly guide
PDF download Download Article

Have you ever tried to copy an entire folder with a Windows batch file? The following method will show you how to copy a folder from one location to another with a batch file.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-1.jpg\/aid8461069-v4-728px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Open Notepad and type the following commands in the file.
    • xcopy /s /i "THE FOLDER ADDRESS YOU WANT TO COPY" "DESTINATION LOCATION"
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-2.jpg\/aid8461069-v4-728px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-3.jpg\/aid8461069-v4-728px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You have to make some minor changes in the batch file you just created. In the code, type the actual values instead of the capital text.
    • For example, if you want to copy a folder named folder1 from D: to E:, then enter D:\folder1 instead of THE FOLDER ADDRESS YOU WANT TO COPY and E:\folder1 instead of DESTINATION LOCATION .
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-4.jpg\/aid8461069-v4-728px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Save the newly edited batch file and place it anywhere you want.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-5.jpg\/aid8461069-v4-728px-Copy-a-Folder-with-Batch-File-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your specified file will be copied from its current location to the one you have specified in the destination address.
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Open an ISO Files on Windows and Mac
      How to
      Find a File's Path on Windows
      How to
      Run a BAT File on Windows
      How to
      Open an Img File on PC or Mac
      How to
      Install MSI Files on Windows 10 or Windows 11
      Easily Create a New File in Windows: User-Friendly Instructions
      A Guide to Rebuilding the Icon Cache on a Windows PC
      How to
      Delete Files That Cannot Be Deleted
      Block an .exe Running in Windows
      How to
      Install a Screensaver File in Windows
      How to
      Play WebM Files
      How to
      Locate Temporary Internet Files
      How to
      Delete a File or Folder Showing Error "Access Is Denied"
      How to
      Extract a Tgz File in Windows from the Command Line
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 165,900 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement