Windows Command Cheet Sheet

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CRUSVEDER

7 min read

This guide provides a concise and helpful cheat sheet for Windows command-line usage. Quick reference.

Directory Navigation

  • c: - Switch to the C:\ drive.
  • d: - Switch to the D:\ drive.
  • CD c:\path\to\my_folder - Change directory to c:\path\to\my_folder.
  • CD .. - Move to the parent directory.
  • CD .\new_folder - Move to the folder new_folder in the current directory.
  • CD /D d:\videos\ - Switch to D:\ drive and go to videos folder.
  • DIR - List files and folders in the current directory.
  • DIR /A c:\apps\ - Show files and folders in c:\apps.
  • DIR /A:D - Show only folders.
  • DIR /A:-D - Show only files.
  • DIR /A:H - Show hidden files and folders.
  • DIR /O - List files and folders alphabetically.
  • DIR /O:S - Sort by file size (smallest to largest).
  • DIR /O:-S - Sort by file size (largest to smallest).
  • DIR /B - Show only file and folder names.
  • SORT - Sort input alphabetically.
  • MOVE c:\f1\text.txt c:\f2 - Move text.txt from f1 to f2.
  • MD new_folder - Create a folder named new_folder.
  • RD new_folder - Remove a folder named new_folder.
  • TREE - Show directory structure.
  • ATTRIB +H +S +R myItem - Hide myItem.
  • ATTRIB -H -S -R myItem - Unhide myItem.

File Management

  • COPY text.txt C:\schoolwork - Copy text.txt to C:\schoolwork.
  • DEL text.txt - Delete text.txt.
  • REN text.txt script.bat - Rename text.txt to script.bat.
  • REPLACE .\src\hey.txt .\dest - Replace hey.txt in dest with the one in src.
  • XCOPY /S folder1 folder2 - Copy folder1 and subfolders to folder2.
  • ROBOCOPY - Copy files/directories with advanced options.
  • EXPAND gameData.cab - Decompress gameData.cab.
  • FC file1.ext file2.ext - Compare contents of two files.
  • FIND "python" run.bat - Find lines containing python in run.bat.
  • PRINT resume.txt - Print resume.txt.
  • TYPE test.txt - Display test.txt contents.
  • MORE - Display file contents one screen at a time.
  • NOTEPAD filename.ext - Open filename.ext in Notepad.

Disk Management

  • CHKDSK - Check and repair disk issues.
  • CIPHER /E folder - Encrypt folder.
  • CIPHER /D file - Decrypt file.
  • DEFRAG - Defragment a disk.
  • CHKNTFS - Modify disk-checking on startup.
  • FORMAT - Format a disk.
  • DISKPART - Manage disk partitions.
  • LABEL d:x - Rename D:\ drive to X:.
  • RECOVER d:\data.dat - Recover data.dat from D:.
  • VOL - Show disk volume label and serial number.
  • SFC /SCANNOW - Scan and update protected system files.

System Info & Networking

  • VER - Show OS version.
  • SYSTEMINFO - Show system configuration.
  • HOSTNAME - Show computer's hostname.
  • DATE - Display/set system date.
  • IPCONFIG - Show IP configuration.
  • PING google.com - Check connectivity to google.com.
  • PATHPING - Trace route with latency and packet loss.
  • TRACERT - Trace route to a host.
  • NET - Access network services.
  • NETSTAT - Show network connections and stats.
  • NSLOOKUP - Look up IP addresses.
  • ROUTE - Manage routing tables.
  • GETMAC - Show MAC addresses.

Process Management

  • SCHTASKS - Create/edit scheduled tasks.
  • SET - List environment variables.
  • PATH - Display or modify the PATH environment variable.
  • SHUTDOWN /R - Restart the computer.
  • SHUTDOWN /S /T 60 - Shut down in 60 seconds.
  • TASKLIST - List running tasks.
  • TASKKILL /IM "process_name" - Terminate tasks by name.
  • TASKKILL /PID process_id - Terminate tasks by process ID.
  • REGEDIT - Open Registry Editor.
  • RUNAS /USER:username program - Run a program as another user.
  • POWERSHELL - Open a PowerShell instance.

Batch Scripting

  • REM - Add a single-line comment.
  • GOTO - Jump to a labeled section.
  • SET /A var=expression - Perform arithmetic operations.
  • TIMEOUT seconds - Pause for a specified time.
  • PAUSE - Wait for user input.
  • CHOICE - Prompt for user selection.
  • CLS - Clear the screen.
  • COLOR - Set console colors.
  • ECHO - Display text.
  • HELP - Get help for a command.
  • PROMPT - Change the command prompt appearance.
  • START - Open a file or program in a new window.
  • TITLE - Set the console window title.
  • EXIT - Close the command prompt.

Flow Control

  • IF condition command - Execute a command if the condition is true.
  • IF condition (command1) ELSE (command2) - Execute one of two commands based on a condition.
  • :label - Define a marker for loops.
  • GOTO label - Jump to a marker.

Shortcut Keys

  • Tab - Autocomplete commands and paths.
  • Ctrl+F - Search within the console.
  • F1, F3, F5, F8 - Recall previous commands.
  • F7 - Display command history.
  • F9 - Execute a specific command from history.

1 Line Common Commands

Files and Folders Management

  • COPY - Copies files to another location
  • DIR – Displays files and folders in current directory
  • DEL or ERASE - Deletes files
  • EDIT - Starts file editor
  • CD - Changes directory
  • EXPAND - Decompresses compressed files
  • FC - Compares files and shows the differences between them
  • FIND - Finds a text string in the file
  • MD or MAKEDIR - Creates a folder
  • MOVE - Moves files from one folder to another
  • PRINT - Prints out the text file contents
  • RD or RMDIR - Deletes a folder
  • REN or RENAME - Renames a file or folder
  • REPLACE - Replaces files in one directory with files of the same name in another directory (overwrite)
  • ROBOCOPY - Uses an advanced tool to copy files and directories
  • TREE - Shows directory structure of a disk or folder
  • TYPE - Displays the contents of text files
  • OPENFILES – Manages opened local or network files
  • XCOPY - Copies files and directory trees

Applications and Processes

  • SCHTASKS - Executes a command or start a scheduled application (Task Scheduler)
  • SHUTDOWN - Shutdowns or reboots your computer
  • TASKLIST - Lists the tasks being performed
  • TASKKILL - Stops or halts a task (to stop a task you use a PID which you can find out from TASKLIST)
  • REG – Starts registry editor
  • RUNAS - Launches the task as another user

Disks Management

  • CHKDISK - Checks disk and shows statistics
  • DEFRAG – Starts disk defragmentation
  • CHKNTFS - Displays or changes execution of disk check at boot
  • COMPACT - Displays and change the compression of files in NTFS partitions
  • CONVERT - Converts FAT disk volume to NTFS
  • DISKPART - Displays and adjusts disk partition properties
  • FORMAT - Formats the disk
  • FSUTIL - Displays and configures file system properties
  • LABEL - Creates, changes, or deletes a disk volume label
  • RECOVER - Recovers data from a bad or damaged disk
  • VOL - Displays volume label and serial number for the disk

System Information

  • DATE - Outputs or sets the current date
  • TIME - Displays or sets the system time
  • DRIVERQUERY - Displays the current state and properties of the device driver
  • HOSTNAME - Displays name of the computer
  • SYSTEMINFO - Shows configuration information about your computer
  • VER - Allows you to view the Windows version
  • GPRESULT – Displays current applied group policies (RSoP)
  • GPUPDATE – Updates group policies

Network

  • IPCONFIG - Shows information about network interfaces
  • PING – Sends ICMP requests to the target host, checks host availability
  • TRACERT - Finds the path for packets traveling over the network
  • NSLOOKUP - Finds IP address by resource name
  • ROUTE - Displays network route tables
  • ARP- Shows a table with IP addresses converted into physical addresses
  • NETSH – Starts is a network settings control program
  • GETMAC - Shows the MAC address of the network adapter
  • TFTP – Starts TFTP client in console

Command Line Setup

  • CLS - Clears screen
  • CMD - Displays another command prompt
  • COLOR - Sets the text and background color
  • PROMPT - Changes the command line prompt
  • TITLE - Assigns a title for the current session
  • HELP – Launches CMD help
  • EXIT - Exits the command line