The Control Prompt is a Windows utility that lets you give the arrangement instructions. It tin can automate tasks, troubleshoot issues, and perform all sorts of functions. Nosotros're going to bear witness you how to get the most out of it, including changing the colors, executing multiple commands, getting aid on any control, and much more.

To open the Command Prompt, typecmdin the Start menu search bar and select the Best Match. Alternatively, press Windows key + R, type cmd into the Run utility, and press Enter to launch the Command Prompt.

1. How to Always Open Command Prompt every bit Administrator

You can run the Command Prompt in standard and administrator modes. Some commands will only work in the latter, so it generally makes sense just to use that fashion all the fourth dimension.

command prompt run as admin

To prepare Command Prompt to always opens as administrator from the Start menu:

  1. Type cmd in the Beginning carte du jour search bar.
  2. Correct-click the Best Match and click Open up file location.
  3. Right-click the Control Prompt shortcut and click Backdrop.
  4. On the Shortcut tab, click Advanced.
  5. Cheque Run as administrator and click OK twice.

two. How to Rapidly Admission Control Prompt Through the Power User Card

If you printing Windows fundamental + 10, you volition launch the power user card. It gives you quick access to things like Device Managing director, Deejay Management, and Task Managing director.

It can too list the Control Prompt, but yours might take Windows PowerShell instead.

windows settings taskbar

To adjust this then that Command Prompt appears on the power user menu:

  1. Printing Windows key + I to open up Settings.
  2. Click Personalization > Taskbar.
  3. Slide Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the bill of fare when I right-click the kickoff button or press Windows logo cardinal + X to Off.

3. How to Open Command Prompt via the Folder Context Card

Sometimes, you want to run a Command Prompt cord from a specific folder. Rather than manually do that, you lot tin can edit the registry so that when you press Shift and correct-click within a folder, y'all become the option to Open control window here.

windows open command window here

To apply this modify, caput to TenForums and download its registry tweak.

4. How to Re-create and Paste in Control Prompt

To paste text into the Command Prompt, press Ctrl + Five, the same equally you would in most other applications.

command prompt copy text

Copying works a bit differently. Starting time, printing Ctrl + K to enter Mark mode. Left-click and drag to highlight the text you need, so press Ctrl + C or Enter to copy information technology to your clipboard.

Remember that sounds too cumbersome? Right-click the Control Prompt championship bar and click Backdrop. Switch to the Options tab, tick Quick Edit Mode, and click OK. Now y'all don't need to press anything before being able to highlight text.

5. Use Arrows Keys for Previous Commands

If yous've entered a previous command that you want to utilise once more, use the upwards and down arrows on your keyboard to move between them. This is handy if yous're repeatedly executing the aforementioned commands or desire to correct a mistake in what you lot but submitted.

You can also press the correct pointer key to enter your previous command grapheme by character. This could be useful if you need to enter multiple commands that have the same opening.

command prompt f7

Alternatively, press F7 to see a list of all your previous inputs, using the upwards and down arrows to navigate and Enter to select, or type doskey /history to output information technology in the Command Prompt.

6. Drag and Drib Files for Input in Command Prompt

It can be tedious to write out a folder or file path name in the Command Prompt. Y'all don't need to waste product time, though, considering there's a much quicker way.

Navigate to the folder or file you want in File Explorer. Left-click and drag it into a Command Prompt window. That path will then appear. Information technology'south that simple!

7. How to Get Help With Any Command

Is there a control that you can't quite remember how to use or what information technology does? No trouble. Simply append /? to your command, and you'll be shown information about that command, like what options you tin use and some examples. Information technology works on all of them.

cmd help

For example, if you desire more information about the ipconfig command, then input ipconfig /?. It won't actually run the command, and then don't worry well-nigh that.

8. Use Tab to Auto-Complete Commands

You can press the Tab primal to auto-complete your control. This is useful when you don't know the full proper name of the command or salve you lot time. For example, you can press Tab to automatically consummate it rather than typing out a full file path.

If what information technology serves isn't what you need, just continue pressing Tab to progress through the options. Alternatively, press Shift + Tab to reverse through the options.

ix. How to Output to a File or Clipboard on Command Prompt

If you lot want to save the output of the Command Prompt, then you could re-create it, paste information technology into a text editor, and and then save. But there's a quicker method, all within Command Prompt.

To do this, input your command followed past a > and the file y'all desire to output to. For example, to output your ipconfig to a text file in my Documents, I would input ipconfig > C:\Users\Joe\Documents\myinfo.txt.

You tin also output to your clipboard, ready to paste elsewhere. To exercise this, input your command followed by | clip. For example, ipconfig | clip.

10. How to Cancel a Command

If you've submitted a control that you want to stop, but press Ctrl + C. This will terminate the control upwards to the indicate that it'd processed. It won't contrary what has already been done, merely it will stop information technology from going any further.

You lot'll find a lot of commands will complete before you even take time to press the keys, but it's useful for those that do without having to get out Command Prompt completely.

11. How to Execute Multiple Commands

If there are multiple commands yous want to utilize, yous don't demand to input each in plough and wait for them to complete. Instead, you tin can separate your commands with &&.

For case, if you wanted to output both ipconfig and tree, you would input ipconfig && tree. Y'all tin practise this for however many commands you lot need. It's not merely express to two.

12. How to Customize the Look of Control Prompt

The default black and white appearance of the Command Prompt is iconic, simply it doesn't hurt to mix things upwards a bit. To begin customizing the look, right-click the title bar of Control Prompt and click Properties.

Brainstorm with the Font tab. Hither y'all can change the Size and Font used. Information technology's recommended to use a TrueType font (signified with a TT symbol) for clearer display.

cmd colors

Motion to the Layout tab. Hither you tin can change the size and position of the Command Prompt window. In actuality, it's easier just to practice this on the window itself: drag the sides of the window to resize and drag on the title bar to move the window.

Finally, get to the Colors tab. Every bit you might expect, here, you tin modify the colour of many Command Prompt elements. Employ the radio buttons to select what you lot want to recolor, then click a color to set it. Alternatively, input the red, green, and blue values. The Opacity slider will adjust the entirety of the Command Prompt window. Set information technology to 100% if yous don't want whatever opacity.

Learn Some New Commands

Hopefully, you've learned something new about how to get the virtually from the Command Prompt. Whether it's something to make you more efficient, like outputting to a file or car-completing a control, or but something fun, similar changing the colors, there's so much the Command Prompt can exercise.

fifteen Windows Control Prompt (CMD) Commands You Must Know

Read Next

About The Author