How to copy or move files from one folder to another based on a list in Excel?

If you have a list of file names in a column in a worksheet, and the files locate in a folder in your computor. But, now, you need to move or copy these files which names are listed into the worksheet from their original folder to another one as following screenshot shown. How could you finish this task as quickly as you can in Excel?

Copy or move files from one folder to another based on a list in Excel with VBA code

Copy or move files from one folder to another based on a list in Excel with VBA code

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To move the files from one folder to another based on a list of files names, the following VBA code may do you a favor, please do as this:

1. Hold down the Alt + F11 keys in Excel, and it opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following VBA code in the Module Window.

VBA code: Move files from one folder to another based on a list in Excel

Sub movefiles()
'Updateby Extendoffice
    Dim xRg As Range, xCell As Range
    Dim xSFileDlg As FileDialog, xDFileDlg As FileDialog
    Dim xSPathStr As Variant, xDPathStr As Variant
    Dim xVal As String
    On Error Resume Next
    Set xRg = Application.InputBox("Please select the file names:", "KuTools For Excel", ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.Address, , , , , 8)
    If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    Set xSFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
    xSFileDlg.Title = " Please select the original folder:"
    If xSFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
    xSPathStr = xSFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
    Set xDFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
    xDFileDlg.Title = " Please select the destination folder:"
    If xDFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
    xDPathStr = xDFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
    For Each xCell In xRg
        xVal = xCell.Value
        If TypeName(xVal) = "String" And xVal <> "" Then
            FileCopy xSPathStr & xVal, xDPathStr & xVal
            Kill xSPathStr & xVal
        End If
    Next
End Sub

3. And then press F5 key to run this code, and a prompt box will pop out to remind you selecting the cells which contain the file names, see screenshot:

4. Then click OK button, and in the popped out window, please select the folder which contains the files that you want to move from, see screenshot:

5. And then click OK, go on selecting the destination folder where you want to locate the files in another popped out window, see screenshot:

6. Finally, click OK to close the window, and now, the files have been moved into another folder you specified based on the file names in worksheet list, see screenshot:

Note: If you just want to copy the files to another folder, but keep the original files, please apply the below VBA code:

VBA code: Copy files from one folder to another based on a list in Excel

Sub copyfiles()
'Updateby Extendoffice
    Dim xRg As Range, xCell As Range
    Dim xSFileDlg As FileDialog, xDFileDlg As FileDialog
    Dim xSPathStr As Variant, xDPathStr As Variant
    Dim xVal As String
    On Error Resume Next
    Set xRg = Application.InputBox("Please select the file names:", "KuTools For Excel", ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.Address, , , , , 8)
    If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    Set xSFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
    xSFileDlg.Title = "Please select the original folder:"
    If xSFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
    xSPathStr = xSFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
    Set xDFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
    xDFileDlg.Title = "Please select the destination folder:"
    If xDFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
    xDPathStr = xDFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
    For Each xCell In xRg
        xVal = xCell.Value
        If TypeName(xVal) = "String" And xVal <> "" Then
            FileCopy xSPathStr & xVal, xDPathStr & xVal
        End If
    Next
End Sub

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sd · 13 days ago
can anyone help to adapt this excellent code so the file range is fixed eg all filenames in column A until empty cell and pre set the from path as i always copy from the same source
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Exe · 14 days ago
Sorry I just saw the second script below...

I do have one more (applicable) query... Is there a way to make the script pick a filtered selection on a column? Instead of consecutive cell ranges.. would there be a way to make it pick only some specific rows after a filter is applied?
THANK YOU
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Exe · 14 days ago
Thank you SO MUCH for this. It worked perfectly at my end.
I have one question... is it possible to modify this to copy the files into the second path instead of moving them? I would need to apply this feature but I do need the source files to remain in the source folders.
Thank you!!!
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Phil · 2 months ago
Hi, Can this code be tweaked to look for partial file names using a wildcard? Thanks
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sabin348 · 4 months ago
How could this be adapted to paste into a list of multiple file paths instead of one path at a time?
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  skyyang · 2 months ago
  
  Hello, sabin,
  Do you want to copy and paste the files which from multiple original folders instead of only one folder?
  
  Reply
  
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  andrea · 1 months ago
  
  yes please
  
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mmarques09 · 5 months ago
If the reference doesn't exist the code break
wich line shall I had to the code do a jump through the next reference without stop
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Marco · 5 months ago
An what happen if the file doesn't existe in the origin folder?
the code breaks

The code shall has a line to jump to another reference if doesn't exist
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Kevin · 6 months ago
HI, I am not an expert in VBA but need your Module and I did as you instruct but nothing copied from source folder to the new folder. and no error is shown
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inasr · 10 months ago
Any update of how to search on folder and subfolders
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  skyyang · 9 months ago
  
  Hi, Nasr,
  To move files from folder and subfolders based on cell values, please apply the below VBA code:
  Please try, hope it can help you!
  
  Sub movefiles()
  'Updateby Extendoffice
  Dim xRg As Range, xCell As Range
  Dim xSFileDlg As FileDialog, xDFileDlg As FileDialog
  Dim xSPathStr As Variant, xDPathStr As Variant
  Dim xVal As String
  Dim fso As Object, folder1 As Object
  ' On Error Resume Next
  Set xRg = Application.InputBox("Please select the file names:", "KuTools For Excel", ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.Address, , , , , 8)
  If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
  Set xSFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
  xSFileDlg.Title = " Please select the original folder:"
  If xSFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
  xSPathStr = xSFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
  Set xDFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
  xDFileDlg.Title = " Please select the destination folder:"
  If xDFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
  xDPathStr = xDFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
  Call sMoveFiles(xRg, xSPathStr, xDPathStr)
  End Sub
  
  Sub sMoveFiles(xRg As Range, xSPathStr As Variant, xDPathStr As Variant)
  Dim xCell As Range
  Dim xVal As String
  Dim xFolder As Object
  Dim fso As Object
  Dim xF As Object
  Dim xStr As String
  Dim xFS As Object
  Dim xI As Integer
  On Error Resume Next
  If Dir(xDPathStr, vbDirectory) = "" Then
  MkDir (xDPathStr)
  End If
  For xI = 1 To xRg.Count
  Set xCell = xRg.Item(xI)
  xVal = xCell.Value
  If TypeName(xVal) = "String" And Not (xVal = "") Then
  On Error GoTo E1
  If Dir(xSPathStr & xVal, 16) <> Empty Then
  FileCopy xSPathStr & xVal, xDPathStr & xVal
  Kill xSPathStr & xVal
  End If
  End If
  E1:
  Next xI
  On Error Resume Next
  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set xFS = fso.GetFolder(xSPathStr)
  For Each xF In xFS.SubFolders
  xStr = xDPathStr & "\" & xF.Name ' Replace(xF.ShortPath, xSPathStr, xDPathStr)
  Call sMoveFiles(xRg, xF.ShortPath & "\", xStr & "\")
  If (CreateObject("scripting.FileSystemObject").GetFolder(xStr).Files.Count = 0) _
  And (CreateObject("scripting.FileSystemObject").GetFolder(xStr).SubFolders.Count = 0) Then
  RmDir xStr
  End If
  Next
  End Sub
  
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  inasr · 9 months ago
  
  That's perfect thank you
  but what about if I just wanted to copy files not moving it from subfolders only without the need of creating subfolders in the destination folder
  ie
  source folder X:\\parent
  inside parent is subfolders test1(file A), test2(file B) and test3(file C)
  then destination folder is "Y:\\destination" has all 3 files A, B, C without the subfolders
  
  Thank you very much
  
  Reply
  
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  Mike · 8 months ago
  
  Hi Nasr, did you figure out how to do this? I am looking at a similar need at the moment.
  
  Copying a selection of files from various subfolders to a single folder
  
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  inasr · 7 months ago
  
  Hi Mike
  I kind of did BUT indirectly, so what I did is modify the code to copy the files not move them with the subfolder
  then with CMD file move the file from subfolders to the main folder then delete the empty subfolder
  this is what I did
  
  Sub Copyfiles()
  'Updateby Extendoffice
  Dim xRg As Range, xCell As Range
  Dim xSFileDlg As FileDialog, xDFileDlg As FileDialog
  Dim xSPathStr As Variant, xDPathStr As Variant
  Dim xVal As String
  Dim fso As Object, folder1 As Object
  ' On Error Resume Next
  Set xRg = Application.InputBox("Please select the file names:", "KuTools For Excel", ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.Address, , , , , 8)
  If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
  Set xSFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
  xSFileDlg.Title = " Please select the original folder:"
  If xSFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
  xSPathStr = xSFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
  Set xDFileDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
  xDFileDlg.Title = " Please select the destination folder:"
  If xDFileDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
  xDPathStr = xDFileDlg.SelectedItems.Item(1) & "\"
  Call sCopyFiles(xRg, xSPathStr, xDPathStr)
  End Sub
  
  Sub sCopyFiles(xRg As Range, xSPathStr As Variant, xDPathStr As Variant)
  Dim xCell As Range
  Dim xVal As String
  Dim xFolder As Object
  Dim fso As Object
  Dim xF As Object
  Dim xStr As String
  Dim xFS As Object
  Dim xI As Integer
  On Error Resume Next
  If Dir(xDPathStr, vbDirectory) = "" Then
  MkDir (xDPathStr)
  End If
  For xI = 1 To xRg.Count
  Set xCell = xRg.Item(xI)
  xVal = xCell.Value
  If TypeName(xVal) = "String" And Not (xVal = "") Then
  On Error GoTo E1
  If Dir(xSPathStr & xVal, 16) <> Empty Then
  FileCopy xSPathStr & xVal, xDPathStr & xVal
  End If
  End If
  E1:
  Next xI
  On Error Resume Next
  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set xFS = fso.GetFolder(xSPathStr)
  For Each xF In xFS.SubFolders
  xStr = xDPathStr & "\" & xF.Name ' Replace(xF.ShortPath, xSPathStr, xDPathStr)
  Call sCopyFiles(xRg, xF.ShortPath & "\", xStr & "\")
  If (CreateObject("scripting.FileSystemObject").GetFolder(xStr).Files.Count = 0) _
  And (CreateObject("scripting.FileSystemObject").GetFolder(xStr).SubFolders.Count = 0) Then
  RmDir xStr
  End If
  Next
  End Sub
  
  then copy the following lines to a new notepad then save it as cmd call it whatever
  
  for /r %%a IN (*.*) do (
  move /y "%%a" "%cd%"
  )
  for /f "delims=" %%d in ('dir /s /b /ad ^| sort /r') do rd "%%d"
  
  make sure to copy the code as is 4 lines
  hope that help
  
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  Tim · 6 months ago
  
  You can achieve the same result using only the VBA if you add a ' before the & "\" & xF.Name in the below line.
  This still copies from subfolders but copies to a single level folder.
  
  xStr = xDPathStr & "\" & xF.Name ' Replace(xF.ShortPath, xSPathStr, xDPathStr)
  Becomes
  xStr = xDPathStr '& "\" & xF.Name ' Replace(xF.ShortPath, xSPathStr, xDPathStr)
  
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  inasr · 7 months ago
  
  make sure to put the cmd file in the same folder that you copy the files and subfolders to then double click it
  
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ADOLFO · 11 months ago
buenas noches, alguien sabe que tengo que modificar para que me mueva carpetas y no solo archivos?
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jonathan · 1 years ago
thanks so much !
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Michael · 1 years ago
Has anyone figured out how to copy files that are located in multiple subfolders of the main directory, and paste into another folder directory? Also does this transfer method only work for folders on the C drive? I am trying to copy files from our directory that includes multiple subfolders where several files are stored located in Microsoft Sharepoint, to a folder on my C drive.

Any help would be much appreciated!
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julien · 1 years ago
hi do you know how to search also on the subfolder ?
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technicallyspecific@gmail.com · 1 years ago
Works great - thank you! However-->>>Can this be adjusted to use a PARTIAL FILE NAME? If so, can you help show how?
In other words, if file name on the Excel sheet list of filenames is: OW4234TR_J19031.txt (I'd like it to only look at last 5 chars "19031" which is a Julian Date and move a range of files... (anything with a Julian Date of 19092 thru 19120) into the March folder.. The ultimate over-arching task is to locate any files that have Julian dates for March and put those in the Fiscal March Folder "06-Mar" , April into the April folder "07-Apr" and so on...so Fiscal reconciliations by month can then take place.. TIA for any help anyone can offer to expedite this time consuming hunt and picking process. =-)
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Fer · 1 years ago
en el codigo que copia ¿como puedo colorear el nombre de la lista que no encuentre?
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Johnette · 1 years ago
I cannot get either version to work in Windows 10.

Argggg
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Andy · 1 years ago
Any tips on how to modify the code to add a wide card? I have an archive of hundreds of PDF files that are 10 digit numbers and revision level (XXXXXXXXXX_REVA). I can export a list of file names very easily from our ERP system, but the list is missing the revision and file extension. Is there a way to add wild cards into the program to ignore everything BUT the 10 digit number?
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PWD · 1 years ago
Hello,
how to make this code copy files from subfolders?
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Gokury · 1 years ago
Hi Guys,

How I need to change '' If TypeName(xVal) = "String" And xVal <> "" Then '' to move files based on partial file name.

Thanks in advance,
Best regards, P
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  technicallyspecific@gmail.com · 1 years ago
  
  Did you ever find out HOW to use a PARTIAL FILE NAME? I need that as well...
  In other words, if file name on the Excel sheet list is: OW4234TR_J19031.txt (I'd like it to only look at last 5 chars "19031" which is a Julian Date and move a range of files... anything with a Julian Date of 19031 thru 19075..
  
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  eric · 10 months ago
  
  I also would require the partial file name vba modification. Did you ever get a response?
  
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Sidney · 1 years ago
Você não tem noção de como me ajudou com esse script... Muito bom!!! Obrigado!!!
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Robinson · 2 years ago
Obrigado!!!!
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Alisson · 2 years ago
Era exatamente isso que eu precisava!!!

Muito Obrigado!!!!
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Raki · 2 years ago
Hi, In the source folder, I wish to set it as a constant from a cell, for example the path entered in a particular cell, like A1, should be treated as the source folder. How to do this?
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madhan · 2 years ago
It is the nice macro.Real helpful for me. but I need some update macro.this used to copy the files from single folder to another folder. we need copy files from folder and subfolder to another folder.
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