Unlock Windows 11 Power - Run Commands and CMD List

 

Windows Run command box is a built-in feature included in all later versions of the Windows operating system since Windows 95. It is one of the quickest and most efficient ways to directly access various applications, system utilities, folders, settings, and more.

The Run box allows you to quickly open/access any app, tool, or setting in just 2 steps instead of sifting through the Settings, Control Panel, or other menus. As long as you know the corresponding Run command, you can access any tool or task. If you learn and remember these Run commands, it can help you be more productive in your day-to-day use.

Here we have compiled the complete list of Run commands that you can use in Windows 11 to reach your destination.

How to Open and Use the Run Command Box

To use Run commands, first, you need to know how to open the Run utility to type the commands. There are several ways to open the Run command box in Windows 11:

• You can right-click the Start menu and select ‘Run’ from the flyout menu.
• Press the shortcut keys Windows+R.
• Open Windows search and search for ‘Run’ and select the top result.
• Search for Run in the Windows Search and click the ‘Pin to Taskbar’. Then, click the ‘Run’ icon in the Taskbar to open the Run dialog box.Once the Run dialog box opens up, type your command in the ‘Open:’ field and press Enter or click the ‘OK’ button to execute that command.

Most of these Run commands here (except Windows 11 Settings commands) are not case sensitive, so you can use lowercase, uppercase, or a mixture of both, it will work the same.
Most-used Run Commands for Windows 11

Here is the list of most popular and most used Run commands that you can use day-to-day to access the most popular applications and settings in Windows 11.

Action	Run Command
Opens the Command prompt	cmd
Access Windows 11 Control Panel	control
Opens the Registry Editor	regedit
Opens the System Information window	msconfig
Opens Services utility	services.msc
Opens the File Explorer	explorer
Opens the Local Group Policy Editor	gpedit.msc
Opens up Google Chrome	chrome
Opens up Mozilla Firefox	firefox
Opens up Microsoft Edge	explore or microsoft-edge:
Opens the System Configuration dialog box	msconfig
Opens the Temporary files folder	%temp% or temp
Opens the Disk Cleanup dialog	cleanmgr
Opens the Task Manager	taskmgr
Manage User Accounts	netplwiz
Access Programs and Features Control panel	appwiz.cpl
Access Device Manager	devmgmt.msc or hdwwiz.cpl
Manage Windows Power options	powercfg.cpl
Shuts down your Computer	shutdown
Opens the DirectX Diagnostic Tool	dxdiag
Opens the Calculator	calc
Check up on System Resource (Resource Monitor)	resmon
Opens up an untitled Notepad	notepad
Access Power Options	powercfg.cpl
Opens Computer Management console	compmgmt.msc or compmgmtlauncher
Opens up the current user profile directory	.
Open up the Users folder	..
Open On-Screen Keyboard	osk
Access Network Connections	ncpa.cpl or control netconnection
Access mouse properties	main.cpl or control mouse
Opens the Disk Management Utility	diskmgmt.msc
Open up Remote Desktop Connection	mstsc
Open Windows PowerShell window	powershell
Access Folder Options	control folders
Access Windows Defender Firewall	firewall.cpl
Logout of the Current User Account	logoff
Open Microsoft Wordpad	write
Open untitled MS Paint	mspaint
Turn Windows Features On/Off	optionalfeatures
Open the C Drive	\
Open System Properties dialog	sysdm.cpl
Monitor the performance of the system	perfmon.msc
Open Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool	mrt
Open Windows Character Map table	charmap
Open Snipping Tool	snippingtool
Check Windows Version	winver
Open Microsoft Magnifier	magnify
Open Disk Partition Manager	diskpart
Open any website	Enter Website URL
Open Disk Defragmenter utility	dfrgui
Open Windows Mobility Center	mblctr

Control Panel Run Commands

The below Run commands can help you access various parts of the classic Control Panel or control applets directly:

action	Run Command
Open Time and Date properties	Timedate.cpl
Open Fonts Control Panel folder	Fonts
Open Internet Properties	Inetcpl.cpl
Open Keyboard Properties	main.cpl keyboard
Open Mouse Properties	control mouse
Access Sound properties	mmsys.cpl
Open Sound control panel	control mmsys.cpl sounds
Access Devices and Printers properties	control printers
Open Administrative Tools (Windows Tools) folder in Control Panel.	control admintools
Open Region properties – Language, Date/Time format, keyboard locale.	intl.cpl
Access Security and Maintenance Control Panel.	wscui.cpl
Control Display settings	desk.cpl
Control Personalization settings	Control desktop
Manage current user account	control userpasswords or control.exe /name Microsoft.UserAccounts
Open User Accounts dialog box	control userpasswords2
Open Add a Device Wizard	devicepairingwizard
Create a System Repair Disc	recdisc
Create A Shared Folder Wizard	shrpubw
Open Task Scheduler	Control schedtasks or taskschd.msc
Access Windows Firewall with Advanced Security	wf.msc
Open Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature	systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention
Access System Restore feature	rstrui
Open Shared Folders window	fsmgmt.msc
Access Performance Options	systempropertiesperformance
Access Pen and Touch options	tabletpc.cpl
Control Display Color Calibration	dccw
Adjust User Account Control (UAC) Settings	UserAccountControlSettings
Open Microsoft Sync Center	mobsync
Access Backup and Restore control panel	sdclt
View and Change Windows Activation settings	slui
Open Windows Fax and Scan utility	wfs
Open Ease of Access Center	control access.cpl
Install a program from the network	control appwiz.cpl,,1

Windows 11 Settings Run Commands

This section contains the complete list of Run commands that can help you can access the settings in the Windows 11 Settings app.

Windows 11 Settings – System settings

Action	Run Command
Open Settings app home page	ms-settings:
Adjust Display settings	dpiscaling or ms-settings:display
Open Sound settings	ms-settings:sound
Manage Sound Devices(Input/Output Devices)	ms-settings:sound-devices
Open Sound Mixer settings	ms-settings:apps-volume
Open Sound Mixer dialog box	sndvol
Adjust Sound Mixer settings	ms-settings:apps-volume
Configure Notifications settings	ms-settings:notifications
Configure Focus assist settings	ms-settings:quiethours
Change Power & Battery settings	ms-settings:batterysaver-settings or ms-settings:powersleep
Open Storage Settings	ms-settings:storagesense
Configure Storage Sense	ms-settings:storagepolicies
Open Nearby Sharing options	ms-settings:crossdevice
Configure Multitasking	ms-settings:multitasking
Open Windows Activation settings	ms-settings:activation
Open Windows Troubleshoot Settings	control.exe /name Microsoft.Troubleshooting or ms-settings:troubleshoot
Open Recovery options – Reset/Go Back/Advanced startup	ms-settings:recovery
Projecting to this PC	ms-settings:project
Open Remote Desktop settings	ms-settings:remotedesktop
Open Clipboard settings	ms-settings:clipboard
Open About settings page (Device and Windows specification, Related settings)	ms-settings:about
Adjust Graphics preference settings	ms-settings:display-advancedgraphics
Change the Night light settings	ms-settings:nightlight
Change where new content is saved	ms-settings:savelocations

Windows 11 Settings – Bluetooth & device settings

action	Run Command
Open Devices settings	ms-settings:connecteddevices or ms-settings:bluetooth
Open Printers & Scanner settings	ms-settings:printers
Configure Touchpad settings	ms-settings:devices-touchpad
Access AutoPlay settings for media and devices	ms-settings:autoplay
Open Cameras Settings	ms-settings:camera
Open Pen and Windows Ink settings	ms-settings:pen
Open Your Phone settings	ms-settings:mobile-devices
Open USB settings	ms-settings:usb
Open Mouse settings	ms-settings:mousetouchpad
Open AutoPlay settings	ms-settings:autoplay

Windows 11 Settings – Network & Internet settings

action	Run Command
Open Network & Internet settings panel	ms-settings:network
Connect and manage WiFi settings	ms-settings:network-wifi
Manage known Wi-Fi networks	ms-settings:network-wifisettings
Manage Ethernet Network settings	ms-settings:network-ethernet
Add, connect, and Manage VPN	ms-settings:network-vpn
Open Mobile Hotspot settings	ms-settings:network-mobilehotspot
Set up a dial-up internet connection	ms-settings:network-dialup
Configure Proxy server (Ethernet and WiFi)	ms-settings:network-proxy
View Network Status	ms-settings:network-status
Open Airplane mode (Wireless/Bluetooth) settings	ms-settings:network-airplanemode or ms-settings:proximity
View data usage	ms-settings:datausage

Windows 11 Settings – Personalization settings

action	command
Open all Personalization settings	ms-settings:personalization
Customize Background settings	ms-settings:personalization-background
Customize Color settings	ms-settings:personalization-colors or ms-settings:colors
Customize Start Menu	ms-settings:personalization-start
Choose which folders appear on Start next to the Power button	ms-settings:personalization-start-places
Customize Lock Screen	ms-settings:lockscreen
Add or Change Fonts	ms-settings:fonts
Configure Taskbar settings	ms-settings:taskbar
Change Themes	ms-settings:themes
Open Device Usage settings	ms-settings:deviceusage

Windows 11 Settings – Apps settings

action	command
Open Apps and Features settings	ms-settings:appsfeatures
Set Default apps	ms-settings:defaultapps
Open Offline maps settings	ms-settings:maps
Configure Optional features	Configure Optional features
Open Apps for websites settings page	ms-settings:appsforwebsites
Download Offline maps	ms-settings:maps-downloadmaps
Configure Optional features	Configure Optional features
Open Video playback settings	ms-settings:videoplayback
Configure Startup Apps	ms-settings:startupapps

Windows 11 Settings – Accounts settings

action	command
View all Accounts settings	ms-settings:accounts
View Your Accounts Info	ms-settings:yourinfo
Access Email & app accounts settings	ms-settings:emailandaccounts
Open Family & other users account settings	ms-settings:family-group or ms-settings:otherusers
Set up a kiosk	ms-settings:assignedaccess
Open Windows Sign-in Options	ms-settings:signinoptions
Access Work or School accounts	ms-settings:workplace
Open Windows backup (Sync) settings	ms-settings:sync or ms-settings:backup
Open Dynamic lock settings	ms-settings:signinoptions-dynamiclock
Open Windows Hello setup	ms-settings:signinoptions-launchfaceenrollment
Open Windows Hello Fingerprint setup	ms-settings:signinoptions-launchfingerprintenrollment
Open Windows Hello Security Key setup	ms-settings:signinoptions-launchsecuritykeyenrollment

Windows 11 Settings – Time & language settings

action	command
Access Date & Time settings	ms-settings:dateandtime
Configure Language and Region settings	ms-settings:regionformatting
Open Typing and keyboard settings	ms-settings:typing
Open Speech settings (Speech language, Microphone, Voices)	ms-settings:speech

Windows 11 Settings – Accessibility settings

action	command
Adjust Text size for Windows and apps	ms-settings:easeofaccess-display
Change Text Cursor settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-cursor
Open Visual Effects settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-visualeffects
Open Mouse Pointer and Touch settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-mousepointer
Open Magnifier settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-magnifier
Open Color Filters settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-colorfilter
Change Contrast settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-highcontrast
Open Narrator settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator
Start Narrator after/before sign-in	ms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator-isautostartenabled
Open Accessibility Audio settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-audio
Access Closed Captioning options	ms-settings:easeofaccess-closedcaptioning
Open Keyboard settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-keyboard
Open Mouse settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-mouse
Change Speech recognition settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-speechrecognition
Open Eye Control settings	ms-settings:easeofaccess-eyecontrol

Windows 11 Settings – Privacy & security settings

action	Run Command
Open Privacy settings page	ms-settings:privacy
View protection area under Windows Security	ms-settings:windowsdefender
Mange Activity history across devices and accounts	ms-settings:privacy-activityhistory
Access Find My Device options	ms-settings:findmydevice
Open developers options	ms-settings:developers
Access General Windows permissions	ms-settings:privacy-general
Open Online Speech recognition settings	ms-settings:privacy-speech
Access Feedback & diagnostics settings	ms-settings:privacy-feedback
Open Inking & Typing personalization settings	ms-settings:privacy-speechtyping
Open Search Permissions settings	ms-settings:search-permissions
Open Windows Searching settings	ms-settings:cortana-windowssearch
Open Automatic online file downloads permissions setting	ms-settings:privacy-automaticfiledownloads
Open File System access settings	ms-settings:privacy-broadfilesystemaccess
Open Calendar access settings	ms-settings:privacy-calendar
Open Phone Call access settings	ms-settings:privacy-phonecalls
Open Call history access settings	ms-settings:privacy-callhistory
Open Contacts access settings	ms-settings:privacy-contacts
Open Unpaired devices access settings	ms-settings:privacy-customdevices
Open Documents Library access settings	ms-settings:privacy-documents
Open Email access settings	ms-settings:privacy-email
Open App Diagnostics access settings	ms-settings:privacy-appdiagnostics
Open Location access settings	ms-settings:privacy-location
Open Messaging access settings	ms-settings:privacy-messaging
Open Microphone access settings	ms-settings:privacy-microphone
Open Notifications access settings	ms-settings:privacy-notifications
Configure Account info access for apps	ms-settings:privacy-accountinfo
Open Pictures library access settings	ms-settings:privacy-pictures
Open Radio control access settings	ms-settings:privacy-radios
Open tasks access settings	ms-settings:privacy-tasks
Open Videos library access settings	ms-settings:privacy-videos
Open Voice Activation access settings	ms-settings:privacy-voiceactivation
Open Camera Access settings	ms-settings:privacy-webcam
Open Music Library access settings	ms-settings:privacy-musiclibrary

Windows 11 Settings – Windows Update settings

action	Run Command
Open Windows Update settings	ms-settings:windowsupdate
Check for updates on the Windows Update page	ms-settings:windowsupdate-action
Access Windows Update Advanced options	ms-settings:windowsupdate-options
View Windows Update History	ms-settings:windowsupdate-history
View Optional updates	ms-settings:windowsupdate-optionalupdates
Schedule the restart	ms-settings:windowsupdate-restartoptions
Open Delivery Optimization settings	ms-settings:delivery-optimization
Join the Windows Insider Program	ms-settings:windowsinsider

Other Settings Run Commands

action	Run Command
Access Windows Update settings	Control update
Ease of Access Accessibility settings	utilman
Set Defaults for application	computerdefaults
To update Group Policy Settings	gpupdate
To Switch Projector display	displayswitch
Open Gaming mode settings	ms-settings:gaming-gamemode
Access Presentation Settings	presentationsettings
Control Windows Script Host Settings	wscript
Connect to a wireless display	ms-settings-connectabledevices:devicediscovery

IP Config Commands

The ipconfig stands for Internet Protocol Configuration is a command-line utility designed to run from the Windows Run or command prompt that allows you to view and manage the IP address, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), and DNS (Domain Name Server) assigned to the computer. The following Run commands can be used by the network or system administrator and others to manage or troubleshoot a network:

Action	Run command
Display information about IP configuration and the address of every adapter.	ipconfig/all
Release all local IP addresses and loose connections.	ipconfig/release
Renew all local IP addresses and reconnect to the internet and network.	ipconfig/renew
View your DNS cache contents.	ipconfig/displaydns
Delete DNS Cache contents	ipconfig/flushdns
Refresh DHCP and Re-register your DNS Names and IP Addresses	ipconfig/registerdns
Display DHCP Class ID	ipconfig/showclassid
Modify DHCP Class ID	ipconfig/setclassid

Run Commands for Folder Locations

These commands can help you quickly access various Windows folders:

action	run command
Open Recent files Folder	recent
Open Documents Folder	documents
Open Downloads Folder	downloads
Open Favorites Folder	favorites
Open Pictures Folder	pictures
Open Videos folder	videos
Open Specific drive or Folder location	Type Drive name followed by a colon (e.g. D:) or Folder path (e.g. F:\Songs\Artists\Adele)
Open OneDrive folder	onedrive
Open all Apps folder	shell:AppsFolder
Open Windows Address Book	wab
Open App Data folder	%AppData%
Access Debug Folder	debug
Open current user directory	explorer.exe .
Open Windows Root Drive	%systemdrive%

App Access Run Commands

You can use the below Run commands to launch various apps (if installed) on your computer.

Action	run command
Launch Windows Skype App	skype
Launch Microsoft Excel	excel
Launch Microsoft Word	winword
Launch Microsoft PowerPoint	powerpnt
Open Windows Media Player	wmplayer
Launch Microsoft Paint	mspaint
Launch Microsoft Access	access
Launch Microsoft Outlook	outlook
Launch Microsoft Store	ms-windows-store:

Windows Tools Run Commands

The Run command shortcuts in the below list allow you to quickly access a multitude of Windows tools and utilities.

Action	Command
Open Phone Dialer	dialer
Open Windows Security Program (Windows Defender Antivirus)	windowsdefender:
Open Displaying Message On Screen	echo
Open Event Viewer	eventvwr.msc
Open Bluetooth Transfer Wizard	fsquirt
Open Know the file and volume utilities	fsutil
Open Certificate Manager	certmgr.msc
View Windows Installer details	msiexec
Compare files in Command Prompt	comp
To Start File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program at the MS-DOS prompt	ftp
Launch Driver Verifier Utility	verifier
Open Local Security Policy Editor	secpol.msc
To get Volume Serial Number for C: drive	label
Open Migration Wizard	migwiz
Configure Game Controllers	joy.cpl
Open File Signature Verification Tool	sigverif
Open Private Character Editor	eudcedit
Access Microsoft Component Services	dcomcnfg or comexp.msc
Open Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) console	dsa.msc
Open Active Directory Sites and Services tool	dssite.msc
Open Resultant Set of Policy Editor	rsop.msc
Open Windows Address Book Import Utility.	wabmig
Setup Phone and Modem Connections	telephon.cpl
Open Remote Access Phonebook	rasphone
Open ODBC Data Source Administrator	odbcad32
Open SQL Server Client Network Utility	cliconfg
Open IExpress wizard	iexpress
Open Problem Steps Recorder	psr
Open Voice Recorder	voicerecorder
Backup and restore user names and passwords	credwiz
Open System Properties (Advanced Tab) dialog box	systempropertiesadvanced
Open System Properties (Computer Name Tab) dialog box	systempropertiescomputername
Open System Properties (Hardware Tab) dialog box	systempropertieshardware
Open System Properties (Remote Tab) dialog box	systempropertiesremote
Open System Properties (System Protection Tab) dialog box	systempropertiesprotection
Open Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool	iscsicpl
Open Color Management tool	colorcpl
Open ClearType Text Tuner wizard	cttune
Open Digitizer Calibration Tool	tabcal
Access Encrypting File Wizard	rekeywiz
Open Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management tool	tpm.msc
Open Fax Cover Page Editor	fxscover
Open Narrator	narrator
Open Print Management tool	printmanagement.msc
Open Windows PowerShell ISE window	powershell_ise
Open Windows Management Instrumentation Tester tool	wbemtest
Open DVD Player	dvdplay
Open Microsoft Management Console	mmc
Execute a Visual Basic Script	wscript Name_Of_Script.VBS (e.g. wscript Csscript.vbs)

Other Useful Run Commands

Here is the list of other useful Run commands:

action	run command
Install or Uninstall Display Language	lpksetup
Open Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool	msdt
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Management console	wmimgmt.msc
Open Windows Disc Image Burning Tool	isoburn
Open XPS Viewer	xpsrchvw
Open DPAPI Key Migration Wizard	dpapimig
Open Authorization Manager	azman.msc
Access Location Activity	locationnotifications
Open Font Viewer	fontview
New Scan Wizard	wiaacmgr
Open Printer Migration tool	printbrmui
View ODBC Driver Configuration and Usage dialog	odbcconf
View Printer User Interface	printui
Open Protected Content Migration dialog	dpapimig
Control Volume Mixer	sndvol
Open Windows Action Center	wscui.cpl
Access Windows Memory Diagnostic Scheduler	mdsched
Access Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard	wiaacmgr
View Windows Update Standalone Installer details	wusa
Get Windows Help and Support	winhlp32
Open Tablet PC Input Panel	tabtip
Open NAP Client Configuration tool	napclcfg
Edit Environment Variables	rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables
See Font preview	fontview FONT NAME.ttf (replace ‘FONT NAME’ with the name of the font you would like to view (e.g. font view arial.ttf)
Create a Windows Password Reset Disk (USB)	“C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe” keymgr.dll,PRShowSaveWizardExW
Open computer’s Reliability Monitor	perfmon /rel
Open User Profiles settings – Edit/Change type	C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditUserProfiles
Open Boot Options	bootim

How to use CMD

The Command Prompt in Windows provides access to over 280 commands. These commands are used to do certain operating system tasks from a command-line interpreter instead of the graphical Windows interface we use most of the time.

For example, Command Prompt commands let you copy data to a different folder, format an entire disk, back up your files, send messages to other computers, restart your computer, and much more. There are also several Command Prompt tricks and hacks that utilize some of these commands.

CMD Commands vs DOS Commands

It's important to know that the commands in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP are called CMD commands or Command Prompt commands, and the commands in Windows 98/95 and MS-DOS are called DOS commands. We've included all of them in this list to help show changes in commands from operating system to operating system.

Command Prompt Commands List

Below is a complete list of Command Prompt commands, often called CMD commands (and sometimes incorrectly as Command Prompt codes), available from the Command Prompt in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

Famus CMD Commands:

• systeminfo
• Ipconfig
• ping google.com
• Assoc

Press Ctrl + F while using a desktop browser for a quick way to find more information about a specific command or to look for a particular keyword in this table.

Full List of Command Prompt Commands
Command	Description
Append	The append command can be used by programs to open files in another directory as if they were located in the current directory. The append command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The append command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Arp	The arp command is used to display or change entries in the ARP cache. The arp command is available in all versions of Windows.
Assoc	The assoc command is used to display or change the file type associated with a particular file extension. The assoc command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
At	The at command is used to schedule commands and other programs to run at a specific date and time. The at command is available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Beginning in Windows 8, command line task scheduling should instead be completed with the schtasks command.
Atmadm	The atmadm command is used to display information related to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connections on the system. The atmadm command is available in Windows XP. Support for ATM was removed beginning in Windows Vista, making the atmadm command unnecessary.
Attrib	The attrib command is used to change the attributes of a single file or a directory. The attrib command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Auditpol	The auditpol command is used to display or change audit policies. The auditpol command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Bcdboot	The bcdboot command is used to copy boot files to the system partition and to create a new system BCD store. The bcdboot command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Bcdedit	The bcdedit command is used to view or make changes to Boot Configuration Data. The bcdedit command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. The bcdedit command replaced the bootcfg command beginning in Windows Vista.
Bdehdcfg	The bdehdcfg command is used to prepare a hard drive for BitLocker Drive Encryption. The bdehdcfg command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Bitsadmin	The bitsadmin command is used to create, manage, and monitor download and upload jobs. The bitsadmin command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. While the bitsadmin command is available in those versions of Windows, it is being phased out—the BITS PowerShell cmdlets should be used instead.
Bootcfg	The bootcfg command is used to build, modify, or view the contents of the boot.ini file, a hidden file that is used to identify in what folder, on which partition, and on which hard drive Windows is located. The bootcfg command is available in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The bootcfg command was replaced by the bcdedit command beginning in Windows Vista. Bootcfg is still available in Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista, but it serves no real value since boot.ini is not used in these operating systems.
Bootsect	The bootsect command is used to configure the master boot code to one compatible with BOOTMGR (Vista and later) or NTLDR (XP and earlier). The bootsect command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8. The bootsect command is also available in Windows 7 and Windows Vista but only from the Command Prompt available in System Recovery Options.
Break	The break command sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking on DOS systems. The break command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. The break command is available in Windows XP and later versions of Windows to provide compatibility with MS-DOS files but it has no effect in Windows itself.
Cacls	The cacls command is used to display or change access control lists of files. The cacls command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The cacls command is being phased out in favor of the icacls command, which should be used instead in all versions of Windows after Windows XP.
Call	The call command is used to run a script or batch program from within another script or batch program. The call command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. The call command has no effect outside of a script or batch file. In other words, running the call command at the Command Prompt or MS-DOS prompt will do nothing.
Cd	The cd command is the shorthand version of the chdir command. The cd command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Certreq	The certreq command is used to perform various certification authority (CA) certificate functions. The certreq command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Certutil	The certutil command is used to dump and display certification authority (CA) configuration information in addition to other CA functions. The certutil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Change	The change command changes various terminal server settings like install modes, COM port mappings, and logons. The change command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Chcp	The chcp command displays or configures the active code page number. The chcp command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Chdir	The chdir command is used to display the drive letter and folder that you are currently in. Chdir can also be used to change the drive and/or directory that you want to work in. The chdir command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Checknetisolation	The checknetisolation command is used to test apps that require network capabilities. The checknetisolation command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.
Chglogon	The chglogon command enables, disables, or drains terminal server session logins. The chglogon command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. Executing the chglogon command is the same as executing change logon.
Chgport	The chgport command can be used to display or change COM port mappings for DOS compatibility. The chgport command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. Executing the chgport command is the same as executing change port.
Chgusr	The chgusr command is used to change the install mode for the terminal server. The chgusr command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. Executing the chgusr command is the same as executing change user.
Chkdsk	The chkdsk command, often referred to as check disk, is used to identify and correct certain hard drive errors. The chkdsk command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Chkntfs	The chkntfs command is used to configure or display the checking of the disk drive during the Windows boot process. The chkntfs command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Choice	The choice command is used within a script or batch program to provide a list of choices and return the value of that choice to the program. The choice command is available in MS-DOS and all versions of Windows except Windows XP. Use the set command with the /p switch in place of the choice command in batch files and scripts that you plan to use in Windows XP.
Cipher	The cipher command shows or changes the encryption status of files and folders on NTFS partitions. The cipher command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Clip	The clip command is used to redirect the output from any command to the clipboard in Windows. The clip command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Cls	The cls command clears the screen of all previously entered commands and other text. The cls command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Cmd	The cmd command starts a new instance of the cmd.exe command interpreter. The cmd command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Cmdkey	The cmdkey command is used to show, create, and remove stored user names and passwords. The cmdkey command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Cmstp	The cmstp command installs or uninstalls a Connection Manager service profile. The cmstp command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Color	The color command is used to change the colors of the text and background within the Command Prompt window. The color command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Command	The command command starts a new instance of the command.com command interpreter. The command command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The command command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Comp	The comp command is used to compare the contents of two files or sets of files. The comp command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Compact	The compact command is used to show or change the compression state of files and directories on NTFS partitions. The compact command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Convert	The convert command is used to convert FAT or FAT32 formatted volumes to the NTFS format. The convert command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Copy	The copy command does simply that — it copies one or more files from one location to another. The copy command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. The xcopy command is considered to be a more "powerful" version of the copy command.
Cscript	The cscript command is used to execute scripts via Microsoft Script Host. The cscript command is available in all versions of Windows. The cscript command is most popularly used to manage printers from the command line using scripts like prncnfg.vbs, prndrvr.vbs, prnmngr.vbs, and others.
Ctty	The ctty command is used to change the default input and output devices for the system. The ctty command is available in Windows 98 and 95 as well as in MS-DOS. The functions provided by the ctty command were no longer necessary beginning in Windows XP because the command.com interpreter (MS-DOS) is no longer the default command line interpreter.
Date	The date command is used to show or change the current date. The date command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Dblspace	The dblspace command is used to create or configure DoubleSpace compressed drives. The dblspace command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. DriveSpace, executed using the drvspace command, is an updated version of DoubleSpace. Windows began handling compression beginning in Windows XP.
Debug	The debug command starts Debug, a command line application used to test and edit programs. The debug command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The debug command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Defrag	The defrag command is used to defragment a drive you specify. The defrag command is the command line version of Microsoft's Disk Defragmenter. The defrag command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Del	The del command is used to delete one or more files. The del command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. The del command is the same as the erase command.
Deltree	The deltree command is used to delete a directory and all the files and subdirectories within it. The deltree command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. Beginning in Windows XP, a folder and its files and subfolders can be removed using the /s function of the rmdir command. Deltree was no longer needed with this new rmdir ability so the command was removed.
Diantz	The diantz command is used to losslessly compress one or more files. The diantz command is sometimes called Cabinet Maker. The diantz command is available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The diantz command is the same as the makecab command.
Dir	The dir command is used to display a list of files and folders contained inside the folder that you are currently working in. The dir command also displays other important information like the hard drive's serial number, the total number of files listed, their combined size, the total amount of free space left on the drive, and more. The dir command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Diskcomp	The diskcomp command is used to compare the contents of two floppy disks. The diskcomp command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS, with the exclusion of Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Diskcopy	The diskcopy command is used to copy the entire contents of one floppy disk to another. The diskcopy command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS, with the exclusion of Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Diskpart	The diskpart command is used to create, manage, and delete hard drive partitions. The diskpart command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The diskpart command replaced the fdisk command beginning in Windows XP.
Diskperf	The diskperf command is used to manage disk performance counters remotely. The diskperf command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Diskraid	The diskraid command starts the DiskRAID tool which is used to manage and configure RAID arrays. The diskraid command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Dism	The dism command starts the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM). The DISM tool is used to manage features in Windows images. The dism command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Dispdiag	The dispdiag command is used to output a log of information about the display system. The dispdiag command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Djoin	The djoin command is used to create a new computer account in a domain. The djoin command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Doskey	The doskey command is used to edit command lines, create macros, and recall previously entered commands. The doskey command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Dosshell	The dosshell command starts DOS Shell, a graphical file management tool for MS-DOS. The dosshell command is available in Windows 95 (in MS-DOS mode) and also in MS-DOS version 6.0 and later MS-DOS versions that were upgraded from previous versions that contained the dosshell command. A graphical file manager, Windows Explorer, became an integrated part of the operating system beginning in Windows 95.
Dosx	The dosx command is used to start DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI), a special mode designed to give MS-DOS applications access to more than the normally allowed 640 KB. The dosx command is available in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The dosx command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows. The dosx command and DPMI is only available in Windows to support older MS-DOS programs.
Driverquery	The driverquery command is used to show a list of all installed drivers. The driverquery command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Drvspace	The drvspace command is used to create or configure DriveSpace compressed drives. The drvspace command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. DriveSpace is an updated version of DoubleSpace, executed using the dblspace command. Windows began handling compression beginning in Windows XP.
Echo	The echo command is used to show messages, most commonly from within script or batch files. The echo command can also be used to turn the echoing feature on or off. The echo command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Edit	The edit command starts the MS-DOS Editor tool which is used to create and modify text files. The edit command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The edit command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Edlin	The edlin command starts the Edlin tool which is used to create and modify text files from the command line. The edlin command is available in all 32-bit versions of Windows but is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows. In MS-DOS, the edlin command is only available up to MS-DOS 5.0, so unless your later version of MS-DOS was upgraded from 5.0 or prior, you won't see the edlin command.
Emm386	The emm386 command is used to give MS-DOS access to more than 640 KB of memory (RAM). The emm386 command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. Windows itself has access to extended and expanded memory beginning in Windows 95.
Endlocal	The endlocal command is used to end the localization of environment changes inside a batch or script file. The endlocal command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Erase	The erase command is used to delete one or more files. The erase command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. The erase command is the same as the del command.
Esentutl	The esentutl command is used to manage Extensible Storage Engine databases. The esentutl command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Eventcreate	The eventcreate command is used to create a custom event in an event log. The eventcreate command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Eventtriggers	The eventtriggers command is used to configure and display event triggers. The eventtriggers command is available in Windows XP. Beginning in Windows Vista, event triggers are created using the Attach Task To This Event feature in Event Viewer, making the eventtriggers command unnecessary.
Exe2bin	The exe2bin command is used to convert a file of the EXE file type (executable file) to a binary file. The exe2bin command is available in 32-bit versions of Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The exe2bin command is not available in any 64-bit version of Windows.
Exit	The exit command is used to end the cmd.exe (Windows) or command.com (MS-DOS) session that you're currently working in. The exit command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Expand	The expand command is used to extract the files and folders contained in Microsoft Cabinet (CAB) files. The expand command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all versions of Windows. The expand command is not available in the 64-bit version of Windows XP.
Extrac32	The extrac32 command is used to extract the files and folders contained in Microsoft Cabinet (CAB) files. The extrac32 command is available in all versions of Windows. The extrac32 command is actually a CAB extraction program that can extract any Microsoft Cabinet file. Use the expand command instead of the extrac32 command if possible.
Extract	The extract command is used to extract the files and folders contained in Microsoft Cabinet (CAB) files. The extract command is available in Windows 98 and 95. The extract command was replaced by the expand command beginning in Windows XP.
Fasthelp	The fasthelp command provides more detailed information on any of the other MS-DOS commands. The fasthelp command is only available in MS-DOS. The help command replaced the fasthelp command beginning in Windows 95.
Fastopen	The fastopen command is used to add a program's hard drive location to a special list stored in memory, potentially improving the program's launch time by removing the need for MS-DOS to locate the application on the drive. The fastopen command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The fastopen command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows. Fastopen is only available in Windows 10, Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP to support older MS-DOS files.
Fc	The fc command is used to compare two individual or sets of files and then show the differences between them. The fc command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Fdisk	The fdisk command is used to create, manage, and delete hard drive partitions. The fdisk command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. The fdisk command was replaced by the diskpart command beginning in Windows XP. Partition management is also available from Disk Management in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Find	The find command is used to search for a specified text string in one or more files. The find command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Findstr	The findstr command is used to find text string patterns in one or more files. The findstr command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Finger	The finger command is used to return information about one or more users on a remote computer that's running the Finger service. The finger command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Fltmc	The fltmc command is used to load, unload, list, and otherwise manage Filter drivers. The fltmc command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Fondue	The fondue command, short for Features on Demand User Experience Tool, is used to install any of the several optional Windows features from the command line. The fondue command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8. Optional Windows features can also be installed from the Programs and Features applet in Control Panel.
For	The for command is used to run a specified command for each file in a set of files. The for command is most often used within a batch or script file. The for command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Forcedos	The forcedos command is used to start the specified program in the MS-DOS subsystem. The forcedos command is only available in 32-bit versions of Windows XP. The forcedos command is only used for MS-DOS programs that are not recognized as such by Windows XP.
Forfiles	The forfiles command selects one or more files to execute a specified command on. The forfiles command is most often used within a batch or script file. The forfiles command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Format	The format command is used to format a drive in the file system that you specify. The format command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. Drive formatting is also available from Disk Management in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Fsutil	The fsutil command is used to perform various FAT and NTFS file system tasks like managing reparse points and sparse files, dismounting a volume, and extending a volume. The fsutil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Ftp	The ftp command can be used to transfer files to and from another computer. The remote computer must be operating as an FTP server. The ftp command is available in all versions of Windows.
Ftype	The ftype command is used to define a default program to open a specified file type. The ftype command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Getmac	The getmac command is used to display the media access control (MAC) address of all the network controllers on a system. The getmac command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Goto	The goto command is used in a batch or script file to direct the command process to a labeled line in the script. The goto command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Gpresult	The gpresult command is used to display Group Policy settings. The gpresult command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Gpupdate	The gpupdate command is used to update Group Policy settings. The gpupdate command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Graftabl	The graftabl command is used to enable the ability of Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode. The graftabl command is available in all versions of Windows and in MS-DOS up to version 5.0. The graftabl command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Graphics	The graphics command is used to load a program that can print graphics. The graphics command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The graphics command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Help	The help command provides more detailed information on any of the other Command Prompt or MS-DOS commands. The help command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Hostname	The hostname command displays the name of the current host. The hostname command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Hwrcomp	The hwrcomp command is used to compile custom dictionaries for handwriting recognition. The hwrcomp command is available in Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Hwrreg	The hwrreg command is used to install a previously compiled custom dictionary for handwriting recognition. The hwrreg command is available in Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Icacls	The icacls command is used to display or change access control lists of files. The icacls command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. The icacls command is an updated version of the cacls command.
If	The if command is used to perform conditional functions in a batch file. The if command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Interlnk	The interlnk command is used to connect two computers via a serial or parallel connection to share files and printers. The interlnk command is only available in MS-DOS. The ability to directly connect two computers is handled by the networking functions in all versions of Windows.
Intersvr	The intersvr command is used to start the Interlnk server and to copy Interlnk files from one computer to another. The intersvr command is only available in MS-DOS. The ability to directly connect two computers is handled by the networking functions in all versions of Windows.
Ipconfig	The ipconfig command is used to display detailed IP information for each network adapter utilizing TCP/IP. The ipconfig command can also be used to release and renew IP addresses on systems configured to receive them via a DHCP server. The ipconfig command is available in all versions of Windows.
Ipxroute	The ipxroute command is used to display and change information about IPX routing tables. The ipxroute command is available in Windows XP. Microsoft removed their built-in NetWare client beginning in Windows Vista, removing the associated ipxroute command as well.
Irftp	The irftp command is used to transmit files over an infrared link. The irftp command is available in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Iscsicli	The iscsicli command starts the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator, used to manage iSCSI. The iscsicli command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Kb16	The kb16 command is used to support MS-DOS files that need to configure a keyboard for a specific language. The kb16 command is available in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The kb16 command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows. The kb16 command replaced the keyb command beginning in Windows XP but only exists to support older MS-DOS files.
Keyb	The keyb command is used to configure a keyboard for a specific language. The keyb command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. See the kb16 command for an equivalent command in later versions of Windows. Keyboard language settings are handled by the Region and Language or Regional and Language Options (depending on the version of Windows) Control Panel applets in Windows beginning in Windows XP.
Klist	The klist command is used to list Kerberos service tickets. The klist command can also be used to purge Kerberos tickets. The klist command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Ksetup	The ksetup command is used to configure connections to a Kerberos server. The ksetup command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Ktmutil	The ktmutil command starts the Kernel Transaction Manager utility. The ktmutil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Label	The label command is used to manage the volume label of a disk. The label command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Lh	The lh command is the shorthand version of the loadhigh command. The lh command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS.
Licensingdiag	The licensingdiag command is a tool used to generate a text-based log and other data files that contain product activation and other Windows licensing information. The licensingdiag command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.
Loadfix	The loadfix command is used to load the specified program in the first 64K of memory and then runs the program. The loadfix command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The loadfix command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Loadhigh	The loadhigh command is used to load a program into high memory and is usually used from within the autoexec.bat file. The loadhigh command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. Memory usage is handled automatically beginning in Windows XP.
Lock	The lock command is used to lock a drive, enabling direct disk access for a program. The lock command is only available in Windows 98 and 95. Drive locking is no longer available as of Windows XP.
Lodctr	The lodctr command is used to update registry values related to performance counters. The lodctr command is available in all versions of Windows.
Logman	The logman command is used to create and manage Event Trace Session and Performance logs. The logman command also supports many functions of Performance Monitor. The logman command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Logoff	The logoff command is used to terminate a session. The logoff command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Lpq	The lpq command displays the status of a print queue on a computer running Line Printer Daemon (LPD). The lpq command is available in all versions of Windows. The lpq command is not available by default in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Vista, but can be enabled by turning on the LPD Print Service and LPR Port Monitor features from Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Lpr	The lpr command is used to send a file to a computer running Line Printer Daemon (LPD). The lpr command is available in all versions of Windows. The lpr command is not available by default in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Vista, but can be enabled by turning on the LPD Print Service and LPR Port Monitor features from Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Makecab	The makecab command is used to losslessly compress one or more files. The makecab command is sometimes called Cabinet Maker. The makecab command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The makecab command is the same as the diantz command, a command that was removed after Windows 7.
Manage-bde	The manage-bde command is used to configure BitLocker Drive Encryption from the command line. The manage-bde command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. A script by the name of manage-bde.wsf exists in Windows Vista and can be used with the cscript command to perform BitLocker tasks from the command line in that operating system.
Md	The md command is the shorthand version of the mkdir command. The md command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Mem	The mem command shows information about used and free memory areas and programs that are currently loaded into memory in the MS-DOS subsystem. The mem command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The mem command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Memmaker	The memmaker command is used to start MemMaker, a memory optimization tool. The memaker command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. Memory usage is automatically optimized beginning in Windows XP.
Mkdir	The mkdir command is used to create a new folder. The mkdir command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Mklink	The mklink command is used to create a symbolic link. The mklink command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Mode	The mode command is used to configure system devices, most often COM and LPT ports. The mode command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Mofcomp	The mofcomp command properly displays the data within a Managed Object Format (MOF) file. The mofcomp command is available in all versions of Windows.
More	The more command is used to display the information contained in a text file. The more command can also be used to paginate the results of any other Command Prompt or MS-DOS command. The more command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Mount	The mount command is used to mount Network File System (NFS) network shares. The mount command is available in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The mount command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Services for NFS Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel. The mount command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Mountvol	The mountvol command is used to display, create, or remove volume mount points. The mountvol command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Move	The move command is used to move one or files from one folder to another. The move command is also used to rename directories. The move command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Mrinfo	The mrinfo command is used to provide information about a router's interfaces and neighbors. The mrinfo command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Msav	The msav command starts Microsoft Antivirus. The msav command is only available in MS-DOS. Microsoft Antivirus was designed for MS-DOS and Windows 3.x only. Microsoft provides an optional virus protection suite called Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP and later operating systems, and third party antivirus tools are available for all versions of Windows.
Msbackup	The msbackup command starts Microsoft Backup, a tool used to back up and restore one or more files. The msbackup command is only available in MS-DOS. The msbackup command was replaced with Microsoft Backup beginning in Windows 95 and then Backup and Restore in later versions of Windows.
Mscdex	The mscdex command is used to provide CD-ROM access to MS-DOS. The mscdex command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. Windows provides access to CD-ROM drives for the MS-DOS subsystem beginning in Windows XP, so the mscdex command is unnecessary in this and later operating systems.
Msd	The msd command starts Microsoft Diagnostics, a system information tool. The msd command is only available in MS-DOS. The msd command was replaced with System Information beginning in Windows 95.
Msg	The msg command is used to send a message to a user. The msg command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Msiexec	The msiexec command is used to start Windows Installer, a tool used to install and configure software. The msiexec command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Muiunattend	The muiunattend command starts the Multilanguage User Interface unattended setup process. The muiunattend command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Nbtstat	The nbtstat command is used to show TCP/IP information and other statistical information about a remote computer. The nbtstat command is available in all versions of Windows.
Net	The net command is used to display, configure, and correct a wide variety of network settings. The net command is available in all versions of Windows.
Net1	The net1 command is used to display, configure, and correct a wide variety of network settings. The net1 command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The net command should be used instead of the net1 command. The net1 command was made available in Windows NT and Windows 2000 as a temporary fix for a Y2K issue that the net command had, which was corrected before the release of Windows XP. The net1 command remains in later versions of Windows only for compatibility with older programs and scripts that utilized the command.
Netcfg	The netcfg command is used to install the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE), a lightweight version of Windows used to deploy workstations. The netcfg command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Netsh	The netsh command is used to start Network Shell, a command-line utility used to manage the network configuration of the local, or a remote, computer. The netsh command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Netstat	The netstat command is most commonly used to display all open network connections and listening ports. The netstat command is available in all versions of Windows.
Nfsadmin	The nfsadmin command is used to manage Server for NFS or Client for NFS from the command line. The nfsadmin command is available in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The nfsadmin command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Services for NFS Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel. The nfsadmin command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Nlsfunc	The nlsfunc command is used to load information specific to a particular country or region. The nlsfunc command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The nlsfunc command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows. Nlsfunc is only available in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP to support older MS-DOS files.
Nltest	The nltest command is used to test secure channels between Windows computers in a domain and between domain controllers that are trusting other domains. The nltest command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Nslookup	The nslookup is most commonly used to display the hostname of an entered IP address. The nslookup command queries your configured DNS server to discover the IP address. The nslookup command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Ntbackup	The ntbackup command is used to perform various backup functions from the Command Prompt or from within a batch or script file. The ntbackup command is available in Windows XP. The ntbackup command was replaced with the wbadmin beginning in Windows Vista.
Ntsd	The ntsd command is used to perform certain command line debugging tasks. The ntsd command is available in Windows XP. The ntsd command was removed beginning in Windows Vista due to the addition of dump file support in Task Manager.
Ocsetup	The ocsetup command starts the Windows Optional Component Setup tool, used to install additional Windows features. The ocsetup command is available in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. Beginning in Windows 8, Microsoft is depreciating the ocsetup command in favor of the dism command.
Openfiles	The openfiles command is used to display and disconnect open files and folders on a system. The openfiles command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Path	The path command is used to display or set a specific path available to executable files. The path command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Pathping	The pathping command functions much like the tracert command but will also report information about network latency and loss at each hop. The pathping command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Pause	The pause command is used within a batch or script file to pause the processing of the file. When the pause command is used, a "Press any key to continue…" message displays in the command window. The pause command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Pentnt	The pentnt command is used to detect floating point division errors in the Intel Pentium chip. The pentnt command is also used to enable floating point emulation and disable floating point hardware. The pentnt command is available in Windows XP. The pentnt command was removed beginning in Windows Vista due to the lack of Intel Pentium CPU use at the time of this operating system release.
Ping	The ping command sends an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request message to a specified remote computer to verify IP-level connectivity. The ping command is available in all versions of Windows.
Pkgmgr	The pkgmgr command is used to start the Windows Package Manager from the Command Prompt. Package Manager installs, uninstalls, configures, and updates features and packages for Windows. The pkgmgr command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Pnpunattend	The pnpunattend command is used to automate the installation of hardware device drivers. The pnpunattend command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Pnputil	The pnputil command is used to start the Microsoft PnP Utility, a tool used to install a Plug and Play device from the command line. The pnputil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Popd	The popd command is used to change the current directory to the one most recently stored by the pushd command. The popd command is most often utilized from within a batch or script file. The popd command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Power	The power command is used to reduce the power consumed by a computer by monitoring software and hardware devices. The power command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. The power command was replaced by operating system integrated power management functions beginning in Windows XP.
Powercfg	The powercfg command is used to manage the Windows power management settings from the command line. The powercfg command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Print	The print command is used to print a specified text file to a specified printing device. The print command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Prompt	The prompt command is used to customize the appearance of the prompt text in Command Prompt or MS-DOS. The prompt command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Pushd	The pushd command is used to store a directory for use, most commonly from within a batch or script program. The pushd command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Pwlauncher	The pwlauncher command is used to enable, disable, or show the status of your Windows To Go startup options. The pwlauncher command is available in Windows 11, 10, and 8.
Qappsrv	The qappsrv command is used to display all Remote Desktop Session Host servers available on the network. The qappsrv command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Qbasic	The qbasic command starts QBasic, the MS-DOS based programming environment for the BASIC programming language. The qbasic command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. The qbasic command is not installed by default with Windows 98 or 95 but is available from the installation disc or disks.
Qprocess	The qprocess command is used to display information about running processes. The qprocess command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Query	The query command is used to display the status of a specified service. The query command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Quser	The quser command is used to display information about users currently logged on to the system. The quser command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Qwinsta	The qwinsta command is used to display information about open Remote Desktop Sessions. The qwinsta command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Rasautou	The rasautou command is used to manage Remote Access Dialer AutoDial addresses. The rasautou command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Rasdial	The rasdial command is used to start or end a network connection for a Microsoft client. The rasdial command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Rcp	The rcp command is used to copy files between a Windows computer and a system running the rshd daemon. The rcp command is available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The rcp command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel and then installing the Utilities and SDK for UNIX-based Applications available here for Windows Vista and here for Windows 7. The rcp command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Rd	The rd command is the shorthand version of the rmdir command. The rd command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Rdpsign	The rdpsign command is used to sign a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) file. The rdpsign command is available in Windows 7.
Reagentc	The reagentc command is used to configure the Windows Recovery Environment (RE). The reagentc command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Recimg	The recimg command is used to create a custom refresh image. The recimg command is available in Windows 8.
Recover	The recover command is used to recover readable data from a bad or defective disk. The recover command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Reg	The reg command is used to manage the Windows Registry from the command line. The reg command can perform common registry functions like adding registry keys, exporting the registry, etc. The reg command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Regini	The regini command is used to set or change registry permissions and registry values from the command line. The regini command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Register-cimprovider	The register-cimprovider command is used to register a Common Information Model (CIM) Provider in Windows. The register-cimprovider command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.
Regsvr32	The regsvr32 command is used to register a DLL file as a command component in the Windows Registry. The regsvr32 command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Relog	The relog command is used to create new performance logs from data in existing performance logs. The relog command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Rem	The rem command is used to record comments or remarks in a batch or script file. The rem command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Ren	The ren command is the shorthand version of the rename command. The ren command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Rename	The rename command is used to change the name of the individual file that you specify. The rename command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Repair-bde	The repair-bde command is used to repair or decrypt a damaged drive that's been encrypted using BitLocker. The repair-bde command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Replace	The replace command is used to replace one or more files with one or more other files. The replace command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Reset	The reset command, executed as reset session, is used to reset the session subsystem software and hardware to known initial values. The reset command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Restore	The restore command is used to restore files that were backed up using the backup command. The restore command is only available in MS-DOS. The backup command was only available up to MS-DOS 5.00 but the restore command was included by default with later versions of MS-DOS to provide a way to restore files that were backed up in previous versions of MS-DOS.
Rexec	The rexec command is used to run commands on remote computers running the rexec daemon. The rexec command is available in Windows Vista and Windows XP. The rsh command is not available by default in Windows Vista but can be enabled by turning on the Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel and then installing the Utilities and SDK for UNIX-based Applications available here. The rexec command is not available in Windows 7 but can be executed in Windows XP via Windows XP Mode if need be.
Rmdir	The rmdir command is used to delete an existing or completely empty folder. The rmdir command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Robocopy	The robocopy command is used to copy files and directories from one location to another. This command is also called Robust File Copy. The robocopy command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. The robocopy command is superior to both the copy command and the xcopy command because robocopy supports many more options.
Route	The route command is used to manipulate network routing tables. The route command is available in all versions of Windows.
Rpcinfo	The rpcinfo command makes a remote procedure call (RPC) to an RPC server and reports what it finds. The rpcinfo command is available in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The rpcinfo command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Services for NFS Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel. The rpcinfo command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Rpcping	The rpcping command is used to ping a server using RPC. The rpcping command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Rsh	The rsh command is used to run commands on remote computers running the rsh daemon. The rsh command is available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The rsh command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel and then installing the Utilities and SDK for UNIX-based Applications available here for Windows Vista and here for Windows 7. The rsh command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Rsm	The rsm command is used to manage media resources using Removable Storage. The rsm command is available in Windows Vista and Windows XP. The rsm command was optional in Windows Vista and then removed in Windows 7 due to Removable Storage Manager being removed from the operating system. Search for the rsm command in the C:\Windows\winsxs folder in Windows Vista if you're having trouble executing the command.
Runas	The runas command is used to execute a program using another user's credentials. The runas command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Rwinsta	The rwinsta command is the shorthand version of the reset session command. The rwinsta command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Sc	The sc command is used to configure information about services. The sc command communicates with the Service Control Manager. The sc command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Scandisk	The scandisk command is used to start Microsoft ScanDisk, a disk repair program. The scandisk command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. The scandisk command was replaced by the chkdsk command beginning in Windows XP.
Scanreg	The scanreg command starts Windows Registry Checker, a basic registry repair program and backup utility. The scanreg command is available in Windows 98 and Windows 95. The functions provided by the scanreg command were no longer necessary beginning in Windows XP due to changes in how the Windows Registry functions.
Schtasks	The schtasks command is used to schedule specified programs or commands to run at certain times. The schtasks command can be used to create, delete, query, change, run, and end scheduled tasks. The schtasks command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.​
Sdbinst	The sdbinst command is used to deploy customized SDB database files. The sdbinst command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Secedit	The secedit command is used to configure and analyze system security by comparing the current security configuration to a template. The secedit command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Set	The set command is used to display, enable, or disable environment variables in MS-DOS or from the Command Prompt. The set command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Setlocal	The setlocal command is used to start the localization of environment changes inside a batch or script file. The setlocal command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Setspn	The setspn command is used to manage the Service Principal Names (SPN) for an Active Directory (AD) service account. The setspn command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Setver	The setver command is used to set the MS-DOS version number that MS-DOS reports to a program. The setver command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The setver command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows.
Setx	The setx command is used to create or change environment variables in the user environment or the system environment. The setx command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Sfc	The sfc command is used to verify and replace important Windows system files. The sfc command is also referred to as System File Checker or Windows Resource Checker, depending on the operating system. The sfc command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Shadow	The shadow command is used to monitor another Remote Desktop Services session. The shadow command is available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Share	The share command is used to install file locking and file sharing functions in MS-DOS. The share command is available in MS-DOS as well as in all 32-bit versions of Windows. The share command is not available in 64-bit versions of Windows. Share is only available in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP to support older MS-DOS files.
Shift	The shift command is used to change the position of replaceable parameters in a batch or script file. The shift command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Showmount	The showmount command is used to display information about NFS mounted file systems. The showmount command is available in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The showmount command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Services for NFS Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel. The showmount command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Shutdown	The shutdown command can be used to shut down, restart, or log off the current system or a remote computer. The shutdown command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Smartdrv	The smartdrv command installs and configures SMARTDrive, a disk caching utility for MS-DOS. The smartdrv command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. Caching is automatic beginning in Windows XP, making the smartdrv command unnecessary.
Sort	The sort command is used to read data from a specified input, sort that data, and return the results of that sort to the Command Prompt screen, a file, or another output device. The sort command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Start	The start command is used to open a new command line window to run a specified program or command. The start command can also be used to start an application without creating a new window. The start command is available in all versions of Windows.
Subst	The subst command is used to associate a local path with a drive letter. The subst command is a lot like the net use command except a local path is used instead of a shared network path. The subst command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. The subst command replaced the assign command beginning with MS-DOS 6.0.
Sxstrace	The sxstrace command is used to start the WinSxs Tracing Utility, a programming diagnostic tool. The sxstrace command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Sys	The sys command is used to copy the MS-DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk. The sys command is available in Windows 98 and 95, as well as in MS-DOS. The sys command is used most often to create a simple bootable disk or hard drive. The necessary system files for Windows are too large to fit on a disk, so the sys command was removed beginning in Windows XP.
Systeminfo	The systeminfo command is used to display basic Windows configuration information for the local or a remote computer. The systeminfo command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Takeown	The takedown command is used to regain access to a file that that an administrator was denied access to when reassigning ownership of the file. The takeown command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Taskkill	The taskkill command is used to terminate a running task. The taskkill command is the command line equivalent of ending a process in Task Manager in Windows. The taskkill command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tasklist	Displays a list of applications, services, and the Process ID (PID) currently running on either a local or a remote computer. The tasklist command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tcmsetup	The tcmsetup command is used to set up or disable the Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) client. The tcmsetup command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Telnet	The telnet command is used to communicate with remote computers that use the Telnet protocol. The telnet command is available in all versions of Windows. The telnet command is not available by default in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Vista, but can be enabled by turning on the Telnet Client Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Tftp	The tftp command is used to transfer files to and from a remote computer that's running the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) service or daemon. The tftp command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The tftp command is not available by default in some versions of Windows, but can be enabled by turning on the TFTP Client Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Time	The time command is used to show or change the current time. The time command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Timeout	The timeout command is typically used in a batch or script file to provide a specified timeout value during a procedure. The timeout command can also be used to ignore keypresses. The timeout command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Title	The title command is used to set the Command Prompt window title. The title command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tlntadmn	The tlntadmn command is used to administer a local or remote computer running Telnet Server. The tlntadmn command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The tlntadmn command is not available by default in some versions of Windows, but can be enabled by turning on the Telnet Server Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Tpmvscmgr	The tpmvscmgr command is used to create and destroy TPM virtual smart cards. The tpmvscmgr command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.
Tracerpt	The tracerpt command is used to process event trace logs or real-time data from instrumented event trace providers. The tracerpt command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tracert	The tracert command sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages to a specified remote computer with increasing Time to Live (TTL) field values and displays the IP address and hostname, if available, of the router interfaces between the source and destination. The tracert command is available in all versions of Windows.
Tree	The tree command is used to graphically display the folder structure of a specified drive or path. The tree command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Tscon	The tscon command is used to attach a user session to a Remote Desktop session. The tscon command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tsdiscon	The tsdiscon command is used to disconnect a Remote Desktop session. The tsdiscon command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tskill	The tskill command is used to end the specified process. The tskill command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tsshutdn	The tsshutdn command is used to remotely shut down or restart a terminal server. The tsshutdn command is available in Windows XP. The ability to shut down a computer remotely is also available in the more powerful shutdown command, so tsshutdn was removed beginning in Windows Vista.
Type	The type command is used to display the information contained in a text file. The type command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Typeperf	The typerperf command displays performance data in the Command Prompt window or writes the data to specified log file. The typeperf command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tzutil	The tzutil command is used to display or configure the current system's time zone. The tzutil command can also be used to enable or disable Daylight Saving Time adjustments. The tzutil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Umount	The umount command is used to remove Network File System (NFS) mounted network shares. The umount command is available in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The umount command is not available by default in Windows Vista or Windows 7 but can be enabled by turning on the Services for NFS Windows feature from Programs and Features in Control Panel. The umount command is not available in Windows 11, 10, or 8 because Service for UNIX (SFU) was discontinued.
Undelete	The undelete command is used to undo a deletion performed with the MS-DOS delete command. The undelete command is only available in MS-DOS. The undelete command was removed beginning in Windows 95 due to the availability of the Recycle Bin in Windows. Additionally, free file recovery programs are available from third-party software makers.
Unformat	The unformat command is used to undo the formatting on a drive performed by the MS-DOS format command. The unformat command is only available in MS-DOS. The unformat command was removed beginning in Windows 95 due to file system changes.
Unlock	The unlock command is used to unlock a drive, disabling direct disk access for a program. The unlock command is only available in Windows 98 and 95. Drive locking is no longer available as of Windows XP.
Unlodctr	The unlodctr command removes Explain text and Performance counter names for a service or device driver from the Windows Registry. The unlodctr command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Vaultcmd	The vaultcmd command is used to create, remove, and show stored credentials. The vaultcmd command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
Ver	The ver command is used to display the current Windows or MS-DOS version number. The ver command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Verify	The verify command is used to enable or disable the ability of Command Prompt, or MS-DOS, to verify that files are written correctly to a disk. The verify command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Vol	The vol command shows the volume label and serial number of a specified disk, assuming this information exists. The vol command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS.
Vsafe	The vsafe command is used to start VSafe, a basic virus protection system for MS-DOS. The vsafe command is only available in MS-DOS. VSafe was designed for MS-DOS and Windows 3.x only. Microsoft provides an optional virus protection suite called Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP and later operating systems, and third-party antivirus tools are available for all versions of Windows.
Vssadmin	The vssadmin command starts the Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command line tool which displays current volume shadow copy backups and all installed shadow copy writers and providers. The vssadmin command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
W32tm	The w32tm command is used to diagnose issues with Windows Time. The w32tm command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Waitfor	The waitfor command is used to send or wait for a signal on a system. The waitfor command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Wbadmin	The wbadmin command is used to start and stop backup jobs, display details about a previous backup, list the items within a backup, and report on the status of a currently running backup. The wbadmin command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. The wbadmin command replaced the ntbackup command beginning in Windows Vista.
Wecutil	The wecutil command is used to manage subscriptions to events that are forwarded from WS-Management supported computers. The wecutil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Wevtutil	The wevtutil command starts the Windows Events Command Line Utility which is used to manage event logs and publishers. The wevtutil command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Where	The where command is used to search for files that match a specified pattern. The where command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Whoami	The whoami command is used to retrieve user name and group information on a network. The whoami command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Winmgmt	The winmgmt command starts the command line version of WMI, a scripting tool in Windows. The winmgmt command is available in all versions of Windows.
Winrm	The winrm command is used to start the command line version of Windows Remote Management, used to manage secure communications with local and remote computers using web services. The winrm command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Winrs	The winrs command is used to open a secure command window with a remote host. The winrs command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Winsat	The winsat command starts the Windows System Assessment Tool, a program that assesses various features, attributes, and capabilities of a computer running Windows. The winsat command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Wmic	The wmic command starts the Windows Management Instrumentation Command line (WMIC), a scripting interface that simplifies the use of Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and systems managed via WMI. The wmic command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Wsmanhttpconfig	The wsmanhttpconfig command is used to manage aspects of the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) service. The wsmanhttpconfig command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Xcopy	The xcopy command can copy one or more files or directory trees from one location to another. The xcopy command is generally considered a more "powerful" version of the copy command through the robocopy command trumps even xcopy. The xcopy command is available in all versions of Windows, as well as in MS-DOS. A command by the name of xcopy32 existed in Windows 95 and Windows 98. To avoid a long and confusing explanation here, just know that no matter if you executed the xcopy command or the xcopy32 command, you were always executing the most updated version of the command.
Xwizard	The xwizard command, short for Extensible Wizard, is used to register data in Windows, often from a preconfigured XML file. The xwizard command is available in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

Operating System Specific Commands

Command Prompt Commands from phoenixnap.com

Commands are built-in programs that run through the Command Prompt program. The main use for commands is to automate various tasks, such as user provisioning and other routine actions. 

Below is an overview of some common Windows CMD (Command Prompt) commands. Every command has a brief explanation and an example use case.

1. arp Command

The arp (address resolution protocol) command shows and modifies entries in the ARP cache. The cache contains one or multiple tables that map IP addresses to resolved physical addresses.

The syntax for the command is:

arp <options> <address>

Without any parameters, the arp command shows the help window.

To show the ARP cache table, run the following command:

arp -a

The output lists all the current ARP entries grouped by the interface.

2. assoc Command

The assoc (association) command lists and modifies file extension associations on the system. The syntax for the command is:

assoc .<extension>=<filetype>

Without any parameters, the command prints the current file extension associations.

Use the assoc command to view, change, or remove file associations. For example, to view the .log file associations, run:

assoc .log

Change the file association with:

assoc .log=txtfile

Alternatively, remove all file associations for files with the .log extension by running:

assoc .log= 

The command requires adding a space after the equals sign to remove the association.

3. attrib Command

The attrib (attribute) command shows or changes file attributes. The possible attributes are:

• R - Read-only.
• H - Hidden.
• S - System file.

The syntax for the attrib command is:

attrib <+ or -> <attribute>

The plus sign (+) sets an attribute, while the minus sign (-) removes an attribute from a file. Without any options, the command shows the file attributes in the current directory.

To set a file to have the read-only (R) and hidden (H) attributes, use the following command:

attrib +R +H sample_file.txt

To make a file visible, remove the hidden (H) attribute:

attrib -H sample_file.txt

The minus removes the attribute from the file and returns the file to the default visible state.

4. bcdboot Command

The bcdboot (boot configuration data boot) command sets up a system partition by copying BCD files into an empty partition.

The syntax for the command is:

bcdboot <path>

For example, to copy the BCD files into C:\Windows, use:

bcdboot C:\Windows

The output prints a confirmation message about file creation.

5. cd Command

The cd (change directory) command shows or changes the current location. The syntax for the command is:

cd <directory>

The directory parameter is optional, and without it, the command prints the current working directory.

For example, to change the location to a directory named Public, add the directory name after the command:

cd Public

The prompt reflects the change and shows the new location.

To change the location to a different disk, add the /d option before the path. For example, to change to disk S:\ use:

cd /d S:

Without the option, the command prints the path without changing to the provided location.

To change to the parent directory, use the following shortcut:

cd ..

The current directory changes to one directory above the current location.

6. chkdsk Command

The chkdsk command scans the local file system and metadata for errors. The syntax for checking a disk is:

chkdsk <volume> <options>

Without additional parameters, the chkdsk command shows the current disk state without fixing any errors.

Additional parameters enable fixing errors on a disk, such as the /f option:

chkdsk <volume> /f

The command attempts to fix errors on the disk. If the disk is in use, run the check on the next system restart. Stopping the command does not affect the system, but ensure to run the scan later to fix any potential data corruption.

7. choice Command

The choice command prompts a user to choose an answer from a list of options. Without any parameters, the command prompts the user to choose between Y and N options.

Additional options control the number of choices and the prompt text. For example, to add a third choice, use the /c parameter and list the three option names:

choice /c ync

Insert additional text to explain the available options with the /m parameter. For example:

choice /c ync /m "Yes, No, Continue"

In all cases, the command returns the choice index and exits.

8. cipher Command

The cipher command shows and modifies the encryption for files or directories. The command syntax is:

cipher <option> <file or directory>

Without any options, the cipher command shows the encryption state for all files and directories in the current location. The U represents "unencrypted," whereas E is "encrypted."

To encrypt a file in the current directory, use the /e parameter:

cipher /e <file name>

The file's indicator changes from U to E, which marks the file as encrypted.

9. clip Command

The clip command copies a command output or file contents to the clipboard. The syntax for copying a command's output in CMD is:

<command> | clip

For example, to copy the current directory path, pipe the cd command to clip:

cd | clip

Paste the contents anywhere in the window using CTRL+V (or right-click in CMD).

To copy the contents of a file, use redirection:

clip < <filename>

For example, to copy the contents of a sample.txt file to the clipboard, run:

clip < sample.txt

The file's contents are saved to the clipboard and can you can paste them anywhere.

10. cls Command

The cls command clears the text in a command prompt window and returns a blank surface. Use the command to clear the screen contents.

Note that the previous contents and output do not return to the screen.

11. cmd Command

The cmd command starts a new instance of the command interpreter. Use the following syntax to run the command:

cmd <options> <command>

Without additional parameters, the cmd command shows the current cmd.exe program version.

Use cmd to run commands without affecting the current session. For example, to test a command and return to the current command interpreter session, use the /c parameter:

cmd /c cd ..

The new interpreter changes the directory. However, the /c tag ensures the interpreter returns to the original session, and the directory stays unchanged.

To run a command and stay in the new session, use the /k parameter:

cmd /k cd ..

The /k parameter switches to the new session and runs the cd command to switch to the parent directory.

12. color Command

The color command changes the default console background and text colors. The command syntax is:

color <background><font>

The color attributes are hexadecimal numbers from 0 to f. The help window displays all the possible color options:

help color

For example, to change the background to blue (1) and the font to light aqua (b), run:

color 1b

To return to the default console colors, run the color command without options.

13. comp Command

The comp command compares the contents of two files. The comparator program inspects file bytes and outputs characters where the two files differ.

The syntax for the command is:

comp <file 1> <file 2> <options>

Without any options, the comp command starts an interactive prompt to enter file names and additional options.

To demonstrate how the command works, compare two text files with the following contents:

• sample_file_1.txt contains "test"
• sample_file_2.txt contains "text"

Run the comp command and provide the two file names:

comp sample_file_1.txt sample_file_2.txt

The output prints the comparison error as characters in hexadecimal format and asks to compare more files (enter N to exit).

To print the comp results in human-readable format, use the /a parameter:

comp /a sample_file_1.txt sample_file_2.txt

The comparison fails at character "s" in the first file and character "x" in the second file.

14. compact Command

The compact command is a built-in feature for compressing files and folders. The syntax for the command is:

compact <options> <file>

Without any options or parameters, the compact command prints the compression state in the current directory.

For example, to compress a file, use the /c parameter and provide the file name:

compact /c sample_file.txt

To uncompress a file, use the /u parameter:

compact /u sample_file_1.txt

Use the compact command to save disk space and compress large files and directories.

15. copy Command

The copy command copies one or multiple files from one location to another. The command syntax is:

copy <options> <source> <destination>

For example, to copy a file's contents into a new file in the same location, use:

copy sample_file.txt sample_file_copy.txt

The command creates the new file and copies all the contents from the source file.

16. date Command

The date command shows and modifies the current date on the system. Without any parameters, the command prints the current date and requests to enter a new date:

date

Enter the date as mm-dd-yyyy to change the current date on the system or exit with CTRL+C.

Use the /t parameter to avoid modifying the system state and only print the current date:

date /t

The command shows the day of the week and the current date.

17. defrag Command

The defrag (defragmentation) command finds and aggregates fragmented files on the system. The command reduces unnecessary empty data blocks and improves system performance.

The syntax for the defrag command is:

defrag <volumes> <options>

For example, to defragment the C:\ drive, run:

defrag C:\ /u /v

The /u parameter prints the progress, while /v shows a verbose output. These parameters are optional.

18. del and erase Commands

The del and erase commands delete one or more files. The syntax for the commands is:

del <options> <file(s)>

erase <options> <files(s)>

Both commands permanently delete the specified file or files from a disk and are irretrievable.

For example, to delete a file with the name sample.txt, run:

del sample.txt

Or alternatively:

erase sample.txt

To avoid accidental deletion, use the /p parameter:

del /p sample.txt

The output shows a prompt with the file name and requires confirmation before deleting the file.

19. dir Command

The dir (directory) command lists directory contents, including files and subdirectories. The syntax for the command is:

dir <drive><path><filename> <options>

The dir command without options shows information for the current directory.

To show the C:\ drive contents, run:

dir C:\

The output shows the following information:

• Volume drive.
• Volume serial number.
• Directory contents with modification time.
• File and directory count.

20. doskey Command

The doskey command starts the Doskey.exe program for the previously entered commands. The command helps recall command history and create macros.

For example, to see the command history from the current command prompt session, run:

doskey /history

The output shows all the commands from the CMD session from oldest to newest.

21. driverquery Command

The driverquery command is a command for admins to display the installed device drivers and their information. The command works for both local and remote access machines.

The syntax for the command is:

driverquery <options>

Without any options, the driverquery command shows device drivers on the local machine. Additional options control the output format or allow querying remote machine drivers.

22. echo Command

The echo command prints a message to the console and controls the settings for the command. The syntax for the command is:

echo <message>

Without any parameters, the command shows the current settings.

To use the command and show a "Hello, world!" message to the screen, run:

echo "Hello, world!"

The echo command often appears in scripts to print useful information while the script runs.

Note: Learn how to use the echo command in PowerShell.

23. exit Command

The exit command ends the current batch script or the command interpreter session. To exit a batch script, add the /b parameter:

exit /b

Without the /b option, the exit command closes the command interpreter.

24. fc Command

The fc (file compare) command compares two or more files. The output prints the contents to the console if there is a difference between the files.

The syntax for fc is the following:

fc <options> <file 1> <file 2> 

For example, to compare two sample files, sample_file_1.txt and sample_file_2.txt, run:

fc sample_file_1.txt sample_file_2.txt

The command prints the file contents, indicating there is a difference between the two files.

25. find Command

The find command searches for a string in a file and prints the line of text when there is a result. The command syntax is:

find <string> <file>

For example, to search for the string "text" in a file, use:

find "text" <file>

The command looks for an exact match and returns the file name along with the line of text that contains the string. If a file does not contain the text, the command returns the file name without the text.

26. findstr Command

The findstr (find string) command performs a similar task to the find command. The command returns the whole line where the text is located without the file name. This feature makes it more convenient for use in scripts.

The command syntax is:

findstr <string> <file>

For example, to find a string "text" in a file, run:

findstr "text" <file>

If the command does not return a result, the string is not in the file.

27. ftype Command

The ftype (file type) command shows and changes a file type and extension association. The command syntax is:

ftype <file type>=<open command>

The file type parameter is the file to show or modify (such as txtfile), while the open command option is a string that calls a program to read the file type. The open command string substitutes the file name into the open command to run a file in the provided program.

Without any options, ftype prints all file types and extension associations.

To show the current file type and extension association for text files, enter:

ftype txtfile

To remove file type association, append an (=) sign:

ftype txtfile=

The command omits the program for opening files and removes the program association.

Note: Learn about the differences between PowerShell and CMD.

28. getmac Command

The getmac command fetches the MAC addresses for all network cards on the computer or in the network. The command also shows the protocols associated with each address.

The syntax is:

getmac <options>

Additional options provide detailed information about a remote computer or control the output display. For example, to show the MAC addresses in the CSV format, use:

getmac /fo csv

Use the command to parse the MAC address to a network monitoring tool or to check the protocols on network adapters.

29. help Command

The help command shows detailed information for a specific command. Without any parameters, the help command lists all available system commands.

The syntax for the command is:

help <command>

For example, to view the help menu for the cd command, run:

help cd

Use any key to go through the pages if the help page is larger than the command line. Alternatively, press CTRL+C to exit.

Note: For non-system commands, use the following format to see the help window:

<command> /?

30. hostname Command

The hostname command is a simple command to display a machine's host name. Run the command to see the name of the computer:

hostname

The command does not have options, and providing any additional parameters throws an error. The hostname command is available for systems with TCP/IP installed on a network adapter.

31. ipconfig Command

The ipconfig (IP configuration) command is a networking CMD tool that shows all current TCP/IP network configuration information. The command also refreshes DHCP and DNS settings.

The syntax for the command is:

ipconfig <options>

Omitting options shows the basic TCP/IP configuration for all adapters:

ipconfig

To show the full TCP/IP configuration for all adapters, run:

ipconfig /all

Renew the DHCP IP address for the local area connection with:

ipconfig /renew Local Area Connection

To flush the DNS cache, use:

ipconfig /flushdns

Use the command when troubleshooting DNS issues.

32. label Command

The label command shows, changes, or removes the volume label (name) of a disk. The command requires administrator privileges to perform any changes.

Without any options, the label command shows the label for the C:\ drive and starts a prompt to change the name:

label

Press Enter to remove the label, or enter a new name to change the current label name. Confirm the change with Y or press N to keep the existing name.

33. makecab Command

The makecab command creates a cabinet (.cab) file. Cabinet files are an archive format specific to Windows systems with support for lossless data compression and archive integrity.

Use the following syntax to create .cab files with the makecab command:

makecab <options> <source> <destination>

For example, to create a sample_cab.cab file in the current directory and add a sample_file.txt file to the archive, use:

makecab sample_file.txt sample_cab.cab

The output prints the compression progress and exits when done.

34. md and mkdir Commands

The md and mkdir (make directory) commands create a new directory or subdirectory. The command syntax is:

md <path>

mkdir <path>

For example, to make a new subdirectory called Subdir in the current location, run:

mkdir Subdir

The command extensions enable md and mkdir to create a directory tree:

md Subdir\Subsubdir

The command immediately creates all intermediate subdirectories.

35. mklink Command

The mklink (make link) command creates a hard or symbolic link to a file or directory. The command requires administrator privileges to run and uses the following syntax:

mklink <options> <link> <target>

Without any additional options, the mlink command creates a symbolic link to a file. For example:

mklink my_link sample_file.txt

To create a hard link instead of a symbolic link, use the /h parameter:

mklink /h my_link sample_file.txt

Create a directory link with the /d parameter:

mklink /d \Docs \Users\milicad\Documents

The dir command shows the links in the directory listing. To enter the directory, use the cd command and treat the link as a regular directory (cd Docs).

36. more Command

The more command is a Windows CMD utility for displaying long documents or outputs one screen at a time. To use more with a command, use the pipe character:

<command> | more <options>

Alternatively, use the command to display long files page by page:

more <path>

For example, run the help cd command and pipe the more command to truncate the output:

help cd | more

Press Enter to go to the following line and Space to go to the next page. To exit, press q.

37. mountvol Command

The mountvol command creates, removes, or shows a volume mount point. Mounting a volume makes data on a storage device available for local users through the file system.

The command syntax is:

mountvol <path> <volume name>

The command does not require a drive letter to link a volume. Without any parameters, the mountvol command shows the help menu, mount points, and possible volume names.

For example, to list the volume name and current mount point for the C:\ drive, run:

mountvol C:\ /l

The output shows the GUID for the volume, which is a unique unchanging identifier.

38. move Command

The move command is a CMD shell command for moving files from one location to another. The syntax for the command is:

move <options> <source> <destination>

The source and destination are either a folder or a file. The move command renames a file if the source and destination locations are the same but have different file names.

For example, the following command renames a file named sample_file.txt to file.txt:

move sample_file.txt file.txt

Provide the full path to move a file to another location:

move C:\Users\Public\Downloads\my_file.txt C:\Users\Public\Desktop\my_file.txt 

If overwriting an existing file, the command prompts to confirm, unless the command runs as part of a batch script.

Note: Learn more about working with bash scripts by referring to our articles How to Write a Bash Script and How To Run A Bash Script.

39. msiexec Command

The msiexec program runs the Windows Installer program for installing, managing, and removing .msi software packages. The command syntax is:

msiexec <options> <path to package>

The program features various install, display, update, and repair options. Without any options, the msiexec command opens a window to show the command information.

For example, to perform a normal installation of a .msi package, run:

msiexec /i "C:\example.msi"

The /i option indicates a normal installation of the .msi package located at the provided path.

40. msinfo32 Command

The msinfo32 command opens the System Information window, which has details about the system.

The command syntax is:

msinfo32 <options>

Additional options filter the information or export the data into specific file formats. For example, to export all system information into an.nfo file, use:

msinfo /nfo sysinfo.nfo

The command automatically appends the .nfo extension if omitted.

41. mstsc Command

The mstsc command starts the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) program to connect to a remote machine. Use the command for remote connection or to alter an existing .rdp file.

The command syntax is:

mstsc <options> <file>

For example, to start an RDC session in full-screen mode, use this command:

mstsc /f

To edit an existing connection, use the /edit parameter and provide the file name:

mstsc /edit example.rdp

User-created .rdp files are in the Documents folder by default.

42. net Commands

net commands are a set of commands for managing various network aspects, such as users and network services.

The command syntax is:

net <subcommand> <options>

Without additional parameters, the net command shows all available subcommands with a short description.

Use the net start command to list all running Windows services:

net start

To stop a service, use the following command:

net stop <service>

View the login and password requirements for a user with the following:

net accounts

Display additional help for a subcommand using the following syntax:

net help <command>

The output shows a detailed help window for any provided command.

43. netstat Command

The netstat (network statistics) command is a crucial command for network administrators. The command lets you view various network statistics.

The basic syntax for the command is:

netstat <options>

The command displays active TCP connections when used without options. The output shows the protocol, local and foreign addresses, and the TCP connection state.

Add the -a option to display all active TCP connections and listening TCP and UDP ports:

netstat -a

Use the command to scan for open ports or to check the port protocol type.

44. nslookup Command

The nslookup command is a DNS infrastructure diagnostics tool for web servers. The command features a non-interactive mode for looking up a single piece of information and an interactive mode for looking up additional data.

The syntax for nslookup is:

nslookup <host> <command> <options>

Without any options, nslookup enters interactive mode. To find DNS records for a specific domain name, use:

nslookup <domain>

The output prints the A records for the provided domain.

45. path Command

The path command helps add directories to the PATH environment variable. The variable contains a set of directories that point to executable files.

The command syntax looks like the following:

path <location>

Without any parameters, path shows the current state of the PATH variable.

To add multiple locations to PATH, separate each location with a semicolon (;) as in the following example:

path <location 1>; <location 2>

Both locations append to the variable.

46. ping Command

The ping command is another essential network troubleshooting tool. The command checks the connectivity with another machine by sending ICMP request messages.

The syntax for the command is:

ping <options> <host>

For example, to check connectivity to the phoenixNAP website, use:

ping phoenixnap.com

The output prints corresponding reply messages and round-trip times. Use the command to check for connectivity and name resolution issues.

47. powercfg Command

The powercfg (power configure) command runs the powercfg.exe program for controlling the system's power plans. The monitoring tool also helps troubleshoot battery life and energy efficiency problems on a device.

The command syntax is:

powercfg <options> <arguments>

To list the current power plan setup on a device, use:

powercfg /list

The output lists all power schemes on the system. The active power scheme has an asterisk (*).

48. prompt Command

The prompt command allows changing the CMD prompt display to the specified string. By default, the prompt shows the current location and the greater-than sign (>).

The command syntax is:

prompt <string and variables>

The prompt command offers various variables to add special characters or additional features to the prompt. For example, to change the prompt to an arrow, use:

prompt --$g

The $g variable represents the greater-than sign (>) and the prompt stays during the command-line session.

49. rd and rmdir Commands

The rd and rmdir commands remove an empty directory from the system. The syntax for the commands is:

rd <path>

rmdir <path>

Attempting to delete a directory with files results in an error message. Add the /s parameter to delete a directory with subdirectories and files to avoid the error message:

rd /s <path>

The command deletes the complete subdirectory tree and all files.

50. ren and rename Commands

The ren and rename commands rename files or directories. The syntax for the two commands is:

ren <path><old name> <new name>

rename <path><old name> <new name>

The commands do not allow moving the files to a different location. Wildcard characters work for multiple files. For example, to change all .txt files to .c files, use:

ren *.txt *.c

The asterisk (*) character helps discover all file names in the current directory with the .txt extension and renames the files to have the .c extension.

51. robocopy Command

The robocopy command is a robust command for copying files and directories. The syntax for the command is:

robocopy <source> <destination> <file> <options>

The main benefit when using robocopy is the /mt parameter for higher-performance multithreading. Additionally, the /z parameter lets you restart a transfer in case of interruptions.

An example transfer looks like the following:

robocopy C:\Users\user\Downloads C:\Users\user\Documents database.db /mt /z

Use the command for large file transfers that are sensitive to interruptions.

52. route Command

The route command shows and alters entries in the local routing table. The command syntax is:

route <options> <command> <value>

The different available commands are:

• add - Adds a route entry to the table.
• change - Modifies an entry in the table.
• delete - Removes a route from the table.
• print - Displays a route or routes.

For example, to print all routes from the table, use:

route print 

The output prints the interface list, and IPv4 and IPv6 routing tables.

53. schtasks Commands

The schtasks command helps schedule commands or programs to run on the system. The tasks run at specified times or periodically. The syntax for the commands is:

schtasks /<subcommand>

The following subcommands are available:

• change - Modifies existing properties of a task.
• create - Creates a new task.
• delete - Removes a task.
• end - Stops a program started by a task.
• query - Prints scheduled tasks on the machine.
• run - Starts a scheduled task.

For example, to show currently scheduled tasks on the system, use:

schtasks /query

The output displays task names, next run times, and task statuses.

54. set Command

The set command shows, sets, and removes environment variables in the CMD. The syntax for the command is:

set <variable>=<value>

Without additional parameters, the set command shows all environment variables.

The variables are available to use with any command. For example, to create a new CMD variable called message, use:

set message="Hello, world!"

Reference the variable using the following syntax:

echo %message%

Encasing the variable in the percent signs (%) reads the value and outputs it to the screen.

Note: The variables do not persist and are only valid for the current command-prompt session.

55. sfc Command

The sfc (system file checker) is an administrator command for checking protected file version integrity. The command also replaces incorrect overwritten protected files with the correct file version.

The syntax for the command is:

sfc <options> <files or directories>

For example, to scan the system and repair all files, use the following command:

sfc /scannow

The command scans all protected system files and repairs problematic files when possible.

56. shutdown Command

The shutdown command restarts or shuts down a local or remote computer. The command syntax is:

shutdown <options>

Without any arguments, the shutdown command opens the help menu.

For example, to shut down and restart the computer, use the /r option:

shutdown /r

To shut down without restarting, use the /s argument:

shutdown /s

In both cases, the shutdown is not immediate. To cancel the action, use the /a option:

shutdown /a

The option ensures that a previously executed shutdown command aborts.

57. sort Command

The sort command allows sorting provided data from a file or user input. Additional options control the sorting mechanism and from which point to start sorting.

To use the command interactively, do the following:

1. Run sort without any options.

2. Enter a new word in each line.

3. Press CTRL+Z and Enter at the end of the list to sort the input values alphabetically.

Alternatively, use the sort command on files:

sort sample_file.txt

The command sorts the file contents and prints the result to the console.

58. start Command

The start command opens a new command-prompt window according to the specified options. The command syntax is:

start <title> <options>

For example, to load start a new command-prompt session with the title "Hello, world!" and set the path to C:\. enter the following command:

start "Hello, world!" /d C:\

A new CMD window opens with the starting path on the C:\ drive and a custom title.

59. systeminfo Command

The systeminfo command displays detailed system information about the OS and computer, including hardware properties. The command works on both local and remote machines.

Use the command without options to show the local system information:

systeminfo

Additional options allow checking system information for remote computers or controlling the output format. For example, show the output in CSV format with:

systeminfo /fo csv

Different formats enable parsing the information through scripts effectively.

60. takeown Command

The takeown (take ownership) command allows an administrator account to take ownership of a file. The command provides access to a file for an administrator and makes the administrator the owner.

Add the /f option and specify the file name:

takeown /f <file>

The administrator now has full permissions over the file.

61. taskkill Command

The taskkill command ends a running process or task on the Windows system through the command line. Use the command to forcefully end processes and tasks which did not end correctly.

The syntax for the command is:

taskkill <options> <task or process>

A common way to end a task is to find the process ID (PID) with the tasklist command and end the process with:

taskkill /pid <Process ID>

The command finds the process by ID and kills it.

62. tasklist Command

The tasklist command shows all running processes on a local or remote computer and their memory usage. The command helps locate and reference specific processes.

The syntax for tasklist is:

tasklist <options>

Without additional options, the command shows all currently running processes.

The image name and PID are unique identifiers for a process. The final column shows the memory usage for a process. This is a good indicator for identifying processes that slow down the system.

63. telnet Command

The telnet command is a Windows tool for bidirectional CLI communication. The tool uses the Telnet protocol to send messages and enable an interactive communication channel.

The syntax for the command is:

telnet <command> <options>

See our detailed guide for using Telnet on Windows.

Note: You can use the telnet command to ping a specific port on Windows.

64. time Command

The time command manages and displays the current system time. Without any options, the command prints the current time and prompts to enter a new time:

time

Enter a new time to change the system time or exit the prompt using CTRL+C. Use the /t option to avoid making modifications:

time /t

The command prints the current time and returns to the command line.

65. timeout Command

The timeout command pauses the command line for a specified number of seconds. The syntax for the command is:

timeout /t <seconds>

For example, to pause the interpreter for ten seconds, run:

timeout /t 10

The output counts down and returns to the command line. Press any key to interrupt the timeout earlier. Use the command in scripts to wait for execution between two commands.

66. title Command

The title command is a simple utility for changing the command prompt's title. The syntax is:

title <string>

For example, to set the title to "Hello, world!", use:

title "Hello, world!"

The CMD window title changes to the provided string. Use the command when running multiple batch scripts to differentiate between different command prompts.

67. tracert Command

The tracert (traceroute) command is a networking tool for determining the path from a local computer to a destination. The command sends ICMP messages with increasing TTL values to map routers along the path.

The syntax for tracert is:

tracert <options> <destination>

For example, to trace the path to phoenixnap.com, use:

tracert phoenixnap.com

Alternatively, use the IP address of the destination.

The output shows the hops between the source and destination, providing an IP address and name resolution where applicable. Use the command to discover connectivity issues to a host.

68. tree Command

The tree command displays the contents inside a drive or directory in a tree-like structure. The syntax is:

tree <options> <path>

Without any options, the tree command displays the directory structure of the C:\ drive.

69. type Command

The type command is a built-in command for showing file contents. The command allows viewing a file directly in CMD without modifying the text.

The syntax for the type command is:

type <file path>

For example, to show the contents of the file called sample_file.txt, run:

type sample_file.txt

The output prints the file's contents to the command line. Use this command to preview files directly in the command prompt.

70. tzutil Command

The tzutil (time zone utility) command helps modify and display the currently set time zone on the system. Without any options, the command shows the help window.

Display the current time zone with:

tzutil /g

The output shows the time zone ID. List all available time zone IDs with:

tzutil /l | more

The more command helps truncate long outputs. Use the /s parameter and provide the time zone ID to change the system time zone.

71. ver Command

The ver command is a simple utility to show the operating system version. Use the command to find the exact version of the operating system:

ver

The version prints to the output and returns to the command line.

72. vol Command

The vol command prints the disk volume and label. The syntax for the command is:

vol <drive>:

Without a specified drive, the vol command shows information for the currently selected drive.

73. where Command

The where command searches for the location of a file using a search pattern and prints the location to the command line. The syntax for the command is:

where <options> <location to search> <file name>

Omitting the location searches for the file in the current directory without going through subdirectories. To perform a recursive search, add the /r parameter. For example:

where /r C:\ sample_file.txt

The command searches the C:\ drive and all subdirectories. If the file is found, the command returns the location path.

74. whoami Command

The whoami command shows the current user's domain and username. The syntax for the command is:

whoami <options>

Without options, the command shows the domain and user name.

Add the /all parameter to show detailed information for the current user:

whoami /all

The user's name, security ID, groups, and privileges print to the console.

75. xcopy Command

The xcopy command copies files, directories, and subdirectories from one location to another. The syntax for the command is:

xcopy <source> <destination> <options>

For example, use the following command to copy contents from one location to another, including subdirectories (even if empty):

xcopy <source> <destination> /s /e

The /s parameter enables subdirectory copy, while /e includes empty directories. If any files with the same name exist in the destination, the command prompts before overwriting.

Read more at >> Links

https://phoenixnap.com/kb/cmd-commands

https://4sysops.com

https://winaero.com/windows-11

https://4sysops.com/archives/list

https://www.techrepublic.com