A-Z List Of Windows CMD Commands — Also Included CMD Commands PDF

Here is the list of all Windows CMD commands sorted alphabetically along with exclusive CMD commands pdf file for future reference for both pro and newbies.

Command Prompt and CMD Commands are unknown territories for most of the Windows users, they only know it as a black screen for troubleshooting the system with some fancy commands.

If you are Linux user then you would know how commands play an important role in different system operations — like how we play around with apt-get Ubuntu commands to install, update or upgrade software. Unlike Linux, Windows is a user-friendly operating system and we don’t require to play with CMD commands at all to do our task. In most cases, people open Command Prompt only when they need to repair a corrupted disk, hide certain drives, to create a hacking-like environment, etc.

What is Command Prompt and CMD Commands?

Command Prompt, also known as cmd.exe or cmd — a command line interpreter application on Windows NT family operating systems. And CMD Commands are the specific set of instructions given to Command Prompt to perform some kind of task or function on your Windows PC.

Most of the Windows CMD Commands are used to automate tasks via scripts and batch files, perform advanced administrative functions, and troubleshoot and solve certain kinds of Windows issues.

So here is the A-Z list of Windows CMD commands to perform desired tasks which you normally do by using the GUI. Also, you can use these commands to do some exciting hacks through Windows — which we will list soon.

How To Access Command Prompt?

Before we start first we will see how to open the Command Prompt program.

Three ways you can run the Command Prompt program :

  1. Simply by typing cmd in the Start Menu search bar.
  2. If you are using Windows 8, then you can access Command Prompt via the Command Prompt shortcut located in the Start Menu or on the Apps screen.
  3. Or you can press CTRL+R to open the RUN utility, type cmd, and press Enter.

Note:

Many commands can only be executed if Command Prompt is being run as an administrator. To open an Elevated Command Prompt — Locate the Command Prompt shortcut, then right-click on it to bring up its pop-up menu of options and from the pop-up menu, choose Run as administrator. Accept any User Account Control messages or warnings.

A-Z Windows CMD Commands

CMD CommandsFunction
A
 addusers Used to add and list users in a CSV file
 admodcmd Used for bulk modifying contents in an active directory
 arp Address Resolution Protocol is used to map IP address to the hardware address
 assoc Used to change associations for file extensions
 associat One step file association
 at Run a command at a specific time
 atmadm Display connection info of the ATM adapter
 attrib Used to change file attributes
B
 bcdboot Used to create and repair a system partition
 bcdedit Used to manage boot configuration data
 bitsadmin Used to manage the Background Intelligent Transfer Service
 bootcfg Used to edit boot configuration in Windows
 break Enable/Disable break capability (CTRL+C) in CMD
C
 cacls Used to change permissions of files
 call Used one batch program to call another
 certreq Used to request a certificate from a certification authority
 certutil Manage Certification Authority files and services
 cd Used to change folder (directory) or go to a specific one
 change Used to change terminal services
 chcp Displays the number of active console code page
 chdir Same as cd command
 chkdsk Used to check and repair issues in the disk
 chkntfs Used to check the NTFS file system
 choice Accept user input (via keyboard) to a batch file
 cipher Used to encrypt/decrypt files and folder
 cleanmgr Used clean temp files and recycle bin automatically
 clip Copy result of any command (stdin) to Windows clipboard
 cls Clear CMD screen
 cmd Used to start a new CMD shell
 cmdkey Used to manage stored usernames and passwords
 cmstp Used to install or remove a connection manager service profile
 color Change the color of the CMD shell using options
 comp Compare contents of two files or two sets of files
 compact Compress files and folders on an NTFS partition
 compress Compress one or more files
 convert Convert a FAT partition to NTFS
 copy Copy one or more files to another location
 coreinfo Show the mapping between logical and physical processors
 cprofileCleans specified profiles of wasted space and disabled user-specific file associations
 cscmd Configure offline files on a client computer
 csvde Import or Export the data of an active directory
D
 date Used to display the date or change it
 defrag Used to defragment system hard drive
 del Used to delete a file(s)
 delprof Used to delete user profile(s)
 deltree Used to delete a folder and its sub-folders
 devcon Access the command line device manager utility
 dir Used to display files and folders list
 dirquota Manage File Server Resource Manager quotas
 diruse Used to display disk usage
 diskcomp Compare contents of two floppy disks
 diskcopy Copy data of one floppy disk to another
 diskpart Make changes to partitions of storage, both internal and connected
 diskshadow Access the Disk Shadow Copy Service
 diskuse View used space in folder(s)
 doskey Used to edit command line, recall commands, and create macros
 driverquery Display a list of installed device drivers
 dsacls View and edit access control entries for objects in active directory
 dsadd Used to add objects to active directory
 dsget View objects in active directory
 dsquery Find objects in an active directory
 dsmod Used to modify objects in an active directory
 dsmove Rename or move an active directory object.
 dsrm Remove objects from an active directory
 dsmgmt Manage Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services
E
echoTurn command-echoing feature on/off, display a message on the screen
endlocalEnd localization environment changes in a batch file
eraseUsed to delete on or more file(s)
eventcreateAdd custom event to Windows event log (Admin rights required)
eventquerryDisplay list of events and their properties from event logs
eventtriggersDisplay and configure event triggers on local and remote machines
exitExit the command line (Quit current batch script)
expandUncompress one or more .CAB file(s)
explorerOpen Windows Explorer
extractUncompress one or more Windows cabinet file(s)
F
fcUsed to compare two files
findUsed to search a specified text string in a file
findstrUsed to find string patterns in files
fingerDisplay information about user(s) on a specified remote computer
flattempUsed to enable/disable flat temporary folders
ForRun a command in a loop for a file(s) for defined parameter
forfilesUsed for batch processing of selected file(s)
formatUsed to format a disk
freediskUsed to check free space on a disk
fsutilFile system utility to manage file and drive properties
ftpUse FTP service to transfer files from one PC to another
ftypeDisplay/ Modify file extension type associations
G
getmacUsed to display the MAC address of your network adapter
gotoUsed to direct a batch program to a line identified by a label
gpresultDisplay Group Policy Settings and Resultant Set of Policy for a user
gpupdateUpdate local and active directory based on group policy settings
graftablTurn on the ability to display an extended character in graphics mode
H
helpDisplay a list of commands and see online information for them
hostnameUsed to display host name of the computer
I
icaclsUsed to change permissions of files and folders
iexpressUsed to create a self-extracting zip archive
ifUsed for conditional processing in batch programs
ifmemberDisplay the group(s) an active user belongs to
inuseReplace the files which the OS is currently using (restart required)
ipconfigDisplay and change Windows IP configuration
ipseccmdUsed to configure IP Security policies
ipxrouteDisplay and modify routing table information used by IPX protocol
irftpUsed to send files over an infrared link (infrared functionality required)
L
labelUsed to change the name of a disk
lodctrUpdate registry values with latest performance counters
logmanUsed to manage performance monitor logs
logoffLog a user off
logtimeAdd the date, time, and a message to a text file
lpqDisplays print queue status
lprUsed to send a file to a computer running the Line Printer Daemon service
M
macfileManage files server for Mackintosh
makecabUsed to create .cab files
mapisendUsed to send email from command line
mbsacliMicrosoft Baseline Security Analyser
memUsed to show memory usage
mdUsed to create directories and sub-directories
mkdirUsed to create directories and sub-directories
mklinkUsed to create symbolic link to a directory
mmcAccess Microsoft Management Console
modeConfigure COM, LPT, CON system devices
moreDisplay one screen of output at time
mountvolCreate, list, or delete a volume mount point
moveUsed to move files from one folder to another
moveuserMove user account to a domain or between machines
msgUsed to send a pop-up message to a user
msiexecInstall, modify, configure using Windows Installer
msinfo32Display system information
mstscCreate a remote desktop connection
N
nbstatDisplay NetBIOS over TCP/IP information
netUsed to manage network resources and services
netdomNetwork Domain Manager utility
netshDisplay or modify network configuration
netstatDisplay active TCP/IP connections
nlsinfoUsed to display locale information
nltestList domain controllers, force remote shutdown, etc
nowDisplay date and time
nslookupCheck IP address on a Name Server
ntbackupBackup data to tape using CMD or batch file
ntcmdpromptRuns cmd.exe instead of command.exe in an MS-DOS application
ntdsutilManage Active Directory Domain Services
ntrightsUsed to edit user account privileges
ntsdOnly for system developers
nvspbindUsed to modify network bindings
O
openfilesQueries or displays open files
P
pagefileconfigDisplay and configure Virtual memory settings
pathSet PATH environment variable for executable files
pathpingLatency and Packet loss info for each node in the network path
pauseUsed to stop processing of a batch file
pbadminStarts Phone Book Administrator
pentntDetect Floating Point Division error in the Pentium chip
perfmonAccess performance monitor in CMD
permsDisplay a user\’s ACL permissions for a file
pingTest network connection to a computer
popdGo to the latest path/folder stored by PUSHD command
portqryDisplay TCP and UDP port status
powercfgUsed to configure power settings and know battery health
printUsed to print a text file(s) from CMD
printbrmFor backup/recovery/migration of the print queue
prncnfgUsed to configure/rename a printing device
prndrvrList/add/delete printer drivers
prnjobsList/pause/resume/cancel print jobs
prnmngrList/add/delete printers, display/set default printer
prnportList/create/delete TCP printer ports, display/change port configuration
prnqctlClear printer queue, print a test page
procdumpMonitor system for CPU spikes, generate a crash report during a spike
promptUsed to change the Prompt in CMD
psexecRun a CMD process on a remote computer
psfileDisplay remotely opened files, close an open file
psinfoList system information about a local/remote machine
pskillKill a process(es) using its name or process ID
pslistDisplay process status and info about active processes
psloggedonSee active users on machine
psloglistDisplay event log records
pspasswdUsed to change account password
pspingUsed to measure network performance
psserviceDisplay and control services on a machine
psshutdownShutdown/restart/logoff/lock a local or remote machine
pssuspendUsed to suspend a process on a local or remote computer
pushdChange current folder and store previous folder for use by POPD
Q
qgrepSearch file(s) for a given string pattern
query process or qprocessDisplay information about processes
R
rasdialDisplay Remote Access Service Status
rasphoneManage RAS connections
rcpCopy files to a computer running remote shell service
recoverRecover readable data from a defective disk
regDisplay/add/change registry keys and values in Windows registry
regeditImport/export/delete settings from a .reg text file
regsvr32Used to register/unregister a DLL file
reginiUsed to change registry permissions
relogExport performance counters to other formats like TSV, CSV, SQL
remAdd comments in batch file
renUsed to rename a file(s)
replaceUsed to replace a file with another file of same name
reset sessionUsed to reset a remote desktop session
rexecRun commands on remote machines running Rexec service
rdUsed to delete a folder(s)
rmdirUsed to delete a folder(s)
rmtshareManage file and printer shares local or remote servers
robocopyUsed to copy files and folders that have changed
routeDisplay/change the local IP routing table
rshRun commands on remote servers running RSH service
rsmManage media resources using Removable storage
runasRun a program as a different user
rundll32Used to run a DLL program
S
scUse Service Controller to manage Windows services
schtasksSchedule command(s) to run at a specific time
seceditConfigure system security
setDisplay/set/remove environment variables in CMD
setlocalControl visibility of environment variables in a batch file
setspnManage Service Principal Names for an Active Directory service account
setxSet Environment Variables permanently
sfcSystem File Checker
shareList/edit a file share or print on any computer
shellrunasUsed to run a command as a different user
shiftChange the position of the batch parameters in a batch file
shortcutCreate a Windows shortcut
shutdownShutdown the computer
sleepPut computer to sleep for specified number of seconds
slmgrSoftware Licensing Management tool for activation and KMS
sortUsed to sort and display a redirected or piped input
startStart a program, command, or batch file
stringsFind ANSI and UNICODE strings in binary files
subinaclDisplay/modify ACEs for file and folder permissions
substAssociate a path with a drive letter
sysmonMonitor and log system activity to Windows event log
systeminfoDisplay detailed configuration information about the computer
T
takeownUsed to take the ownership of a file
taskkillUsed to terminate on or more running processes
tasklistDisplay a list of running apps and services.
tcmsetupEnable/disable TAPI client
telnetCommunicate with a remote machine using TELNET protocol
tftpTransfer files to and from a remote machine running TFTP protocol
timeDisplay/change system time
timeoutDelay a batch file execution for specified seconds
titleChange the text on top of CMD window
touchChange file timestamps
tracerptProcess event trace logs and generate trace analysis report
tracertTrace route to a remote host by sending ICMP request messages
treeDisplay a folder structure in the form of a graphical tree
tsdisconTerminate a remote desktop connection
tskillTerminate a running process on a RD Session Host server
tssutdnShutdown/reboot a terminal server remotely
typeShow contents of a text file
typeperfWrite performance data to a CMD window or a log file
tzutilTime Zone Utility
U
unlodctrRemove performance counter names and explain text for a service from the registry
V
verShow version number of installed OS
verifyVerify whether files are saved correctly on the disk
volShow disk volume label and serial number
vssadminShow shadow copy backups, installed shadow copy writers and providers
W
w32tmAccess Windows Time Service Utility
waitforUsed to synchronize events between networked computer(s)
wevtutilRetrieve information about event logs and publishers
whereFind and display file(s) in the current directory
whoamiDisplay information about the active user
windiffCompare contents of two files or sets of files
winrmWindows Remote Management
winrsWindows Remote Shell
wmicWindows Management Instrumentation Command
wuaucltWindows Update Agent to download new update files
X
xcalcsChange ACLs for files and folders
xcopyCopy files or directory trees to another folder
::Comment

That’s it! If you think we forget to add any other CMD commands in this list, please notify us. Also here is get a copy of list of CMD Commands PDF too. And soon wait for more command prompt tricks. Also don’t forget to check CMD keyboard shortcuts listed down below.

Also, check out other command lists too :

Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts:

Here are some important CMD keyboard shortcuts to ease up your work on Command Prompt.

CMD Keyboard ShortcutsFunction
F1Pastes the last executed command (character by character)
F2Copies characters from the previous command
F3Repeats the last command
F4Deletes current prompt text up to the entered character
F5Pastes recently executed commands (does not cycle)
F6Pastes ^Z to the prompt
F7Shows list of all previous commands from the command history
F8Type character and press F8 key to cycle through matching commands
F9Asks for the number of the command from the F7 list to paste
Up ArrowCycles through previous commands from the command history
Right ArrowAuto-fills characters from previous command one by one
TabAuto-fills file/folder names
Alt+F7Clears command history
EscErases current line
Sabarinath
Sabarinathhttps://techlog360.com
Sabarinath is the tech-savvy founder and Editor-in-Chief of TechLog360. With years of experience in the tech industry and a computer science background, he's an authority on the latest tech news, business insights, and app reviews. Trusted for his expertise and hands-on tips for Android and iOS users, Sabarinath leads TechLog360 with a commitment to accuracy and helpfulness. When not immersed in the digital world, he's exploring new gadgets or sharing knowledge with fellow tech enthusiasts.

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