Windows Command Prompt, also known as CMD or Command Prompt, is a command-line interface that allows users to interact with their computer’s operating system through typed commands. It has been a part of the Windows operating system since its inception and is still widely used today.
The Command Prompt can be accessed by typing “”cmd”” into the Windows search bar or by pressing the Windows key + R and typing “”cmd”” into the Run dialog box. Once opened, users can type commands and execute them by pressing the Enter key.
This cheat sheet provides an extensive list of Windows Command Prompt commands and their descriptions. Enjoy!
Navigation Commands
Command
Description
cd
Changes the current directory.
dir
Lists the contents of the current directory.
md
Creates a new directory.
rd
Removes a directory.
tree
Displays the directory tree of the current directory.
pushd
Saves the current directory and changes it to a new directory.
popd
Restores the previous directory saved by pushd.
chdir
Changes the current directory.
File Management Commands
Command
Description
copy
Copies one or more files from one location to another.
xcopy
Copies files and directories, including subdirectories.
move
Moves one or more files from one location to another.
del
Deletes one or more files.
ren
Renames a file or directory.
type
Displays the contents of a text file.
more
Displays the contents of a text file one screen at a time.
find
Searches for a specific string in a file.
findstr
Searches for a specific string in a file or files.
fc
Compares two files or sets of files and displays the differences.
System Information Commands
Command
Description
systeminfo
Displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system.
hostname
Displays the name of the current host.
ipconfig
Displays the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for all network adapters.
netstat
Displays active TCP connections, ports on which the computer is listening, Ethernet statistics, and IP routing table.
tasklist
Displays a list of currently running processes on a computer.
taskkill
Terminates one or more running processes.
ping
Sends an ICMP echo request to a specified computer and displays the response.
Network Commands
Command
Description
net use
Connects to or disconnects from a shared resource on a network.
net view
Displays a list of resources being shared on a computer.
net share
Creates, deletes, or displays shared resources.
net user
Adds, modifies, or deletes user accounts on a computer.
net group
Adds, modifies, or deletes global groups on a computer.
net localgroup
Adds, modifies, or deletes local groups on a computer.
Miscellaneous Commands
Command
Description
echo
Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
set
Displays, sets, or removes environment variables.
title
Sets the title for the command prompt window.
color
Sets the background and foreground colors for the command prompt window.
mode
Configures system devices, such as COM and LPT ports.
shutdown
Shuts down or restarts a computer.
help
Provides help information for Windows commands.
Conclusion
This cheat sheet provides an extensive list of Windows Command Prompt commands and their descriptions. It is not an exhaustive list, but it covers the most commonly used commands. For more information, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.