Command Prompt is also popularly known as cmd.exe or cmd. It is the default command line interface, also known as CLI, found in Windows operating systems. cmd is the terminal window based on the MS-DOS operating system from the Microsoft stable of the 80s.
Command Prompt (referred to as Prompt) allows users to execute various commands in a non-GUI (Graphical User Interface) way, to interact with the system. From setting up automated tasks using batch files to using and manipulating the file system, a prompt is a very efficient tool to ease the tech-savvy user’s interactions with a Windows system. In this guide, we will take a look at some of the best and most popular cmd commands that anybody can use and get a how-to-use command prompt in Windows OS.
Also Read: Shortcut Key of a New Folder: What are the Shortcut Keys to Create a New Folder on Windows and Mac
Table of Contents
How to Open Command Prompt in a Particular File or Directory
- Go to Particular File or Directory on your Windows computer
- Right-click on screen
- Select “Show more options”
- Click “Open in Terminal”
- Cmd will open in a new window
Note: On Windows 11, cmd is known as Terminal, which is an app released in 2019 by Microsoft. Windows Terminal merges the Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Azure Cloud Shell into a single app.
If you just want to open the command prompt from your home screen, you can just click on the start button and type “cmd” you will get an option to open the command prompt.
Command Prompt Commands List
| Command | Description |
| addusers |
Add or list users to/from a CSV file
|
| append |
Allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in the current directory. You can also use it without parameters, to display the appended directory list.
|
| assoc |
Displays or modifies file name extension associations. If used without parameters, assoc displays a list of all the current file name extension associations.
|
| attrib |
Displays sets or removes attributes assigned to files or directories. If used without parameters, attrib displays attributes of all files in the current directory.
|
| attrib |
Display file attributes
|
| attributes |
Displays, sets, or clears the attributes of a disk or volume.
|
| break |
Do nothing, successfully
|
| cacls |
Change file permissions
|
| call |
Calls a batch file from another one
|
| call |
Call one batch program from another
|
| cd |
Change directory
|
| change |
Change Terminal Server Session properties
|
| chkdsk | Check volumes |
| chkntfs |
Display/change volume check at startup
|
| cls | Clear screen |
| cmd |
Start command prompt
|
| cmdkey |
Manage stored usernames/passwords
|
| color |
Change console colour
|
| comp |
Compare file contents
|
| compact |
Display/change file compression
|
| con | Console input |
| convert |
Convert a FAT drive to NTFS
|
| copy / xcopy | Copy files |
| curl |
Transfer data from or to a server
|
| date | Show/set date |
| defrag |
Defragment media
|
| dir |
List directory content
|
| diskcomp |
Compare the content of two floppy disks
|
| diskcopy |
Copy floppy disc to another one
|
| diskpart |
Volume management
|
| driverquery |
Display installed devices and their properties
|
| echo | Text output |
| echo |
Display message on the screen
|
| erase / del |
Delete one or more files
|
| exit |
Exits the command prompt or a batch file
|
| exit |
Quit the current script/routine and set an errorlevel
|
| expand | Extract files |
| fc |
Compare files and display the differences
|
| fc |
Compare two files
|
| find | Find files |
| find |
Search for a text string in a file
|
| findstr |
Search for strings in files
|
| for | For loop |
| format | Format volumes |
| format | Format a disk |
| freedisk |
Check free disk space
|
| ftp |
Transfer files to an FTP server
|
| ftype |
Display file type and mapping
|
| getmac |
Display MAC address
|
| goto |
Direct a batch program to jump to a labelled line
|
| gpresult |
Display group policies
|
| gpupdate |
Update group policies
|
| hostname |
Display host name
|
| ipconfig |
Display IP network settings
|
| ipconfig | Configure IP |
| label |
Change volume name
|
| md |
Create a new Directory
|
| mkdir |
Create a new directory
|
| mode |
Configure interfaces/devices
|
| more |
Display output, one screen at a time
|
| mountvol |
Assign/delete drive mount points
|
| move |
Move/rename files
|
| move |
Move files from one folder to another
|
| net |
Manage network resources
|
| netsh |
Configure/control/display network components
|
| netstat |
Display TCP/IP connections and status
|
| nslookup | Query the DNS |
| openfiles |
Query or display open files
|
| path |
Display or set a search path for executable files
|
| pathping |
Test the connection to a specific IP address
|
| pause |
Pauses the execution of a batch file and shows a message
|
| pause |
Suspend processing of a batch file
|
| perfmon |
Start performance monitor
|
| ping |
Pings the network
|
| ping |
Test a network connection
|
| Print a text file | |
| prompt |
Change command prompt
|
| psfile |
Show files opened remotely
|
| pskill |
Kill processes by name or process ID
|
| pslist |
List detailed information about processes
|
| psloggedon |
Who’s logged on (locally or via resource sharing)
|
| psloglist |
Event log records
|
| pspasswd |
Change account password
|
| psping |
Measure network performance
|
| psservice |
View and control services
|
| psshutdown |
Shutdown or reboot a computer
|
| pssuspend |
Suspend processes
|
| rd |
Delete a Directory
|
| reg |
Add/read/import/export registry entries
|
| rem |
Record comments (remarks) in a batch file
|
| ren |
Rename a file or files
|
| rename | Rename files |
| replace | Replace files |
| replace |
Replace or update one file with another
|
| rmdir / rd | Delete directory |
| route |
Display network routing table, add static routes
|
| runas |
Start a program as another user
|
| set |
Display, set, or remove session environment variables
|
| setlocal |
Control the visibility of environment variables
|
| sfc |
System File Checker
|
| shutdown |
Shutdown the computer
|
| sleep |
Wait for x seconds
|
| sort |
Sort the screen output
|
| sort | Sort input |
| start |
Start your own window to execute a program or command
|
| systeminfo |
Displays computer-specific properties and configurations
|
| systeminfo |
List system configuration
|
| takeown |
Take ownership of a file
|
| tar |
Store, list or extract files in an archive
|
| taskkill |
Terminate a process or an application
|
| taskkill |
End a running process
|
| tasklist |
Display applications and related tasks
|
| tasklist |
List running applications and services
|
| telnet |
Establish Telnet connection
|
| tftp |
Transfer files to a TFTP server
|
| time |
Display/edit the system time
|
| timeout | Wait any time |
| title |
Set title for prompt
|
| tlist |
Task list with full path
|
| touch |
Change file timestamps
|
| tracert |
Trace routes similar to patchping
|
| tracert |
Trace route to a remote host
|
| tree |
Display folder structure graphically
|
| type |
Display content of text files
|
| type |
Display the contents of a text file
|
| vbc |
Visual Basic compiler
|
| ver |
Display operating system version
|
| ver |
Display version information
|
| verify |
Monitoring whether volumes are written correctly
|
| verify |
Verify that files have been saved
|
| vmconnect |
Connect to a Hyper-V Virtual Machine
|
| vol |
Show volume description and serial numbers of the HDDs
|
| w32tm |
Setting time synchronisation/time server/time zone
|
| waitfor |
Wait for or send a signal
|
| wbadmin |
Windows Backup Admin
|
| wt |
Windows Terminal
|
| wuauclt |
Windows Update
|
| wusa |
Windows Update Standalone Installer
|
| xcacls |
Change file and folder permissions
|
| xcopy |
Copy files and folders
|
These were some of the best and top useful cmd commands that you can try on your Windows machine.
Also Read: Shortcut For Task Manager: How to Open Task Manager Using Shortcut Keys on Windows PC
