This article explains how to get the GodMode folder in Windows. This is a special folder that gives you quick access to over 200 tools and settings that are normally tucked away in the Control Panel and other windows and menus.

What to Know

  • Make a new folder. It doesn’t matter where, just make sure it’s empty.Name it this: God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}Press Enter to save the name. Open it like any shortcut.

How to Activate God Mode in Windows

The steps for turning on GodMode is the exact same for Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. If you want to use GodMode in Windows Vista, see the section at the bottom of this page for more information before you continue with these steps. Windows XP doesn’t support it.

  • Make a new folder, anywhere you like.
  • To do this, right-click or tap-and-hold on any empty space in any folder in Windows, and choose New > Folder.
  • You need to make a new folder right now, not just use an existing folder that already has files and folders in it. If you proceed to Step 2 using a folder that already has data in it, all of those files will instantly become hidden, and while GodMode will work, your files will not be accessible.
  • When asked to name the folder, copy and paste this into that text box and then click away or press Enter:
  • God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
  • The folder icon will change to a Control Panel icon.
  • Although we just warned in the previous step to use an empty folder to get to GodMode, there is a way to unhide your files and reverse GodMode if you accidentally did this to an existing folder. See the tip at the bottom of this page for help.
  • Open the new folder to see GodMode in action.
  • GodMode (Windows 11).
  • What God Mode Is and Isn’t
  • GodMode is a quick-access folder full of shortcuts to administrative tools and settings. It also makes it a breeze to place shortcuts to those settings anywhere else, like on your desktop.
  • For example, in Windows 11, to edit environment variables, you could take the long route and open Control Panel and then navigate to System and Security > System > Advanced system settings, or you could use GodMode to access Edit the system environment variables to reach the same place in fewer steps.
  • What GodMode is not is a set of new Windows tweaks or hacks that gives you special functions or features. Nothing in GodMode is unique. In fact, much like the environment variable example, every single task found in GodMode is accessible elsewhere in Windows.
  • This means you don’t need GodMode enabled to do all of these things. Task Manager, for instance, can sure be opened quickly in GodMode but it works just as fast, if not even faster, with the Ctrl+Shift+Esc or Ctrl+Alt+Del keyboard shortcut.
  • Similarly, you can open Device Manager in a number of ways in addition to the GodMode folder, like in Command Prompt or via the Run dialog box. The same holds true for every other task found in this special folder.
  • What You Can Do With God Mode
  • What this folder affords you is a little different for each version of Windows. Once you turn on the GodMode folder, you’ll find all of these section headings, each with their own set of tasks:
  • GodMode Task Availability
  • Tools Category
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
  • Action Center
  • •
  • •
  • Add Features to Windows 8.1
  • •
  • Administrative Tools
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • AutoPlay
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Backup and Restore
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • BitLocker Drive Encryption
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Color Management
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Credential Manager
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Date and Time
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Default Programs
  • •
  • •
  • Desktop Gadgets
  • •
  • Device Manager
  • •
  • Devices and Printers
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Display
  • •
  • •
  • Ease of Access Center
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Family Safety
  • •
  • File Explorer Options
  • •
  • •
  • File History
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Folder Options
  • •
  • •
  • Fonts
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Getting Started
  • •
  • HomeGroup
  • •
  • •
  • Indexing Options
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Infrared
  • •
  • Internet Options
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Keyboard
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Language
  • •
  • •
  • Location Settings
  • •
  • Location and Other Sensor
  • •
  • Mouse
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Network and Sharing Center
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Notification Area Icons
  • •
  • •
  • Parental Controls
  • •
  • Performance Information and Tools
  • •
  • Personalization
  • •
  • •
  • Phone and Modem
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Power Options
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Programs and Features
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Recovery
  • •
  • Region
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Region and Language
  • •
  • RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Security and Maintenance
  • •
  • •
  • Sound
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Speech Recognition
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Storage Spaces
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Sync Center
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • System
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Taskbar and Navigation
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Taskbar and Start Menu
  • •
  • Troubleshooting
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • User Accounts
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Windows CardSpace
  • •
  • Windows Defender
  • •
  • •
  • Windows Firewall
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • Windows Mobility Center
  • •
  • •
  • Windows Tools
  • •
  • Windows Update
  • •
  • •
  • Work Folders
  • •
  • •
  • •
  • You can use GodMode in Windows Vista, too, but only if you’re on a 32-bit edition since it’s been known to crash 64-bit versions and the only way out of it might be to boot into Safe Mode and remove the folder.
  • How to Undo God Mode
  • If you need to remove GodMode, you can just delete the folder to get rid of it. However, if you need to delete GodMode on a folder that already had data in it, don’t delete it.
  • We mentioned above that you should only make GodMode with a folder that is empty, or else you won’t have access to those files once the folder has been renamed. While this might sound like a neat way to hide your sensitive files, it can be a bit scary if you’re not sure how to get your data back.
  • Unfortunately, you can’t use Windows Explorer to rename the GodMode folder back to its original name, but there is another way…
  • Open Command Prompt at the location of your GodMode folder and use the ren command to rename it to something else like oldfolder:
  • ren “God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}” oldfolder
  • Once you do that, the folder will go back to normal and your files will show up as you’d expect.
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Make a new folder, anywhere you like.

To do this, right-click or tap-and-hold on any empty space in any folder in Windows, and choose New > Folder.

You need to make a new folder right now, not just use an existing folder that already has files and folders in it. If you proceed to Step 2 using a folder that already has data in it, all of those files will instantly become hidden, and while GodMode will work, your files will not be accessible.

When asked to name the folder, copy and paste this into that text box and then click away or press Enter:

God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

The folder icon will change to a Control Panel icon.

Although we just warned in the previous step to use an empty folder to get to GodMode, there is a way to unhide your files and reverse GodMode if you accidentally did this to an existing folder. See the tip at the bottom of this page for help.

Open the new folder to see GodMode in action.

What God Mode Is and Isn’t

GodMode is a quick-access folder full of shortcuts to administrative tools and settings. It also makes it a breeze to place shortcuts to those settings anywhere else, like on your desktop.

For example, in Windows 11, to edit environment variables, you could take the long route and open Control Panel and then navigate to System and Security > System > Advanced system settings, or you could use GodMode to access Edit the system environment variables to reach the same place in fewer steps.

What GodMode is not is a set of new Windows tweaks or hacks that gives you special functions or features. Nothing in GodMode is unique. In fact, much like the environment variable example, every single task found in GodMode is accessible elsewhere in Windows.

This means you don’t need GodMode enabled to do all of these things. Task Manager, for instance, can sure be opened quickly in GodMode but it works just as fast, if not even faster, with the Ctrl+Shift+Esc or Ctrl+Alt+Del keyboard shortcut.

Similarly, you can open Device Manager in a number of ways in addition to the GodMode folder, like in Command Prompt or via the Run dialog box. The same holds true for every other task found in this special folder.

What You Can Do With God Mode

What this folder affords you is a little different for each version of Windows. Once you turn on the GodMode folder, you’ll find all of these section headings, each with their own set of tasks:

How to Undo God Mode

If you need to remove GodMode, you can just delete the folder to get rid of it. However, if you need to delete GodMode on a folder that already had data in it, don’t delete it.

You can use GodMode in Windows Vista, too, but only if you’re on a 32-bit edition since it’s been known to crash 64-bit versions and the only way out of it might be to boot into Safe Mode and remove the folder.

We mentioned above that you should only make GodMode with a folder that is empty, or else you won’t have access to those files once the folder has been renamed. While this might sound like a neat way to hide your sensitive files, it can be a bit scary if you’re not sure how to get your data back.

Unfortunately, you can’t use Windows Explorer to rename the GodMode folder back to its original name, but there is another way…

Open Command Prompt at the location of your GodMode folder and use the ren command to rename it to something else like oldfolder:

ren “God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}” oldfolder

Once you do that, the folder will go back to normal and your files will show up as you’d expect.

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