Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for generating folder keys and using folder keys to access folder paths. In an embodiment, a computer system may instantiate a graphical user interface (GUI) to display folder and sub-folder contents as well as a folder key. A user may input a folder key as a representation of the displayed sub-folder of the corresponding folder path. The folder key may include one or more symbols that the computer system may store and associate with the folder path. Using the folder key, the computer system may retrieve a particular sub-folder, manage security or permissions related to folders, and/or facilitate navigation between sub-folders. Using a folder key may aid a user in quickly navigating to a particular sub-folder and may allow a computer system to avoid loading unnecessary intermediate sub-folders as a user navigates to a particular desired sub-folder.