Tech
20 Windows Command Prompt (CMD) Commands – [+Cheat Sheet]
(CTN NEWS) – Are you tired of clicking through multiple menus and settings to execute simple tasks on your Windows system? Well, fear not! Windows Command Prompt is here to rescue you from the clutches of tedious UI interactions.
With a few keystrokes, you can effortlessly manipulate files, tweak system settings, and perform various other operations on your machine.
In this article, we will guide you through the 20 Windows Command Prompt commands that will make your life much easier. So, fasten your seatbelt and get ready to learn the art of command-line.
Windows Command Prompt – Introduction
Before we dive into the commands, let’s take a moment to understand what the Command Prompt is and why it’s so useful.
The Command Prompt, also known as CMD or Command Line, is a powerful tool that allows users to interact with their computer’s operating system via text-based commands.
It has been around since the earliest days of computing and remains an essential part of the Windows operating system.
The Command Prompt is a great way to perform tasks quickly and efficiently, especially when you need to perform repetitive tasks or execute complex commands.
How to Open Command Prompt in Windows 10?
Before we explore the 20 Windows Command Prompt commands, let’s quickly learn how to open the Command Prompt in Windows 10. There are multiple ways to do this:
- Press the Windows key + R, type “cmd” in the Run box, and hit Enter.
- Click on the Start menu, type “cmd” in the search bar, and click on “Command Prompt” from the search results.
- Press the Windows key + X, and select “Command Prompt” from the Power User Menu.
Once you open the Command Prompt, you’ll see a black window with white text. This is where you’ll type in your commands.
Windows CMD Commands Cheat Sheet
| Command | What does it do? |
Files & Folders Comands |
|
| assoc | Fix file associations. |
| attrib | Change file attributes. |
| cd (or chdir) | Change current working directory. |
| comp | Perform a comparison of multiple files. |
| compact | Copy files from one location to another. |
| del (or erase) | Delete files. |
| dir | List files and subfolders. |
| expand | Expand compressed files. |
| fc | File compare. |
| find | Filter a string in files. |
| findstr | Search for patterns of text in files. |
| md (or mkdir) | Create  a directory or subdirectory. |
| move | Move files from one directory to another. |
| openfiles | Display the current open files list or disconnect opened files/folders. |
| Send a text file to a printer. | |
| rd (or rmdir) | Delete a directory. |
| ren (or rename) | Rename a file or directory. |
| replace | Replace existing or add new files to a directory. |
| robocopy | Copy file data from one location to another. |
| tree | Display tree structure of a directory. |
| type | Display the contents of a text file. |
| xcopy | Copy files and directories. |
Disk & Partition Commands |
|
| active | Mark the partition with focus as active. |
| chkdsk | Check disk. |
| chkntfs | Display or modify automatic disk checking when the computer is started. |
| clean | Remove all partitions or volume formatting from the disk with focus. |
| convert | Convert a disk from one disk type to another. |
| create | Create partition or volume. |
| defrag | Locates and consolidates fragmented files on local volumes. |
| delete | Delete a partition or a volume. |
| detail | Display information about the selected disk. |
| diskcomp | Compare the contents of two floppy disks. |
| diskcopy | Copy content of the disk. |
| diskpart | Manage computer disks and drives. |
| diskperf | Start or stop disk performance counters for Performance Monitor. |
| extend | Extend a partition or a volume. |
| format | Format a disk to accept Windows files. |
| freedisk | Check to see if the specified amount of disk space is available before continuing with an installation process. |
| fsutil | Perform tasks that related to FAT and NTFS file systems. |
| gpt | Assign gpt attribute(s) to a partition. |
| label | Create, change, or delete the volume label of a disk. |
| list | Display a list of disks. |
| recover | Recover readable information from a bad or defective disk. |
| vol | Display the disk volume label and serial number. |
Network Commands |
|
| arp | Display and modify entries in the ARP cache. |
| bitsadmin | Create, download or upload jobs and monitor their progress. |
| dnscmd | Manage DNS servers. |
| ftp | Connect to and use FTP. |
| getmac | Return the MAC address. |
| ipconfig | IP configuration. |
| ipxroute | Display and modify information about the routing tables used by the IPX protocol. |
| irftp | Sends files over an infrared link. |
| jetpack | Compact a WINS or DHCP database. |
| netsh | Network Shell utility. |
| netstat | Display network statistics. |
| net use | Connect/disconnect a computer to/from a shared resource |
| ping | View the computer name and the IP address of an endpoint computer. |
| tracert | Determine the route to a destination by sending ICMP packets to the destination. |
System Information & Configuration Commands |
|
| date | Display or set the system date. |
| driverquery | Display device driver status and properties. |
| hostname | Display the computer hostname. |
| powercfg | Power configuration. |
| shutdown | Turn off computer. |
| systeminfo | Display computer system information. |
| time | Display or set the system time. |
| ver | Display Windows system version number. |
Command Line Setup Commands |
|
| cls | Clear the command prompt window. |
| cmd | Start a new instance of the command interpreter. |
| color | Change the foreground and background colors in the Command Prompt window for the current session. |
| exit | Quit and close the command prompt. |
| help | Display a list of the available commands. |
| prompt | Change the Cmd.exe command prompt. |
| title | Set the Cmd.exe window title. |
20 Windows Command Prompt – Essential Commands
Here are the 20 Windows Command Prompt commands that will help you boost your productivity and get things done faster:
1. cd
The “cd” command stands for “change directory.” It allows you to change the current directory in which you’re working. For example, if you want to switch to the “Documents” folder, you can type “cd Documents” and hit Enter.
2. dir
The “dir” command stands for “directory.” It allows you to view a list of files and directories in the current directory. For example, if you type “dir” and hit Enter, you’ll see a list of all the files and directories in the current directory.
3. mkdir
The “mkdir” command stands for “make directory.” It allows you to create a new directory in the current directory.
For example, if you type “mkdir NewFolder” and hit Enter, a new folder called “NewFolder” will be created in the current directory.
4. rmdir
The “rmdir” command stands for “remove directory.” It allows you to delete a directory. For example, if you want to delete a folder called “OldFolder,” you can type “rmdir OldFolder” and hit Enter.
5. copy
The “copy” command allows you to copy a file from one location to another.
For example, if you want to copy a file called “file.txt” from the “Documents” folder to the “Downloads” folder, you can type “copy Documents\file.txt Downloads” and hit Enter.
6. xcopy
The “xcopy” command stands for “extended copy.” It allows you to copy files and directories, including subdirectories.
For example, if you want to copy a folder called “MyFolder” and all its contents to a new location, you can type “xcopy MyFolder NewLocation /s” and hit Enter.
7. move
The “move” command allows you to move a file or directory from one location to another.
For example, if you want to move a file called “file.txt” from the “Documents” folder to the “Downloads” folder, you can type “move Documents\file.txt Downloads” and hit Enter.
8. ren
The “ren” command stands for “rename.” It allows you to rename a file or directory. For example, if you want to rename a file called “oldname.txt” to “newname.txt,” you can type “ren oldname.txt newname.txt” and hit Enter.
9. tasklist
The “tasklist” command allows you to view a list of running processes on your computer. For example, if you type “tasklist” and hit Enter, you’ll see a list of all the processes running on your system.
10. taskkill
The “taskkill” command allows you to terminate a running process. For example, if you want to terminate a process called “chrome.exe,” you can type “taskkill /im chrome.exe” and hit Enter.
11. ipconfig
The “ipconfig” command allows you to view your computer’s network configuration. For example, if you type “ipconfig” and hit Enter, you’ll see your computer’s IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
12. ping
The “ping” command allows you to test your network connection. For example, if you want to test whether a website is reachable, you can type “ping www.website.com” and hit Enter.
13. netstat
The “netstat” command allows you to view active network connections. For example, if you type “netstat” and hit Enter, you’ll see a list of all the connections your computer has open.
14. systeminfo
The “systeminfo” command allows you to view system information such as the operating system version, processor type, and amount of installed RAM.
For example, if you type “systeminfo” and hit Enter, you’ll see detailed information about your computer.
15. chkdsk
The “chkdsk” command stands for “check disk.” It allows you to scan your hard drive for errors and repair any issues. For example, if you want to scan your C: drive for errors, you can type “chkdsk C:” and hit Enter.
16. sfc
The “sfc” command stands for “System File Checker.” It allows you to scan your system files for corruption and repair any issues. For example, if you want to scan your system files, you can type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter.
17. diskpart
The “diskpart” command allows you to manage your hard drives and partitions. For example, if you want to create a new partition on your hard drive, you can use the “diskpart” command.
18. format
The “format” command allows you to format a drive or partition. For example, if you want to format a USB drive, you can type “format F:” (where “F:” is the drive letter of the USB drive) and hit Enter.
19. shutdown
The “shutdown” command allows you to shut down or restart your computer. For example, if you want to restart your computer, you can type “shutdown /r” and hit Enter.
20. systeminfo
The “systeminfo” command allows you to view system information such as the operating system version, processor type, and amount of installed RAM.
For example, if you type “systeminfo” and hit Enter, you’ll see detailed information about your computer.
Conclusion
The Windows Command Prompt is a powerful tool that can help you perform a wide range of tasks on your computer.
From managing files and folders to troubleshooting system issues, the Command Prompt provides a simple and efficient way to interact with your computer.
With the 20 Windows Command Prompt commands above, you can quickly and easily execute common tasks and improve productivity.
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