20 Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know

Vamsi Krishna 2nd Mar 2015 Windows 11 Comments

Windows hosts a wide range of tools which can be used to do all sorts of things and most them are easily accessible through the Control Panel. An alternative way to access these tools and tasks is through the good old “Run” command. In fact, if you know the corresponding Run command of a tool or task, it would be the quickest way to access the said utility. Even though the usage of the Run command is drastically reduced due to the introduction of the search box in the start menu, the Run command is still a power user

option. So if you ever need them, here is a good list of Run commands to help you be more productive.

Note: in case you don’t know, press “Win + R” on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box, and enter any of the below commands to access the respective tool.

List of Run Commands1. “\” – This is one of the lesser known Run commands. Just enter the backslash into the Run dialog box and it will open up the C drive. It is one of the quickest ways to access the C drive.

2. “.” – This is yet another lesser known Run command. When executed, it opens the current user’s home folder which hosts all the other local folders like the Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.

3. “..” – When you execute these two dots in the Run dialog box, it will open up the Users folder which is located directly in the C drive.

4. calc – If you want to quickly open the built-in Windows calculator app, typing calc in the Run dialog box is the easiest way to do it.

5. cmd – Even Windows users have to deal with the command line sometimes. With this command, you can quickly open the command prompt without administrator privileges.

6. powershell – If the command prompt is too old for you, then you may want to try PowerShell. Just type this command in the Run dialog box, and you will have your PowerShell opened without administrator privileges.

7. netplwiz – The general user accounts option is available through the Control Panel, but if you want to mess with the advanced user account options then use this command to open the Advanced User Accounts window. If you want to deal with the Authorization Manager, then use the Run command azman.msc.

8. gpedit.msc – Group Policy Editor in Windows allows you to set and edit different Windows policies of a local or remote computer. Since Group Policy Editor is an advanced tool, it is buried deep inside Windows, and this Run command is the easiest way to access it.

9. lusrmgr.msc – Using this command, you can open the Local Users and Groups Manager where you can edit several properties of all the users and groups.

10. mrt – Every month Windows releases a newer version of Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool through the Windows Update. This free tool helps you in cleaning some of the most popular malicious software from your Windows computer. This tool runs silently in the background but if you want to run it manually then use this Run command.

11. ncpa.cpl – Being an Internet user means that you have to deal with occasional (if not daily) network problems, and one way to troubleshoot your network connection is by accessing your Network Adapters. To access all your Network Adapters, you can use this Run command.

12. perfmon.msc – If you want to monitor the performance of your Windows computer and effects of the programs you run, running Performance Monitor will provide ample data. You can access the Performance Monitor using this command.

13. powercfg.cpl – Windows hosts a wide range of power options to deal with your computer’s power usage, and you can access all those Power Options using this command.

14. appwiz.cpl – Using this command you can quickly access the Programs and Features window where you can quickly uninstall your installed programs.

15. devmgmt.msc – Windows Device Manager is where you can manage all your hardware devices, and you can use this Run command to quickly access it. Alternatively, you can also use the command “hdwwiz.cpl.”

16. regedit – Regedit Run command can be used to access the Windows Registry which is a hierarchical database that hosts all the configurations and settings of an operating system and the installed programs.

17. msconfig – Windows System Configuration is where you can edit different things like the boot options, startup options, services, etc. You can use this Run command to access the System Configuration window.

18. sysdm.cpl – If you ever want to access the System Properties window, then using this Run command opens it right up.

19. firewall.cpl – If you want to manage or configure your Windows firewall, then you can use this Run command to quickly access the Firewall window.

20. wuapp – Last but not least, you can use this command to check, manage and configure all your Windows update settings.

As you can see, the Windows Run command is one of the best utilities you can find in Windows. Besides the commands shared above from the top of my head, there are many other commands to access different parts of Windows. So if you think that I missed any of your favorite Run commands, do share them in the comments below.

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11 comments

1.

Sean

I cant understand why services.msc to open the Windows Service Control manager and taskmgr.exe to get to the task manager are not included and high up on the list.

Mar 2, 2015 at 9:53 pm Reply

1.

asdad

just press Ctrl Shift Esc.

Nov 9, 2015 at 7:57 am Reply

2.

Sean

Actually I also forgot regedit and regedt32 to get to the registry.

Mar 2, 2015 at 9:55 pm Reply

3.

Peter

I would add “MSTSC” for remote desktop connections, maybe not too common with home users.

Mar 3, 2015 at 7:26 am Reply

1.

Tiara Masters

Sweet!!!

Mar 4, 2015 at 10:12 am Reply

4.

SeniorRookie68

regedit is in the list not the 32.

Mar 3, 2015 at 8:35 am Reply

5.

Geoff

What about “Doskey” once in a command prompt – allows you to repeat previously entered items during that Command prompt session, handy if you are repeating a number of things .

Mar 3, 2015 at 9:23 am Reply

6.

Tiara Masters

Sweet list and great comments. This is why I love this site

Mar 4, 2015 at 9:49 am Reply

7.

Matt

msinfo32 is also a good one to use for comprehensive system info

Apr 17, 2015 at 8:28 am Reply

8.

Hellen David

Hey here is practice about A General Run Command Usually Use In Windows Operating System, you can refer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgcfRnnM0U

Aug 29, 2015 at 9:06 pm Reply

9.

Gnanasudheer

Tnk u so much

Dec 30, 2015 at 9:32 pm Reply

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Complete List of Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts and Run CommandsAndre Da Costa | August 24, 2015 in How-To

Everyone loves a quick way to get things done in Windows. If a mouse tends to slow you down, then here is a comprehensive list of keyboard commands you can use to accomplish almost any task you would normally use a mouse for.

Function Command

Power menu press Windows key + X or right click Start

Windows + Tab Launch Windows 10 Task View

Windows + Q Search the web and Windows with Cortana (speech)

Windows + S Search the web and Windows with Cortana (keyboard input)

Windows + I Open Windows 10 settings

Windows + A Open Windows 10 notifications

Windows + L Lock your Windows 10 device

Windows + Ctrl + D Create new virtual desktop

Windows + Ctrl + F4 Close current virtual desktop

Windows + Ctrl + [Left][Right]

Switch between virtual desktops

Windows + [Left][Right][Up][Down]

Position windows on your screenE.g. Windows + [Left] moves the current window to the left half of your screen. If you use Windows + [Up] afterwards, the current window will be placed in the upper left quarter of your screen.And, what’s very handy in my opinion: If you release the Windows key after positioning a window, Task View shows up on the opposite side of the positioned window to select and position another app.

Windows + H Share content (if supported by current app)

Windows + K Connect to wireless displays and audio devices

Windows + X Open Start button context menu

Windows key + G Starts App recording

Windows + D Show Windows desktop

Windows + E Open File Explorer

Windows + Space Switch keyboard input language (if you have added at least a second one)

Windows + Shift + [Left][Right]

Move current Window from one monitor to another (when using a multiple monitor setup)

Windows + [1][2][3][…] Open programs that are pinned to task barE.g. if first pinned program on your task bar is Windows Explorer (from left to right), the shortcut Windows + 1 opens Windows Explorer for you.

Windows + R Run a command

Windows + P Project a screen

Alt + Tab Switch to previous window

Alt + Space Restore, move, size, minimize, maximize or close current window. Also works like a charm for Windows 10 modern apps.

Alt + F4 a) Close current windowb) If you’re on your Windows 10 desktop, open Power dialogue to shut down or restart Windows, put your device in sleep mode, sign out or switch the current user

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC Open Task Manager

Alt + underlined menu Open menu or program. Example, to open the Edit menu in WordPad, press Alt then press E on your keyboard. Repeat the same step for the menu you want to open.

General Windows keyboard shortcuts

Function Command

Access help system in an application F1

Activate menu bar F10

Close a program Alt + F4

Close current window in Multiple Document interface based programs

CTRL + F4

Access right click menu in application Shift + F10

Launch Start menu Ctrl + ESC or Windows key

Cut CTRL + X

Copy CTRL + C

Paste CTRL + V

Delete DEL

Undo CTRL + Z

System Properties Windows key + Pause/Break

Bypass auto-play when an external storage device is connected

Hold down SHIFT key while inserting storage device.

Desktop, My Computer and File Explorer

For selected items, you can use the following shortcuts:

Function Command

Search CTRL + F or F3

Rename an item F2

Delete an folder or files permanently SHIFT + DEL

Access properties of a file or folder ALT + ENTER or ALT + double-click

Copy a file CTRL key while dragging file

Create a shortcut CTRL + SHIFT while dragging file

Select All CTRL + A

Refresh contents of window F5

View the folder one level up Backspace key

Close the selected folder and its parent folders SHIFT key while clicking the close button

Switch between left and right panes F6

File Explorer commands

Function Command

Switch between left and right panes F6

Expand all subfolders under the selected folder NUMLOCK + ASTERISK when using a numeric keyboard

Expand the selected folder NUMLOCK + PLUS sign when using a numeric keyboard

Collapse the selected folder NUMLOCK + MINUS sign when using a numeric keyboard

Expand current selection if it’s collapsed, otherwise select first subfolder

Right arrow

Collapse current selection if its expanaded, otherwise select parent folder

Left arrow

Properties dialog commands

Function Command

Move forward throught options Tab key

Move backward through options SHIFT + Tab

Move forward through tabs CTRL + Tab

Move backward through tabs CTRL + SHIFT + TAB

Open and Save dialog commands

Function Command

Open the Save In and address bar CTRL + O and F4

Refresh F5

Open the folder one level up, if a folder is selected

BACKSPACE

Windows 10 Command Prompt keyboard commands

Text Selection

Function Command

SHIFT + LEFT ARROW Moves the cursor to the left one character, extending the selection.

SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW Moves the cursor to the right one character, extending the selection.

SHIFT + UP ARROW Selects text up line by line starting from the location of the insertion point.

SHIFT + DOWN ARROW Extends text selection down one line, starting at the location of the insertion point.

SHIFT + END If cursor is in current line being edited* First time extends selection to the last character in the input line.* Second consecutive press extends selection to the right margin.ElseSelects text from the insertion point to the right margin.

SHIFT + HOME If cursor is in current line being edited* First time extends selection to the character immediately after the command prompt.* Second consecutive press extends selection to the left margin.ElseExtends selection to the left margin.

SHIFT + PAGE DOWN Extends selection down one screen.

SHIFT + PAGE UP Extends selection up one screen.

CTRL + SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW Extends the selection one word to the right.

CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW Extends the selection one word to the left.

CTRL + SHIFT + HOME Extend selection to the beginning of the screen buffer.

CTRL + SHIFT + END Extend selection to the end of the screen buffer.

CTRL + A If cursor is in current line being edited (from first typed char to last type char) and line is not empty and any selection cursor is also within the line being editedSelects all text after the prompt. (phase 1)ElseSelects the entire buffer. (phase 2)

Edit commands

Function Command

CTRL + V Paste text into the command line.

SHIFT + INS Paste text into the command line.

CTRL + C Copy selected text to the clipboard.

CTRL + INS Copy selected text to the clipboard.

Function Command

CTRL + M Enter “Mark Mode” to move cursor within window.

ALT In conjunction with one of the selection key combinations, begins selection in block mode.

ARROW KEYS Move cursor in the direction specified.

PAGE KEYS Move cursor by one page in the direction specified.

CTRL + HOME Move cursor to beginning of buffer.

CTRL + END Move cursor to end of buffer.

History navigation keys

Function Command

CTRL + UP ARROW Moves up one line in the output history.

CTRL + DOWN ARROW Moves down one line in the output history.

CTRL + PAGE UP Moves up one page in the output history.

CTRL + PAGE DOWN Moves down one page in the output history.

Additional commands

Function Command

CTRL + F Opens “Find” in console dialog.

ALT + F4 Close the console window, of course!

Keyboard Run Commands

Use the following to access locations such as Control Panel items, File Explorer shell folders quickly using the run command.

Opens Press Windows + R and type:

Open Documents Folder documents

Open Videos folder videos

Open Downloads Folder downloads

Open Favorites Folder favorites

Open Recent Folder recent

Open Pictures Folder pictures

Adding a new Device devicepairingwizard

About Windows dialog winver

Add Hardware Wizard hdwwiz

Advanced User Accounts netplwiz

Advanced User Accounts azman.msc

Backup and Restore sdclt

Bluetooth File Transfer fsquirt

Calculator calc

Certificates certmgr.msc

Change Computer Performance Settings systempropertiesperformance

Change Data Execution Prevention Settings systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Change Data Execution Prevention Settings printui

Character Map charmap

ClearType Tuner cttune

Color Management colorcpl

Command Prompt cmd

Component Services comexp.msc

Component Services dcomcnfg

Computer Management compmgmt.msc

Computer Management compmgmtlauncher

Connect to a Projector displayswitch

Control Panel control

Create A Shared Folder Wizard shrpubw

Create a System Repair Disc recdisc

Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Date and Time timedate.cpl

Default Location locationnotifications

Device Manager devmgmt.msc

Device Manager hdwwiz.cpl

Device Pairing Wizard devicepairingwizard

Diagnostics Troubleshooting Wizard msdt

Digitizer Calibration Tool tabcal

DirectX Diagnostic Tool dxdiag

Disk Cleanup cleanmgr

Disk Defragmenter dfrgui

Disk Management diskmgmt.msc

Display dpiscaling

Display Color Calibration dccw

Display Switch displayswitch

DPAPI Key Migration Wizard dpapimig

Driver Verifier Manager verifier

Ease of Access Center utilman

EFS Wizard rekeywiz

Event Viewer eventvwr.msc

Fax Cover Page Editor fxscover

File Signature Verification sigverif

Font Viewer fontview

Game Controllers joy.cpl

IExpress Wizard iexpress

Internet Explorer iexplore

Internet Options inetcpl.cpl

iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool iscsicpl

Language Pack Installer lpksetup

Local Group Policy Editor gpedit.msc

Local Security Policy secpol.msc

Local Users and Groups lusrmgr.msc

Location Activity locationnotifications

Magnifier magnify

Malicious Software Removal Tool mrt

Manage Your File Encryption Certificates rekeywiz

Microsoft Management Console mmc

Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool msdt

Mouse main.cpl

NAP Client Configuration napclcfg.msc

Narrator narrator

Network Connections ncpa.cpl

New Scan Wizard wiaacmgr

Notepad notepad

ODBC Data Source Administrator odbcad32

ODBC Driver Configuration odbcconf

On-Screen Keyboard osk

Paint mspaint

Pen and Touch tabletpc.cpl

People Near Me collab.cpl

Performance Monitor perfmon.msc

Performance Options systempropertiesperformance

Phone and Modem telephon.cpl

Phone Dialer dialer

Power Options powercfg.cpl

Presentation Settings presentationsettings

Print Management printmanagement.msc

Printer Migration printbrmui

Printer User Interface printui

Private Character Editor eudcedit

Problem Steps Recorder psr

Programs and Features appwiz.cpl

Protected Content Migration dpapimig

Region and Language intl.cpl

Registry Editor regedit

Registry Editor 32 regedt32

Remote Access Phonebook rasphone

Remote Desktop Connection mstsc

Resource Monitor resmon

Resultant Set of Policy rsop.msc

SAM Lock Tool syskey

Screen Resolution desk.cpl

Securing the Windows Account Database syskey

Services services.msc

Set Program Access and Computer Defaults computerdefaults

Share Creation Wizard shrpubw

Shared Folders fsmgmt.msc

Signout logoff

Snipping Tool snippingtool

Sound mmsys.cpl

Sound recorder soundrecorder

SQL Server Client Network Utility cliconfg

Sticky Notes stikynot

Stored User Names and Passwords credwiz

Sync Center mobsync

System Configuration msconfig

System Configuration Editor sysedit

System Information msinfo32

System Properties sysdm.cpl

System Properties (Advanced Tab) systempropertiesadvanced

System Properties (Computer Name Tab) systempropertiescomputername

System Properties (Hardware Tab) systempropertieshardware

System Properties (Remote Tab) systempropertiesremote

System Properties (System Protection Tab) systempropertiesprotection

System Restore rstrui

Task Manager taskmgr

Task Scheduler taskschd.msc

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management

tpm.msc

Turn Windows features on or off optionalfeatures

User Account Control Settings useraccountcontrolsettings

Utility Manager utilman

Volume Mixer sndvol

Windows Action Center wscui.cpl

Windows Activation Client slui

Windows Anytime Upgrade Results windowsanytimeupgraderesults

Windows Disc Image Burning Tool isoburn

Windows Explorer explorer

Windows Fax and Scan wfs

Windows Firewall firewall.cpl

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security wf.msc

Windows Journal journal

Windows Media Player wmplayer

Windows Memory Diagnostic Scheduler mdsched

Windows Mobility Center mblctr

Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard wiaacmgr

Windows PowerShell powershell

Windows PowerShell ISE powershell_ise

Windows Remote Assistance msra

Windows Repair Disc recdisc

Windows Script Host wscript

Windows Update wuapp

Windows Update Standalone Installer wusa

Versione Windows winver

WMI Management wmimgmt.msc

WordPad write

XPS Viewer xpsrchvw

The name and terminology used for certain commands and functions have been revised in Windows 10, along with their locations. The following table provides how you can find and access them.

Original Name New Name, location and Functions

Windows Explorer File Explorer – (Press Windows key + E to launch)

Favorites Navigation Pane (Windows Explorer)

Quick Access

Folder options Options (Files Explorer > View tab > Options)

Recent Items Located in File Explorer > This PC > Recent Files

Computer or My Computer

This PC

Control Panel Settings (classic Control Panel can still be accessed – Windows key + X then click Control Panel)

View Available Networks

Network Flyout – Notification or Show Available Networks (Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Additional settings.

Action Center

Located in the System Tray. Manage incoming email, system, social media notifications.

Start menu Start

Task View

Create and Manage multiple desktops

Aero Snap Snap Assist – easily manage open windows on screen.

All Programs All Apps

Shutdown/Turn off computer

Power

Switch Users Located at the top of the Start represented by your account name

There’s a lot here to remember, so make sure to bookmark this page so you can keep coming back to refresh your memory or lean new shortcuts you haven’t used before.

Are you a Keyboard Kung Fu practitioner? What are your favorite key combos that you use? Leave a comment below and let us know.