| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| help | Lists all available commands | help |
| help [command] | Displays help information for a specific command | help dir |
| [command] /? | Alternative way to display help for a command | dir /? |
| cls | Clears the screen | cls |
| exit | Closes the Command Prompt window | exit |
| echo [text] | Displays messages or turns command echoing on/off | echo Hello World |
| title [string] | Changes the title of the Command Prompt window | title My Console |
| color [attr] | Changes the console foreground and background colors | color 0A |
| prompt [text] | Changes the command prompt display | prompt $G |
| date | Displays or sets the system date | date /t |
| time | Displays or sets the system time | time /t |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cd | Displays the current directory or changes directory | cd |
| cd [path] | Changes to the specified directory | cd C:\Windows |
| cd /d [drive:][path] | Changes drive and directory in one command | cd /d D:\Projects |
| cd.. | Moves up one directory level | cd.. |
| cd\ | Moves to the root directory of the current drive | cd\ |
| pushd [path] | Changes directory and saves the previous directory | pushd C:\Temp |
| popd | Returns to the directory saved by pushd | popd |
| dir | Displays a list of files and subdirectories | dir |
| tree | Graphically displays directory structure | tree |
| chdir | Same as cd command | chdir |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [drive]: | Changes to the specified drive | D: |
| vol | Displays the disk volume label and serial number | vol |
| label | Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label | label C: SYSTEM |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| copy [source] [destination] | Copies one or more files to another location | copy file.txt C:\backup |
| xcopy [source] [destination] | Copies files and directory trees | xcopy C:\data D:\backup /s |
| robocopy [source] [destination] | Robust file copy for large operations | robocopy C:\src D:\dst /mir |
| move [source] [destination] | Moves files and renames files/directories | move file.txt C:\new |
| ren [old] [new] | Renames a file or directory | ren old.txt new.txt |
| rename | Same as ren command | rename old.txt new.txt |
| del [file] | Deletes one or more files | del temp.txt |
| erase | Same as del command | erase temp.txt |
| md [directory] | Creates a new directory | md newfolder |
| mkdir | Same as md command | mkdir newfolder |
| rd [directory] | Removes a directory | rd oldfolder |
| rmdir | Same as rd command | rmdir oldfolder |
| type [file] | Displays the contents of a text file | type notes.txt |
| more [file] | Displays output one screen at a time | more longfile.txt |
| find "[string]" [file] | Searches for a text string in files | find "error" log.txt |
| findstr "[string]" [file] | Searches for patterns in files using regular expressions | findstr "error" *.log |
| fc [file1] [file2] | Compares two files and shows differences | fc file1.txt file2.txt |
| attrib [+a/-a] [+h/-h] [+r/-r] [+s/-s] [file] | Displays or changes file attributes | attrib +h secret.txt |
| comp [file1] [file2] | Compares the contents of two files | comp file1.txt file2.txt |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| icacls [file] | Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) | icacls file.txt |
| cacls | Legacy command for ACLs (deprecated) | cacls file.txt |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ipconfig | Displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values | ipconfig |
| ipconfig /all | Displays full configuration information | ipconfig /all |
| ipconfig /release | Releases the IP address for the specified adapter | ipconfig /release |
| ipconfig /renew | Renews the IP address for the specified adapter | ipconfig /renew |
| ping [host] | Sends ICMP echo requests to test network connectivity | ping google.com |
| tracert [host] | Traces route to a network host | tracert google.com |
| pathping [host] | Combines ping and tracert functionality | pathping google.com |
| netstat | Displays active TCP connections, listening ports, etc. | netstat -ano |
| nslookup [host] | Queries DNS to obtain domain name or IP address mapping | nslookup google.com |
| getmac | Displays the MAC address for network adapters | getmac |
| arp -a | Displays the ARP cache tables | arp -a |
| route print | Displays the IP routing table | route print |
| netsh | Network shell for advanced network configuration | netsh interface show interface |
| telnet [host] [port] | Communicates with another host using Telnet protocol | telnet google.com 80 |
| ftp [host] | Transfers files to and from FTP server | ftp ftp.example.com |
| net use | Connects/disconnects from shared resources | net use Z: \\server\share |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| systeminfo | Displays detailed system configuration | systeminfo |
| hostname | Displays the computer's hostname | hostname |
| ver | Displays the Windows version | ver |
| whoami | Displays the current username | whoami |
| wmic | Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line | wmic os get caption |
| tasklist | Displays all running processes | tasklist |
| taskkill | Terminates running processes | taskkill /im notepad.exe |
| schtasks | Schedules commands/programs to run periodically | schtasks /create /tn "Backup" /tr "backup.bat" /sc daily |
| shutdown | Shuts down or restarts the computer | shutdown /r /t 0 |
| powercfg | Controls power settings | powercfg /energy |
| driverquery | Displays installed device drivers | driverquery |
| chkdsk | Checks a disk and displays a status report | chkdsk C: |
| sfc /scannow | Scans and repairs system files | sfc /scannow |
| diskpart | Disk partitioning utility | diskpart |
| format | Formats a disk for use with Windows | format D: /q |
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| set | Displays, sets, or removes environment variables | set |
| set [variable]=[value] | Creates or modifies an environment variable | set TEMP=C:\Temp |
| setx | Sets environment variables permanently | setx TEMP C:\Temp |
| path | Displays or sets the command search path | path |
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| F1 | Repeats the letters of the last command line, one by one |
| F2 | Displays a dialog asking user to "enter the char to copy up to" of the last command line |
| F3 | Repeats the last command line |
| F4 | Deletes current prompt text up to the entered character |
| F5 | Pastes recently used commands (does not cycle) |
| F6 | Pastes ^Z to the prompt |
| F7 | Displays a selectable list of previously executed commands |
| Alt+F7 | Clears command history |
| F8 | Pastes recently used commands (cycles) |
| F9 | Displays a dialog asking user to enter a command number (0-9) |
| Ctrl+C | Halts the current command |
| Ctrl+S | Pauses the current command |
| Ctrl+M | Same as Enter key |
| Ctrl+Home | Deletes the command line from cursor to beginning |
| Ctrl+End | Deletes the command line from cursor to end |
| Ctrl+← | Moves cursor left one word |
| Ctrl+→ | Moves cursor right one word |
| Ctrl+↑ | Scrolls up through command history |
| Ctrl+↓ | Scrolls down through command history |
| Ctrl+PageUp | Scrolls up one page |
| Ctrl+PageDown | Scrolls down one page |
| Alt+Space | Opens the Command Prompt window menu |
| Tab | Auto-completes file/folder names |
| Esc | Clears the current command line |
| Insert | Toggles between insert and overwrite mode |
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| @echo off | Hides the prompt and commands in a batch file |
| echo. | Prints a blank line in a batch file |
| pause | Pauses execution and displays "Press any key to continue..." |
| call [batchfile] | Calls one batch program from another |
| start [program] | Starts a program in a new window |
| goto [label] | Jumps to a labeled line in a batch file |
| :label | Defines a label for goto commands |
| if [condition] [command] | Conditional execution in batch files |
| for [options] [command] | Loop command for batch files |
| choice | Provides a list of options for user selection |
| set /p var= | Prompts user for input and stores in variable |
| %~dp0 | Expands to the drive letter and path of the batch file |