Essential Windows CMD Commands: A Curated Reference

1️⃣ File and Directory Management

dir

: Displays the list of files and folders in the current directory. Example:

dir C:\Windows

cd

: Changes the current directory path. Example:

cd ..

md

/ mkdir: Creates a new folder. Example:

md NewFolder

rd

/ rmdir: Removes an empty directory. Example:

rd OldFolder

tree

: Shows the folder hierarchy as a tree. Example:

tree D:\

copy

: Copies a file to a specified location. Example:

copy a.txt D:\Backup\

xcopy

: Copies files and directory trees. Example:

xcopy /E Source Target

robocopy

: Advanced copy tool with mirroring and resume support. Example:

robocopy C:\Source D:\Target /MIR

move

: Moves or renames a file or directory. Example:

move a.txt ..\Other\

del

/ erase: Deletes files (supports wildcards). Example:

del *.tmp

ren

/ rename: Renames a file or folder. Example:

ren old.txt new.txt

type

: Displays the content of a text file directly in the console. Example:

type log.log

attrib

: Shows or modifies file attributes (read‑only, hidden, etc.). Example:

attrib +H hiddenfile.txt

assoc

: Views or changes file‑extension associations. Example:

assoc .txt

comp

: Compares the contents of two files. Example:

comp a.txt b.txt

find

: Searches for a specific string within files. Example:

find "error" log.log

findstr

: Advanced search supporting regular expressions. Example:

findstr /S "hello" *.txt

replace

: Replaces files in a target directory with those from a source directory. Example:

replace C:\Source\*.txt D:\Target\

2️⃣ System Information and Management

systeminfo

: Shows an overview of OS version, hardware configuration, etc. Example:

systeminfo

winver

: Pops up a window displaying the Windows version number. Example:

winver

ver

: Prints the OS version in the console. Example:

ver

hostname

: Shows the computer's network name. Example:

hostname

whoami

: Displays the currently logged‑in user name. Example:

whoami

driverquery

: Lists installed drivers. Example:

driverquery /V

msinfo32

: Opens the graphical System Information panel. Example:

msinfo32

set

: Shows or sets environment variables. Example:

set PATH

date

: Displays or sets the system date. Example:

date

time

: Displays or sets the system time. Example:

time

shutdown

: Shuts down, restarts, or schedules power actions. Example:

shutdown /s /t 3600

3️⃣ Disk Management and Maintenance

diskpart

: Enters the disk partitioning tool. Example:

diskpart → list disk

chkdsk

: Checks disk errors and attempts repairs. Example:

chkdsk C: /F

format

: Formats a disk partition. Example:

format D: /FS:NTFS

vol

: Shows volume label and serial number. Example:

vol D:

label

: Creates or changes a volume label. Example:

label D: DataDisk

defrag

: Defragments a disk. Example:

defrag C: /O

convert

: Converts a FAT volume to NTFS without data loss. Example:

convert D: /FS:NTFS

fsutil

: Advanced file‑system management tool. Example:

fsutil fsinfo drives

wmic

: Queries disk model, size, etc., via WMI. Example:

wmic diskdrive get model,size

4️⃣ Network Diagnosis and Configuration

ipconfig

: Shows IP address and network configuration. Example:

ipconfig /all

ping

: Tests network connectivity. Example:

ping baidu.com -t

tracert

: Traces route hops. Example:

tracert baidu.com

netstat

: Displays network connections and listening ports. Example:

netstat -an

nslookup

: Queries DNS records. Example:

nslookup baidu.com

arp

: Shows the ARP cache table. Example:

arp -a

getmac

: Shows network adapter MAC addresses. Example:

getmac /V

route

: Views or modifies the routing table. Example:

route print

pathping

: Traces route with latency statistics. Example:

pathping baidu.com

ftp

: Enters FTP file‑transfer mode. Example:

ftp ftp.example.com

nbtstat

: Shows NetBIOS over TCP/IP statistics. Example:

nbtstat -n

netsh

: Network configuration scripting tool (reset network, view Wi‑Fi passwords, etc.). Example:

netsh wlan show profile

5️⃣ Process and Task Management

tasklist

: Lists all running processes. Example:

tasklist

taskkill

: Forces termination of a specific process. Example:

taskkill /F /IM notepad.exe

schtasks

: Manages scheduled tasks. Example:

schtasks /Query

wmic process

: Views process details via WMI. Example:

wmic process list brief

start

: Launches a new window to run a program. Example:

start notepad.exe

runas

: Runs a program under a different user account. Example:

runas /user:Administrator cmd

6️⃣ Batch and Automation Scripting

echo

: Displays a message or toggles command echoing. Example:

echo Processing complete!

@

: Hides the command itself from being echoed. Example:

@echo off

pause

: Pauses execution and prompts "Press any key to continue". Example:

pause

rem

: Adds a comment line. Example:

rem This is a comment

call

: Calls another batch file and returns. Example:

call anotherScript.bat

goto

: Jumps to a specified label. Example:

goto :end

if

: Conditional statement. Example:

if exist file.txt del file.txt

for

: Loops over files or collections. Example:

for %f in (*.txt) do echo %f

set

: Defines or interactively inputs variables. Example:

set /P name=Enter name:

exit

: Exits the script or command interpreter. Example:

exit /b

color

: Sets console foreground and background colors. Example:

color 0A

title

: Sets the CMD window title. Example:

title My Automation Tool

7️⃣ User, Permissions and Security

net user

: Manages local user accounts. Example:

net user NewUser Password /add

net localgroup

: Manages local user groups. Example:

net localgroup Administrators User /add

net share

: Manages shared folders. Example:

net share ShareName=C:\Folder

net use

: Connects or disconnects network drives. Example:

net use Z: \\Server\Share

net accounts

: Views account password policies. Example:

net accounts

takeown

: Takes ownership of a file or folder. Example:

takeown /F ProtectedFile.txt

icacls

: Shows or modifies file ACLs. Example:

icacls Folder /grant Username:F

cipher

: Encrypts or decrypts NTFS files. Example:

cipher /E Secret.docx

8️⃣ Handy Utilities

cls

: Clears the screen. Example:

cls

exit

: Closes the CMD window. Example:

exit

help

: Shows a list of commands or help for a specific command. Example:

help copy

/?

: Shows detailed syntax for any command. Example:

ping /?

cmd

: Starts a new command session. Example:

cmd /k

powershell

: Switches to PowerShell environment. Example:

powershell

notepad

: Opens Notepad. Example:

notepad

calc

: Opens Calculator. Example:

calc

osk

: Opens On‑Screen Keyboard. Example:

osk

control

: Opens Control Panel. Example:

control

taskmgr

: Opens Task Manager. Example:

taskmgr

regedit

: Opens Registry Editor. Example:

regedit

gpedit.msc

: Opens Group Policy Editor. Example:

gpedit.msc

services.msc

: Opens Services management console. Example:

services.msc

eventvwr

: Opens Event Viewer. Example:

eventvwr

msconfig

: Opens System Configuration utility. Example:

msconfig

mstsc

: Opens Remote Desktop Connection. Example:

mstsc

dxdiag

: Opens DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Example:

dxdiag

cleanmgr

: Opens Disk Cleanup tool. Example: cleanmgr Quick Tips:

Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter to open Command Prompt quickly. Use Win + X and select "Terminal (Admin)" for elevated rights.

Right‑click inside a CMD window to paste content.

Append /? to any command to view detailed syntax, e.g., copy /?.

Remember to separate commands, parameters, and paths with spaces.