150 CMD TRICKS

150 CMD Commands Every Windows User Should Know (2024 Guide)

Windows Command Prompt is one of the most powerful tools hiding in plain sight on your PC. Most users open it once, get confused, and never return. That's a mistake. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned IT professional, knowing your CMD commands saves time, solves problems faster, and gives you control that no mouse-and-menu workflow can match.

This guide covers all 150 essential commands, organised into clear categories with plain-English descriptions.

---

How to Open Command Prompt

Before diving in, here's how to open CMD:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type cmd and press Enter
3. For administrator access: search "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click, and choose Run as administrator

Make sure you're at the C:\> prompt before running most of these commands.

---

Part 1 — System Management

These commands control core Windows functions. Most require you to run CMD as Administrator.

Tip: Commands like bcdedit, msconfig, and shutdown will fail silently without admin rights.

#	Command	What It Does
1	hdwwiz.cpl	Add Hardware Wizard — detect and install new hardware
2	appwiz.cpl	Add/Remove Programs — manage installed software
3	control admintools	Administrative Tools — central hub for system admin consoles
4	wuaucpl.cpl	Automatic Updates — configure Windows Update settings
5	dcomcnfg	Component Services — manage COM+ applications
6	compmgmt.msc	Computer Management — combines Device Manager, Disk Management and more
7	timedate.cpl	Date and Time Properties — set the system clock and time zone
8	devmgmt.msc	Device Manager — view, update, and troubleshoot connected hardware
9	dxdiag	DirectX Troubleshooter — diagnose display and sound card issues
10	drwtsn32	Dr. Watson — captures crash diagnostic information
11	verifier	Driver Verifier — stress-tests drivers to identify the cause of crashes
12	eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer — review system, application, and security logs
13	ciadv.msc	Indexing Service — manage Windows search indexing
14	logoff	Log out of the current Windows user session
15	mrt	Malicious Software Removal Tool — scan for and remove common malware
16	odbccp32.cpl	ODBC Data Source Administrator — manage database driver connections
17	perfmon.msc	Performance Monitor — real-time CPU, memory, disk, and network graphs
18	powercfg.cpl	Power Configuration — manage power plans, sleep, and hibernate settings
19	intl.cpl	Regional Settings — configure date, time, currency, and language formats
20	control schedtasks	Scheduled Tasks — create and manage automated task schedules
21	services.msc	Services — start, stop, and configure background Windows services
22	shutdown	Shut down or restart Windows. Use shutdown /s /t 0 for an immediate shutdown
23	cliconfg	SQL Client Configuration — configure SQL Server client network settings
24	sysedit	System Configuration Editor — edit autoexec.bat and other startup files
25	msconfig	System Configuration Utility — manage startup programs, services, and boot options
26	msinfo32	System Information — complete overview of hardware and software environment
27	sysdm.cpl	System Properties — computer name, hardware profiles, advanced settings
28	taskmgr	Task Manager — monitor CPU/memory usage and end unresponsive processes
29	bcdedit	Boot Configuration Data — edit Windows bootloader entries
30	bootcfg	Edit Boot Settings — modify boot.ini on Windows XP and older
31	msiexec	Windows Installer — install, repair, or remove MSI packages
32	csvde	Import or export Active Directory data in CSV format
33	inuse	Replace files currently locked and in use by Windows
34	psshutdown	Remotely shut down or restart a local or networked computer
35	mem	Display a summary of memory usage — total, used, and available

---

Part 2 — Network & Connectivity

Network commands are among the most frequently used in CMD. They diagnose connection problems, check IP settings, test remote hosts, and manage shared resources.

Most used: ping tests if a host is reachable. net manages users, shares, and services entirely from the command line. mstsc opens Remote Desktop to connect to another PC.

#	Command	What It Does
36	ddeshare	DDE Shares — manage Dynamic Data Exchange shared items between applications
37	hypertrm	HyperTerminal — connect to remote computers via serial port or modem
38	icwconn1	Internet Connection Wizard — set up a new internet connection
39	inetcpl.cpl	Internet Properties — proxy, security zones, and browser settings
40	conf	NetMeeting — legacy video and audio conferencing over a local network
41	control netconnections	Network Connections — view and manage all network adapters
42	ncpa.cpl	Network Connections — alternate shortcut
43	netsetup.cpl	Network Setup Wizard — configure a home or small office network
44	telephon.cpl	Phone and Modem Options — configure dial-up and TAPI modem settings
45	dialer	Phone Dialer — make calls using a modem or internet connection
46	rasphone	Remote Access Phonebook — manage VPN and dial-up connection entries
47	mstsc	Remote Desktop — connect to and control another Windows PC remotely
48	fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders — view network shares, open files, and active sessions
49	tcptest	TCP Tester — test connectivity to a specific hostname and port
50	telnet	Telnet Client — connect to remote servers using the Telnet protocol
51	winchat	Microsoft Chat — legacy LAN instant messaging between Windows computers
52	getmac	Display the MAC address of all network adapters
53	hostname	Display the computer's network host name
54	net	Manage network resources — shares, users, services, passwords, and more
55	ping	Test connectivity to a host by sending ICMP echo requests
56	ftp	File Transfer Protocol client — upload and download files from an FTP server

---

Part 3 — Disk & File Operations

These commands give you direct control over your drives and file system — checking health, managing partitions, navigating folders, and cleaning up wasted space.

Warning: Commands like format, diskpart, and deltree permanently destroy data with no undo. Always double-check your target drive or path before pressing Enter.

#	Command	What It Does
57	chkdsk	Check Disk — scan a drive for errors and optionally repair them
58	cleanmgr	Disk Cleanup — safely remove temporary files and free up space
59	dfrg.msc	Disk Defragment — reorganise fragmented files to improve performance
60	diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management — create, resize, and format partitions graphically
61	diskpart	Disk Partition Manager — advanced command-line partitioning tool
62	ntmsmgr.msc	Removable Storage — manage tape drives, CD libraries, and removable media
63	ntmsoprq.msc	Removable Storage Operator Requests — view pending media mount requests
64	compress	Compress one or more files using Windows lossless compression
65	convert	Convert FAT or FAT32 drives to NTFS without data loss
66	del	Delete one or more files. Wildcards work — e.g. del *.tmp
67	dir	List files and folders in the current directory, with sizes and dates
68	format	Format a disk — erases all data and prepares the file system
69	ftype	Display or modify which application opens each file type
70	label	Edit the volume label (name) of a disk drive
71	md	Create a new directory — short for "make directory"
72	freedisk	Check available free disk space on a specified drive
73	fsutil	File and Volume Utilities — advanced file system queries and operations
74	diskuse	Show disk space consumed by folders and subdirectories
75	deltree	Delete a folder along with all of its contents and subfolders
76	erase	Delete one or more files — identical to del

---

Part 4 — Security & Access Control

These commands manage users, passwords, permissions, policies, and encryption. Essential for system administrators and anyone auditing or locking down a Windows machine.

#	Command	What It Does
77	certmgr.msc	Certificate Manager — view, import, and manage digital certificates
78	sigverif	File Signature Verification — confirm system files have valid digital signatures
79	gpedit.msc	Group Policy Editor — configure system-wide policies (Windows Pro and above)
80	secpol.msc	Local Security Settings — password policies, audit settings, user rights
81	lusrmgr.msc	Local Users and Groups — create and manage local user accounts and groups
82	password.cpl	Password Properties — change account passwords and hints
83	regedit	Registry Editor — browse and edit the Windows registry
84	regedit32	Registry Editor (32-bit) — alternate for 32-bit registry keys
85	rsop.msc	Resultant Set of Policy — view effective Group Policy for a user or machine
86	wscui.cpl	Security Center — overview of firewall, antivirus, and update status
87	cipher	Encrypt or decrypt files and folders using Windows EFS
88	cmdkey	Manage stored usernames and passwords in Windows Credential Manager
89	delprof	Delete user profiles from a local or remote computer
90	nusrmgr.cpl	User Account Management — manage accounts via Control Panel
91	perms	Display file and folder permissions for a specific user
92	gpresult	Display the Resultant Set of Policy applied to the current user
93	gpupdate	Force an immediate refresh of Group Policy from the domain controller

---

Part 5 — UI, Apps & Control Panel

Launch Control Panel applets, built-in Windows applications, and classic games directly from CMD — no Start Menu required.

#	Command	What It Does
94	access.cpl	Accessibility Controls — configure display, keyboard, and mouse accessibility
95	accwiz	Accessibility Wizard — guided step-by-step accessibility setup
96	calc	Calculator
97	control	Control Panel
98	control desktop	Display Properties — set wallpaper, screensaver, and resolution
99	desk.cpl	Display Properties — alternate shortcut
100	control folders	Folder Options — show hidden files, extensions, and Explorer view settings
101	control fonts	Fonts — view and manage fonts installed on the system
102	freecell	FreeCell card game
103	joy.cpl	Game Controllers — configure and calibrate joysticks and gamepads
104	mshearts	Hearts card game
105	helpctr	Help and Support Center
106	iexplore	Internet Explorer
107	firefox	Launch Mozilla Firefox (if installed)
108	control keyboard	Keyboard Properties — key repeat rate and cursor blink speed
109	moviemk	Windows Movie Maker
110	mspaint	Microsoft Paint
111	winmine	Minesweeper
112	control mouse	Mouse Properties — pointer speed, buttons, and scroll wheel
113	main.cpl	Mouse Properties — alternate shortcut
114	notepad	Notepad
115	osk	On-Screen Keyboard — virtual keyboard for mouse or touch input
116	msimn	Outlook Express — legacy email and newsgroup client
117	pbrush	Paint — legacy alias for mspaint
118	pinball	Space Cadet Pinball (available on Windows XP)
119	control printers	Printers and Faxes — add, remove, and manage printing devices
120	sticpl.cpl	Scanners and Cameras
121	spider	Spider Solitaire
122	mmsys.cpl	Sounds and Audio — manage playback, recording, and system sounds
123	utilman	Utility Manager — accessibility tools accessible at the login screen
124	explorer	Windows Explorer — open the file manager

---

Part 6 — General Utilities

Everyday productivity commands for comparing files, searching text, creating archives, clearing the screen, and managing the CMD window itself.

#	Command	What It Does
125	fsquirt	Bluetooth File Transfer Wizard
126	charmap	Character Map — browse and copy special characters and symbols
127	clipbrd	Clipboard Viewer — see what is currently on the clipboard
128	migwiz	Files and Settings Transfer Tool — move your setup to a new PC
129	findfast.cpl	Findfast — indexes Microsoft Office files for faster searching
130	iexpress	IExpress Wizard — package files into a self-extracting archive or installer
131	mobsync	Microsoft Synchronization Tool — sync offline files with network locations
132	packager	Object Packager — embed files as icons inside documents
133	cls	Clear Screen — removes all previous output from the CMD window
134	color	Change CMD text and background colour. Example: color 0A for green on black
135	echo	Print a message to the screen, or toggle command echoing on/off in scripts
136	help	Display built-in help for any command. Usage: help dir, help format
137	logtime	Log a timestamp entry to a specified output file
138	makecab	Create compressed .cab archive files from source files
139	print	Send a text file directly to a connected printer
140	wab	Windows Address Book — open the contacts manager
141	wabmig	Windows Address Book Import Utility — import contacts from other applications
142	fc	File Compare — show the differences between two text or binary files
143	find	Search for a specific text string inside one or more files
144	findstr	Advanced file search with regular expression support
145	perfmon	Performance Monitor — alternate command to open the performance console
146	fonts	Open the Windows Fonts folder directly
147	printers	Open the Printers folder directly
148	cmd	Open a new Command Prompt window
149	logoff	Log off the current user session
150	dxdiag	DirectX Diagnostic Tool — check graphics and audio hardware

---

Final Thoughts

The Windows Command Prompt has been around for decades and it is still one of the most efficient tools on the platform. You do not need to memorise all 150 commands — start with the ones relevant to your work. System administrators will lean on the security and disk sections. Everyday users will get the most from system management and utilities. The rest comes with practice.

Pro tip: In any CMD window, type help followed by a command name — for example help shutdown or help format — to see full usage instructions and available flags without leaving the terminal.