6 Surprisingly Useful Windows Terminal Commands You Should Master

1. tree command

Open Windows Terminal, navigate to any folder, and run tree. The command prints an ASCII tree view of the directory hierarchy. Adding the /F switch also lists files, while /A forces plain‑text characters for easier copying.

Example: tree /F /A produces a text‑only tree that can be pasted into documents or emails. To export the result, redirect the output: tree /F > directory.txt. This visual representation is handy for developers, designers, or anyone needing a quick overview of a large folder structure.

2. netstat command

Run netstat -a to list all active network connections, showing open ports, listening state, and remote IP addresses. The more powerful netstat -b also displays the executable responsible for each connection, which is useful for spotting suspicious processes.

Combine with -ano to see the process ID, then use Task Manager to terminate unwanted processes. Example: netstat -ano. This command turns abstract network activity into concrete data, aiding troubleshooting of slow browsers, downloads, or suspected malware.

3. cipher /w command

When a file is deleted, Windows only removes the pointer; the data remains on disk. cipher /w:C: (replace C: with the target drive) overwrites all free space with random data three times, making previously deleted files unrecoverable.

This built‑in data‑wiping tool is useful for privacy‑sensitive users such as accountants, photographers, or anyone selling a used PC. It operates only on unallocated space, leaving existing files untouched. The process can take minutes to hours depending on drive size; close other programs to speed it up.

4. tracert command

Execute tracert baidu.com (or any host) to display each hop a packet takes to reach the destination, showing IP addresses and response times. The -d switch skips DNS resolution for faster results, while -h 60 raises the maximum hop count.

This visual trace helps identify where latency originates—local router, ISP, or remote server—making it valuable for gamers, remote workers, and network engineers.

5. curl command with icanhazdadjoke API

Windows 11 includes curl natively. Run the following to fetch a plain‑text dad joke:

curl -H "Accept: text/plain" https://icanhazdadjoke.com

Each execution returns a new joke, which can also serve as a lightweight network‑connectivity test. Redirect the output to save it:

curl -H "Accept: text/plain" https://icanhazdadjoke.com > joke.txt

. The command demonstrates curl’s ability to make HTTP requests, set headers, and interact with APIs.

6. PowerShell speech synthesizer

Switch to PowerShell inside Windows Terminal ( pwsh) and run the following three lines to make the computer speak:

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Speech
$speak = New-Object System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer
$speak.Speak("You can now hear the computer speaking.")

Adjust voice rate with $speak.Rate = -2 or change the voice using $speak.SelectVoice("Microsoft Zira"). This feature can be used for audible notifications, accessibility tools, or fun automation scripts.

Conclusion

These six commands illustrate how Windows Terminal can transform routine GUI tasks into efficient, scriptable operations. From visualizing file structures and monitoring network traffic to securely erasing free space, tracing routes, interacting with web APIs, and adding speech output, mastering them greatly expands your Windows productivity toolbox.