Even if you use Windows every day, it’s easy to forget the command line shortcuts that can save you serious time. Keeping a cheat sheet handy - either on your desktop, pinned to your taskbar, or even printed out - means you’ll never have to waste minutes hunting for the right command. Start with the essentials here, experiment with combining them, and you’ll quickly find yourself working faster and more efficiently. Got a favorite command that’s not on the list? Drop it in the comments and help others supercharge their workflow too.
Files and Folders Management
One of the most common tasks users perform on their PC is managing files and folders. Whether you're moving files, deleting unnecessary ones, or organizing your directory structure, these commands can make your life much easier. With just a few keystrokes, you can perform operations like copying files, renaming folders, and even comparing file contents.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| COPY | Copies files to another location | COPY file.txt D:\Backup |
| DIR | Displays files and folders in the current directory | DIR C:\Users |
| DEL / ERASE | Deletes files | DEL oldfile.txt |
| EDIT | Starts the text editor | EDIT file.txt |
| CD | Changes the current directory | CD C:\Windows |
| EXPAND | Decompresses compressed files | EXPAND archive.cab -F:* C:\Extracted |
| FC | Compares files and shows differences | FC file1.txt file2.txt |
| FIND | Finds a text string in a file | FIND "error" log.txt |
| MD / MAKEDIR | Creates a new folder | MD NewFolder |
| MOVE | Moves files from one folder to another | MOVE file.txt D:\Docs |
| Prints the contents of a text file | PRINT file.txt | |
| RD / RMDIR | Deletes a folder | RMDIR OldFolder |
| REN / RENAME | Renames a file or folder | REN old.txt new.txt |
| REPLACE | Replaces files in one directory with files of the same name in another | REPLACE file.txt D:\Folder1 D:\Folder2 |
| ROBOCOPY | Advanced tool to copy files and directories | ROBOCOPY C:\Source D:\Dest /E |
| TREE | Displays the directory structure of a disk or folder | TREE C:\ /F |
| TYPE | Displays the contents of text files | TYPE file.txt |
| OPENFILES | Manages opened local or network files | OPENFILES /QUERY |
| XCOPY | Copies files and directory trees, used for more complex copy operations | XCOPY C:\Source D:\Dest /E |
Applications and Processes
Managing applications and processes is essential for keeping your computer running smoothly. You might need to schedule tasks, stop unnecessary processes, or execute commands under different user privileges. These commands will help you monitor and control applications and processes with ease, allowing for greater system efficiency.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SCHTASKS | Executes a command or starts a scheduled application (Task Scheduler) | SCHTASKS /CREATE /SC DAILY /TN "Backup" /TR "C:\Backup.bat" /ST 12:00 |
| SHUTDOWN | Shuts down or reboots your computer | SHUTDOWN /S /T 0 |
| TASKLIST | Lists the tasks currently running on your computer | TASKLIST |
| TASKKILL | Stops or terminates a task (requires Task ID or PID) | TASKKILL /PID 1234 /F |
| REG | Starts the registry editor or manages registry entries | REG QUERY "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" |
| RUNAS | Launches a task as another user | RUNAS /USER:Administrator "notepad.exe" |
Disks Management
Disk management is crucial for maintaining your system's storage. Whether you're checking the health of a drive, formatting partitions, or recovering data, these commands give you the tools to keep your disks running efficiently. They can also help in cases where you need to configure or troubleshoot disk-related issues.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| CHKDSK | Checks disk integrity and displays statistics | CHKDSK C: /F /R |
| DEFRAG | Starts disk defragmentation | DEFRAG C: /U /V |
| CHKNTFS | Displays or changes execution of disk check at boot | CHKNTFS C: |
| COMPACT | Displays and changes compression of files on NTFS partitions | COMPACT /C file.txt |
| CONVERT | Converts a FAT disk volume to NTFS | CONVERT D: /FS:NTFS |
| DISKPART | Displays and adjusts disk partition properties | DISKPART → LIST DISK → SELECT DISK 1 → CLEAN |
| FORMAT | Formats a disk or partition | FORMAT E: /FS:NTFS |
| FSUTIL | Displays and configures file system properties | FSUTIL fsinfo drives |
| LABEL | Creates, changes, or deletes a disk volume label | LABEL D: Backup |
| RECOVER | Recovers data from a damaged or bad disk | RECOVER D:\ /F |
| VOL | Displays the volume label and serial number of a disk | VOL C: |
System Information
Having access to system information is essential for troubleshooting and optimizing your computer. Whether you need to view hardware details, check software configurations, or monitor system updates, these commands provide a comprehensive overview of your system's current state. They allow you to gather important data for maintenance or diagnosis.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| DATE | Outputs or sets the current date | DATE |
| TIME | Displays or sets the system time | TIME |
| DRIVERQUERY | Displays the current state and properties of device drivers | DRIVERQUERY |
| HOSTNAME | Displays the name of the computer | HOSTNAME |
| SYSTEMINFO | Shows configuration information about your computer | SYSTEMINFO |
| VER | Displays the Windows version | VER |
| GPRESULT | Displays the currently applied group policies (RSoP) | GPRESULT /R |
| GPUPDATE | Updates group policies | GPUPDATE /FORCE |
Network Management
When it comes to networking, having the ability to diagnose issues, configure network interfaces, and view IP configurations is essential. Whether you're troubleshooting connectivity problems, viewing network routes, or checking IP configurations, these commands are invaluable for maintaining and managing network settings on your system.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| IPCONFIG | Shows information about network interfaces and IP configuration | IPCONFIG /ALL |
| PING | Sends ICMP requests to the target host to check its availability | PING google.com |
| TRACERT | Finds the network path for packets traveling to a destination | TRACERT google.com |
| NSLOOKUP | Finds the IP address for a resource name | NSLOOKUP google.com |
| ROUTE | Displays network route tables | ROUTE PRINT |
| ARP | Displays a table mapping IP addresses to physical (MAC) addresses | ARP -A |
| NETSH | Starts the network settings control program | NETSH INTERFACE IP SHOW CONFIG |
| GETMAC | Displays the MAC address of the network adapter | GETMAC |
| TFTP | Starts the TFTP client in the command prompt | TFTP -i 192.168.1.10 GET file.txt |
Command Line Setup
Setting up your command line environment can help you work more efficiently. From customizing the prompt to clearing the screen, these commands allow you to tailor your experience and quickly adjust the settings of your command prompt interface. It's all about improving your workflow and having a clean and productive session.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| CLS | Clears the screen | CLS |
| CMD | Opens another command prompt window | CMD |
| COLOR | Sets the text and background color in the command prompt | COLOR 0A |
| PROMPT | Changes the command line prompt | PROMPT $P$G |
| TITLE | Assigns a title to the current command prompt session | TITLE My CMD Window |
| HELP | Launches the CMD help interface | HELP |
| EXIT | Exits the command prompt | EXIT |
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How do I create a backup of my important files using CMD?
To create a backup, use the XCOPY or ROBOCOPY commands. Example:
This will copy all files from C:\important_files to D:\backup\important_files, including subdirectories.
2. How can I check my network connectivity?
Use the PING command to check connectivity with a remote server or IP address:
This will send ICMP requests to google.com to verify if it's reachable.
3. What is the difference between DEL and ERASE commands?
Both DEL and ERASE are used to delete files, and they work identically. You can use either command to remove unwanted files from your system.
4. How can I recover files from a corrupted disk?
Use the RECOVER command to try and recover lost or corrupted files from a disk. Example:
This command attempts to recover data from the D: drive.
5. How can I identify network problems in Windows?
Use the TRACERT command to trace the route packets take to a destination and identify where network issues might arise:
All in all
This cheat sheet offers a quick reference guide to the most commonly used command line commands in Windows. Whether you're managing files, processes, disks, or networking, these commands help streamline your daily tasks. Don’t hesitate to experiment and expand your list of commands. Share your own tips and tricks in the comments to help others improve their command-line knowledge!