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Windows 11 File Explorer has no built-in command to copy only a folder structure. To copy folders without their files, open Command Prompt and run XCOPY with /T /E /I, or use ROBOCOPY with /E /XF *.
XCOPY is a straightforward choice; use ROBOCOPY when you need logging, junction-point controls, permission options, or long-path support. Both commands can include empty folders.
Before you start
- Open Start, search for Command Prompt, and open it.
- Identify the complete source and destination paths.
- Put paths in double quotation marks when they contain spaces.
For example, a source might be C:\Users\Alex\Documents\Project Templates, while the destination might be D:\Backup\Project Templates.
Method 1: Copy folders only with XCOPY
Run this command:
xcopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /T /E /I
Replace both paths with your own. The switches mean:
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| Switch | Purpose |
|---|---|
| /T | Copies the directory tree without copying files. |
| /E | Includes empty folders and all subfolders. |
| /I | Assumes the destination is a directory, avoiding the file-or-directory question when the destination does not yet exist. |
Example:
xcopy "C:\Users\Alex\Documents\Website" "D:\Backup\Website" /T /E /I
This creates the Website directory structure under the destination, including folders that contain no files. It does not copy the files from the source.
Why /E matters
/T alone does not produce a complete structure if the source contains empty directories. Add /E to include them. The /S switch is not a replacement: it copies subdirectories but excludes empty directories.
XCOPY’s destination prompt
If the destination does not exist, does not end with a backslash, and you omit /I, XCOPY may ask:
Does <Destination> specify a file name or directory name on the target (F = file, D = directory)?
Press D to identify it as a directory. Using /I in the standard folders-only command prevents this question.
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XCOPY limitations and exit codes
XCOPY can report an “insufficient memory” error when a source file or folder path exceeds 255 characters. For more demanding directory trees, ROBOCOPY is usually the better choice.
If you need to check the result in a script, XCOPY returns these documented exit codes:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Files copied without error. |
| 1 | No files were found to copy. |
| 4 | Initialization error, insufficient memory or disk space, invalid drive, or invalid syntax. |
| 5 | Disk-write error. |
Source: Microsoft XCOPY command reference.
Method 2: Copy folders only with ROBOCOPY
ROBOCOPY normally copies files as well as directories, so the file-exclusion switch is essential. Run:
robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF *
Here, /E copies all subdirectories, including empty ones, and /XF * excludes files matching the wildcard *.
Example:
robocopy "C:\Users\Alex\Documents\Website" "D:\Backup\Website" /E /XF *
When the command finishes, the destination contains the source folder structure but not the source files.
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Important ROBOCOPY switches to avoid
| Switch | Why not to use it here |
|---|---|
| /E alone | Includes empty directories, but does not exclude files. Add /XF *. |
| /S | Excludes empty directories. Use /E when every folder must be reproduced. |
| /CREATE | Creates zero-length files as well as the directory tree, so it is not folders-only. |
| /NOCOPY | Is primarily documented for use with /PURGE, not as the normal folders-only command. |
| /MIR | Equals /E plus /PURGE and can delete destination files and folders that are absent from the source. |
| /MOVE or /MOV | Deletes source directories or files after copying. They are inappropriate when the source must remain unchanged. |
Exclude junction points
ROBOCOPY normally includes junction points. A junction can point outside the source tree, potentially causing ROBOCOPY to process directories you did not intend to include.
To exclude all junction points, add /XJ:
robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF * /XJ
To exclude directory junction points specifically, use /XJD instead:
robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF * /XJD
Handle permissions and long paths
If access is denied, /B runs ROBOCOPY in backup mode and can override file and folder ACL restrictions when your account has the required backup privileges. /ZB starts in restartable mode and switches to backup mode if access is denied:
robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF * /ZB
ROBOCOPY supports paths longer than 256 characters by default. Do not add /256 unless you specifically want to turn off long-path support.
Save a ROBOCOPY log
For a large tree or an operation you need to verify later, write the output to a log:
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robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF * /LOG:"C:\Temp\folder-structure.log"
The C:\Temp folder must already exist. ROBOCOPY does not create missing parent folders for the log path. Create it first if necessary:
mkdir "C:\Temp"
Interpret ROBOCOPY’s exit code
ROBOCOPY’s exit code is not a simple success-or-failure value. In general:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Nothing was copied and no failure occurred. |
| 1 | All files were copied successfully. For a folders-only operation, the directory work can still complete successfully even though files are excluded. |
| 2–7 | Additional files, mismatches, or combinations of successful operations; these codes do not necessarily indicate failure. |
| 8 or higher | At least one failure occurred. |
Source: Microsoft ROBOCOPY command reference.
Which command should you use?
| Requirement | Recommended command |
|---|---|
| Simple copy of a directory tree, including empty folders | xcopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /T /E /I |
| Long paths, junction control, permissions, logging, or better diagnostics | robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF * |
Use XCOPY when the job is straightforward. Choose ROBOCOPY when the source contains junctions, access restrictions, very long paths, or enough folders that a saved log is useful.
Can File Explorer do this?
Not directly. File Explorer, opened with Start > File Explorer or Windows logo key + E, provides normal Copy and Paste commands for files and folders, but it has no documented command to copy only a folder structure. In Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, the former Quick access landing page is called File Explorer Home; this naming change does not add a folders-only copy feature.
Source: Microsoft File Explorer help.
Verify the destination
- Open the destination in File Explorer.
- Open several nested folders to confirm that the hierarchy was reproduced.
- Check that no files were created.
- If you used ROBOCOPY with /LOG, review the log for errors and confirm that the exit code is below 8.
FAQ
Does XCOPY copy the source files with this command?
No. The /T switch tells XCOPY to copy the directory tree without files. The added /E includes empty directories.
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Why are some empty folders missing after using XCOPY?
You probably used /T or /S without /E. Use xcopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /T /E /I to include empty directories.
Does ROBOCOPY /E copy folders only?
No. /E copies subdirectories, including empty ones, but ROBOCOPY also normally copies files. Add /XF * to exclude the files.
Will these commands delete files in the destination?
The standard XCOPY and ROBOCOPY commands shown here do not mirror or purge the destination. Do not add ROBOCOPY /MIR, because it can delete destination items missing from the source.
Can I copy the folder structure to another drive?
Yes. Use a destination such as D:\Destination, an external drive letter, or another accessible path. Make sure the destination drive is available before running the command.
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The Bottom Line
For a normal Windows 11 folders-only copy, run:
xcopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /T /E /I
Use ROBOCOPY instead when you need logging, long-path support, junction-point exclusions, or permission-handling options:
robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Destination" /E /XF *
In both cases, /E preserves empty folders, and the ROBOCOPY command must include /XF * because ROBOCOPY’s default behavior includes files.
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