Windows Commands Every User Should Know

Windows Commands Every User Should Know

Microsoft commands are essential text-based instructions used in Windows operating systems to execute various tasks. These commands help users manage files, configure networks, troubleshoot errors, and automate system processes. They are commonly used in the Command Prompt (CMD) or PowerShell to perform actions quickly and efficiently. Below is a detailed list of important Windows commands and their functions.

Basic Windows commands

RD The RD (or RMDIR) command in Windows is used to delete or remove directories. It works only on empty folders unless the /S switch is used to remove all contents inside.
DelThe DEL command in Windows is used to delete files from a specified directory. It permanently removes files but does not delete folders unless combined with the /S switch for recursive deletion.
DIRDIR: The DIR command in Windows displays a list of files and directories in a specified folder, showing details like size and date.
CDThe CD command in Windows is used to change the current directory in the command prompt to navigate between folders easily.– Changes the current directory.
MD The MD (or MKDIR) command in Windows is used to create new directories or folders in the specified location via Command Prompt.
RD The RD (or RMDIR) command in Windows is used to delete or remove directories. It works only on empty folders unless the /S switch is used to remove all contents inside.
CLSThe CLS Windows Commands is used to clear the Command Prompt screen, removing all previously displayed text and providing a clean workspace without closing the terminal window.
CopyThe COPY command in Windows is used to copy one or multiple files from one location to another, preserving the original files while creating duplicates in the specified destination folder.
XCOPYThe XCOPY command in Windows is used to copy files and directories, including subdirectories. It provides advanced options for bulk copying, making it more powerful than the basic COPY command.
MOVEThe MOVE command in Windows is used to move files or directories from one location to another, effectively relocating them without creating duplicates, unlike the COPY command.
REN The REN (or RENAME) command in Windows is used to change the name of a file or folder. It does not move files, only updates their names within the same directory.

windows commands to open program

hdwwiz.cplThe hdwwiz.cpl command in Windows opens the “Add Hardware Wizard,” allowing users to install and manage hardware devices easily.
appwiz.cplThe appwiz.cpl command in Windows opens the “Programs and Features” window, allowing users to uninstall or modify installed programs easily.
calcThe calc command in Windows opens the Calculator application, allowing users to perform basic and advanced mathematical calculations easily.
compmgmt.mscThe compmgmt.msc command in Windows opens the Computer Management tool, allowing users to manage disks, users, services, and system performance settings
controlThe control command in Windows opens the Control Panel, allowing users to manage system settings, hardware, software, user accounts, and network options.
timedate.cplThe timedate.cpl command in Windows opens the Date and Time settings, allowing users to adjust time, date, and time zone preferences.
devmgmt.mscThe devmgmt.msc command in Windows opens Device Manager, allowing users to manage hardware devices, update drivers, and troubleshoot device-related issues easily.
dxdiagThe dxdiag command in Windows opens the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, displaying system information, graphics, sound, and troubleshooting details for DirectX components.
cleanmgrThe cleanmgr command in Windows is a built-in tool used to delete temporary files and free up disk space easily.
diskmgmt.mscThe diskmgmt.msc command in Windows opens Disk Management, allowing users to manage partitions, format drives, and assign drive letters easily.
diskpartThe diskpart command in Windows is a command-line tool used to manage disks, partitions, and volumes, including formatting and resizing.
control desktopThe control desktop command in Windows opens the Display Settings, allowing users to customize screen resolution, wallpapers, and other display preferences easily.
desk.cplThe desk.cpl command in Windows opens the Display Settings, allowing users to adjust screen resolution, themes, and other display preferences easily.
eventvwr.mscThe eventvwr.msc command in Windows opens Event Viewer, allowing users to view system logs, monitor events, and troubleshoot issues easily.
sigverifThe sigverif command in Windows opens the File Signature Verification tool, helping users check for unsigned drivers and system files easily.
firefoxThe firefox command in Windows opens the Mozilla Firefox browser, allowing users to browse the internet, access websites, and manage web settings easily.
control foldersThe control folders command in Windows opens the File Explorer Options, allowing users to customize folder views, privacy settings, and file navigation preferences easily.
control fontsThe control fonts command in Windows opens the Fonts folder, allowing users to view, install, manage, and delete system fonts easily.
gpedit.mscThe gpedit.msc command in Windows opens the Local Group Policy Editor, allowing users to configure system settings, policies, and administrative templates easily.
inetcpl.cplThe inetcpl.cpl command in Windows opens Internet Properties, allowing users to manage browser settings, security options, privacy preferences, and network configurations easily.
lusrmgr.mscThe lusrmgr.msc command in Windows opens Local Users and Groups Manager, allowing users to manage user accounts, groups, and permissions easily.
logoffThe logoff command in Windows logs out the current user, closing all open applications and ending the session without shutting down.
mrtThe mrt command in Windows opens the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, helping users scan and remove specific malware from their system easily.
mspaintThe mspaint command in Windows opens Microsoft Paint, allowing users to create, edit, and save images using basic drawing and painting tools.
main.cplThe main.cpl command in Windows opens the Mouse Properties window, allowing users to adjust mouse settings, pointers, speed, and button configurations easily.

System Information windows Commands

VERThe VER command in Windows displays the operating system version, providing basic details about the installed Windows version in Command Prompt.
SYSTEMINFOThe SYSTEMINFO command in Windows displays detailed system information, including OS version, hardware details, installed updates, and network configuration.
HOSTNAMEThe HOSTNAME command in Windows displays the computer’s name, which identifies it on a network or within the system settings.
IPCONFIGThe IPCONFIG command in Windows displays network configuration details, including IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway, helping troubleshoot connectivity issues.
GETMACThe GETMAC command in Windows displays the MAC (Media Access Control) addresses of network adapters, helping identify hardware addresses for networking purposes.
NETSTATThe NETSTAT command in Windows displays active network connections, listening ports, and network statistics, helping monitor and troubleshoot network activity.
TASKLISTThe TASKLIST command in Windows displays a list of running processes, showing their process IDs (PIDs) and memory usage for system monitoring.
TASKKILLThe TASKKILL command in Windows is used to terminate running processes by specifying their name or process ID (PID) in Command Prompt. taskkill /PID [pid_number]
WMICThe WMIC command in Windows retrieves system information, manages processes, and performs administrative tasks using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) in Command Prompt.
CHKDSKThe CHKDSK command in Windows scans and repairs disk errors, checks file system integrity, and fixes bad sectors on storage drives.

command to open application in windows

ncpa.cplThe control netconnections command in Windows opens the Network Connections window, allowing users to manage Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and other network settings easily.
notepadThe notepad command in Windows opens Notepad, a simple text editor used for creating, editing, and viewing plain text files easily
oskThe osk command in Windows opens the On-Screen Keyboard, allowing users to input text using a virtual keyboard on the screen.
powercfg.cplThe powercfg.cpl command in Windows opens the Power Options window, allowing users to manage power plans, battery settings, and sleep modes easily
regeditThe regedit command in Windows opens the Registry Editor, allowing users to view, edit, and manage system registry settings for customization and troubleshooting.
services.mscThe services.msc command in Windows opens the Services Manager, allowing users to start, stop, and configure system services for performance and troubleshooting.
sysdm.cplThe sysdm.cpl command in Windows opens the System Properties window, allowing users to manage performance, remote access, hardware, and advanced system settings easily.
msconfigThe msconfig command in Windows opens the System Configuration tool, allowing users to manage startup programs, boot options, services, and system troubleshooting settings easily.
msinfo32The msinfo32 command in Windows opens the System Information tool, displaying detailed hardware, software, and system configuration details for troubleshooting and diagnostics.
taskmgrThe taskmgr command in Windows opens Task Manager, allowing users to monitor processes, manage startup programs, check performance, and end tasks easily.
explorerThe explorer command in Windows opens File Explorer, allowing users to browse files, folders, and drives, and manage system navigation easily.
clsThe cls command in Windows clears the Command Prompt screen, removing all previous commands and output, providing a clean working space.

File Management Commands

ATTRIBThe ATTRIB command in Windows changes file attributes, such as read-only, hidden, system, or archive, to manage file visibility and protection.
TREEhe TREE command in Windows displays a graphical directory structure of a drive or folder, showing all subdirectories in a hierarchical format.
FCThe FC command in Windows compares two files line by line, highlighting differences to help identify changes between text or binary files.
FINDThe FIND command in Windows searches for specific text within files or command output, helping locate information quickly in large datasets.
ASSOCThe ASSOC command in Windows displays or changes file associations, showing which programs open specific file extensions like .txt or .jpg.
TYPEThe TYPE command in Windows displays the contents of a text file in the Command Prompt without opening it in an editor.
DISKPARTThe DISKPART command in Windows manages disk partitions, allowing users to create, delete, format, and modify partitions on storage drives.
FORMATThe FORMAT command in Windows erases all data on a drive and prepares it for use by creating a new file system
LABELThe LABEL command in Windows creates, changes, or deletes the volume label (name) of a disk drive for identification purposes.
VOLThe VOL command in Windows displays the volume label and serial number of a specified disk drive, providing basic disk information.

User Management Commands

NET USERThe NET USER command in Windows manages user accounts, allowing administrators to add, delete, or modify user account settings via Command Prompt.
WHOAMIThe WHOAMI command in Windows displays the current logged-in user’s name and domain, helping identify user credentials in Command Prompt.
LOGOFFThe LOGOFF command in Windows signs out the current user or a specified user from the system, closing all active sessions.
SHUTDOWNThe SHUTDOWN command in Windows shuts down, restarts, or logs off the computer, with options for timed shutdowns and forced closures.
POWERCFGThe POWERCFG command in Windows manages power settings, analyzes energy consumption, and configures sleep, hibernation, and battery performance options.
WMIC USERACCOUNTThe WMIC USERACCOUNT command in Windows retrieves detailed user account information, including status, privileges, and security settings, via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).
wmic useraccount get nameThe WMIC USERACCOUNT GET NAME command in Windows lists all user account names on the system using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).
NET LOCALGROUPThe NET LOCALGROUP command in Windows manages local group memberships, allowing users to add, remove, or list users in a specified group.
GPUPDATEThe GPUPDATE command in Windows refreshes Group Policy settings, applying recent changes without requiring a system restart for enforcement.
GPRESULTThe GPRESULT command in Windows displays applied Group Policy settings for a user or computer, helping troubleshoot policy configurations and permissions.

Miscellaneous Commands

MSCONFIGThe MSCONFIG command in Windows opens the System Configuration tool, allowing users to manage startup programs, boot options, and system services.
eventvwrThe EVENTVWR command in Windows opens the Event Viewer, allowing users to view system logs, errors, and security events for troubleshooting.
regeditThe REGEDIT command in Windows opens the Registry Editor, allowing users to view, edit, and manage system registry settings for customization and troubleshooting.
NET ACCOUNTSThe NET ACCOUNTS command in Windows manages account policies, including password requirements and login restrictions, to enhance security and user management.
STARTThe START command in Windows opens files, programs, or commands in a new window, enabling multitasking and improved workflow management.
TIMEThe TIME command in Windows displays or sets the system time, allowing users to view or change the current time setting.
msinfo32The msinfo32 command in Windows opens the System Information tool, displaying detailed hardware, software, and system configuration details.
colorThe COLOR command in Windows changes Command Prompt text and background colors using hexadecimal codes for better visibility and customization. know color code type COLOR help
comp The COMP command in Windows compares two files byte by byte, highlighting differences to check for data inconsistencies or corruption.
MSTSCThe MSTSC command in Windows launches Remote Desktop Connection, allowing users to connect to and control another computer remotely.
systeminfoThe SYSTEMINFO command in Windows displays detailed system information, including OS version, hardware specifications, and network settings.
driverqueryThe DRIVERQUERY command in Windows displays a list of installed drivers, including module names, types, and load statuses for troubleshooting and managemen
fsutil fsinfo drivesThe FSUTIL FSINFO DRIVES command in Windows lists all available drives on the system, including hard disks, USB drives, and network drives.
taskmgrThe TASKMGR command in Windows opens Task Manager, allowing users to monitor processes, manage applications, check performance, and end unresponsive tasks.
services.mscThe SERVICES.MSC command in Windows opens the Services Manager, allowing users to start, stop, and manage system services for performance and troubleshooting
resmonThe RESMON command in Windows opens Resource Monitor, allowing users to track CPU, memory, disk, and network usage for system performance analysis.
cleanmgrThe CLEANMGR command in Windows opens Disk Cleanup, allowing users to remove unnecessary files and free up disk space efficiently.

Conclusion

Microsoft commands are vital to efficiently managing Windows systems. Whether for troubleshooting, system configuration or automation, mastering these commands enhances productivity and problem-solving capabilities. Learning these commands can help both beginners and advanced users perform tasks effectively without relying solely on the graphical interface.

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