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The 30 most useful Command Prompt commands for editing files and managing your PC
The 30 most useful Command Prompt commands for editing files and managing your PC
William AntonelliJul 9, 2021, 23:29 IST
Business InsiderIf you're going to use the Command Prompt, you need to know its commands.
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Command Prompt commands let you manage your computer just by typing.
Some Command Prompt commands let you move files, while others let you change your internet settings.
Here are some of the most useful Command Prompt commands, and what they do.
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The Command Prompt isn't pretty, but it's one of the most powerful apps on your PC. With it, you can move or delete files, change your Wi-Fi settings, lock your hard drive, and even shut down the computer.
But to use Command Prompt, you'll need to know the commands for it. Here are some of the most useful commands, along with explanations of what they'll do.
The essential Command Prompt commands
We'll sort these commands into a few different groups, based on what they're used for.
Important: This is a list of base commands, some of which will work right away, some of which only work in specific situations, and most of which will only work if you add more text or commands afterwards.
It would be impossible to list every use case for each command, so if a certain command doesn't work right away, carefully read the error that Command Prompt gives you or do more research online for your specific use case. You can also type the command and then add a space and /? for examples of how to use it.
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Basic commands include closing apps and moving files.
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Managing your apps
Command
What it does
At
Lets you schedule apps or other commands to run at a specific date and time
Msiexec
Starts Windows Installer, an app that helps you properly install software
Taskkill
Ends a program or process that you specify
Tasklist
Shows you every app, service, and process currently running on your computer
Editing files
Command
What it does
Assoc
Lets you change which programs are used to open different types of files
Comp
Compares two or more files, or sets of files
Del
Deletes a specified file
Makecab
Creates a CAB file, which can compress and store data just like a ZIP file
Move
Lets you move files from one folder to another
Print
Sends a specified text file to a specified printer
Recover
Scans a specified disk and retrieves all the readable data on it - great for recovering files from corrupted hard drives
Robocopy
Lets you copy files, folders, and more from one location to another
Tree
Shows you the folder structure for a specified drive or location
Some Command Prompt commands let you troubleshoot computer or internet issues.
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Managing Windows
Command
What it does
Chdir
Tells you the name of the directory you're currently working from, and lets you change it
Chkdsk
Scans your hard drive for errors and tries to fix them
Cmdkey
Lets you view, create, or delete stored usernames and passwords
Defrag
Defragments the hard drive, reorganizing the files to make data retrieval faster and more efficient
Driverquery
Gives you a list of all the drivers installed on your computer
Format
Formats a specified drive, erasing all the data on it
Ipconfig
Shows details about your internet connections, and lets you refresh your IP addresses
Net
Lets you view and edit network settings
Reg
Lets you manage the Windows Registry by adding keys, exporting data, and more
Sfc
Scans, verifies, and replaces important Windows system files
Shutdown
Lets you shut down or restart your computer
Ver
Shows the current Windows version number
Vol
Tells you the volume label and serial number of a specified hard drive
Miscellaneous
Command
What it does
Clip
Automatically copies the output of any command to the clipboard
Cls
Resets the Command Prompt and clears all the text
Color
Lets you change the Command Prompt's text and background colors
Help
Generates a list of example commands, just like this one
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