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How to Open Command Prompt on Windows 10

Microsoft Windows 10 comes with a built-in command processor, cmd.exe. Power users know how to get things done quickly through a Command Prompt window. Opening the Command Prompt on Windows 10 is easy, but there are more than one way to do it.

Whether you want to create a virtual WiFi hotspot, create a directory, change Windows 10 password, or ping to check for network connection status, Command Prompt window can help you do it all. This article covers all the ways to open Command Prompt on Windows 10.

Read More: Reset Windows 10 Password Using Command Prompt

Method 1. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from Windows+X Power Users Menu

You can open Command Prompt on Windows 10 with an existing shortcut key. On your keyboard, press the Windows key + X. This will show the Power Users menu. Click on the Command Prompt option to open the window.

Open Command Prompt on Windows from the WinX menu

However, on newer versions of Windows 10, you may see the PowerShell option instead of Command Prompt. You can replace the PowerShell option with Command Prompt from Settings.

Replace Command Prompt with Windows Powershell in WinX menu Windows 10

To do this, click on Start and choose Settings. Next, open Personalization and then open the Taskbar tab.

Scroll down and toggle the button Replace Command prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the Start button or press Windows key + X.

Read More: How to Open Settings on Windows 10

Method 2. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from Task Manager

One of the lesser-known features of Task Manager is its ability to create new tasks. You can open Command Prompt using the Task Manager. Right-click on the Taskbar and click on Task Manager to open it.

Run new task on Task manager Windows 10

In Task Manager, click on File and then choose Run new task. In the Create new task window, type cmd and click OK.

Run new task cmd to open Command Prompt on Windows 10

If you want to run the Command Prompt as administrator on Windows 10, check the Create this task with administrative privileges box.

Read More: How to Open Task Manager on Windows 10

Method 3. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from the Start Menu

Windows 10 Start menu houses almost all the apps installed on your including the Command Prompt. To launch Command Prompt from the Start menu, click on Start.

Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from the start menu

In the Start menu, scroll down and locate the Windows System folder. Expand the folder and click on Command Prompt to start a new session. To open it as admin, right-click on Command Prompt > More > Run as administrator.

Method 4. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 by Searching

Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 by searching

This is the easiest way to find and launch any app on your PC. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type cmd. From the search result, click on Command Prompt. It also shows the option to open Command Prompt as administrator.

Method 5. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 Using Its cmd.exe Executable File

You can open Command Prompt using the cmd.exe executable file. To do this, press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.

Open Windows System32 file folder

In the File Explorer address bar, type the following location and hit enter:

C:\WINDOWS\system32

Open cmd.exe file on Windows 10

This will open the executable location of cmd.exe. Double-click on cmd.exe to open Command Prompt.

Method 6. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from File Explorer’s Address Bar

Another cool way to open Command Prompt is to use the File Explorer address bar. While it allows you to navigate to all the parts of your system, it can be used to open apps.

Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from File Explorer's Address Bar

Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer. Next, click on the address bar, type cmd, and hit Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.

Method 7. Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from the Run Command Box

You can open Windows system apps using the Run box. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box.

Open Command Prompt on Windows 10 from Run

In the Run box, type cmd and click OK to open Command Prompt.

Method 8. Create a Shortcut for Command Prompt

If you would rather access the Command Prompt from a desktop shortcut, you need to create one.

Step 1: To do this, right-click on your desktop, go to New and then choose Create Shortcut.

Create a new shortcut on Windows 10

Step 2: In the Create Shortcut window, enter the following path and click Next to continue.

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

Step 3: Next, rename the Command Prompt shortcut with a name you prefer or leave it as default.

Create a shortcut for Command Prompt on Windows 10

Step 4: Click Finish to add the shortcut to your desktop. To open the Command Prompt as administrator, right-click on the shortcut and choose the appropriate option.

Method 9. Boot to Command Prompt on Windows 10

When your PC refuses to boot up, you can run some advanced commands to run diagnostics. To do this, you need to boot into Windows recovery options. We have a detailed guide on how to boot to a command prompt on Windows 10 that you can follow for more instructions.

Method 10: Open Command Prompt from Taskbar and Start Menu

If you use an app frequently, adding it to the taskbar and start menu offers easy access. You can do this for Command Prompt as well.

Press the Windows key and type cmd. Next, right-click on Command Prompt and choose Pin to Taskbar to add the shortcut to the Taskbar.

Pin Command Prompt to Taskbar on Windows 10

Additionally, right-click on Command Prompt again and choose the Pin to Start menu, and the Command Prompt shortcut will appear on the Start menu.

Pin Command Prompt to Start on Windows 10

Method 11: Ask Cortana to Open Command Prompt

Cortana is a virtual assistant and comes installed out of the box in Windows 10 systems. You can use Cortana to set up reminders, check for information, and even open apps.

Ask cortana to open Command Prompt on Windows 10

Click the Cortana icon on the left corner of the Taskbar. Next, click the Speech icon and then ask Cortana to Open Command Prompt. It will recognize your speech and open the window.

If you are unable to use speech, type Open Command Prompt and hit enter in Cortana. The virtual assistant will instantly open the window.

FAQs

What is the use of Command Prompt in Windows 10?

Command Prompt allows you to give instructions to your PC to automate tasks, launch apps, and even diagnose your PC.

What are the basic commands in Command Prompt?

Some of the most commonly used cmd commands include – call to call a batch from another one, cd to change directory, and cls to clear screen.

How many commands are there in Command Prompt?

There are a total of 280 recognized commands by the command processor in Windows 10.

Where are CMD commands stored?

External commands are stored in the C:\WINDOWS\System32. This directory is part of the system path and makes it easy to access both internal and external commands irrespective of the directory you are in.

Conclusion

Command Prompt is an essential utility for power users. Even for those who are not used to command processors, using Command Prompt once in a while in Windows 10 is inevitable.

Depending on the type of user you are, there are many ways to open Command Prompt in Windows 10. You can create a shortcut, launch it directly using the Run box or ask Cortana to do it for you.

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