List of Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Command Prompt in Windows

Many times power users, administrators and developers use Command Prompt in Windows to execute various commands. Today in this topic, we are going to put a comprehensive list of all useful keyboard shortcuts for Command Prompt which can help you in executing the commands quickly and easily.

If you have run commands in a Command Prompt window, you can press “Up” key to cycle through them. Press “Down” key to go the next command.

Pressing “F5” key also does the same job.

If you type a character and press “Tab” key, it’ll automatically fill the matching file/folder name present in the current directory. You can cycle through all matching names by pressing “Tab” key continuously.

If you press “Right” key or “F1” key, it’ll start typing characters from the previously executed command one by one.

If you want to copy certain number of characters from previously executed command, you can press “F2” key. It’ll ask the character name to copy up to, type the character name and press Enter.

For example, you executed CD Windows command. Now if you press “F2” key and type o when it asks for “Enter char to copy up to“, it’ll automatically copy and fill CD Wind in Command Prompt.

If you type a command but don’t want to execute it, simply press “Esc” key and it’ll erase the typed line.

You can automatically fill the previously executed command by pressing “F3” key. When you press “F3” key, it repeats the last command.

You can press “F7” key to get a list of all previously executed commands and then you can use Up or Down arrow keys to cycle though them. Press Enter to execute the selected command.

Its similar to “F7” key. You just need to remember the number of a previously executed command, press “F9” key and it’ll ask “Enter command number“. Type the command number and press Enter and it’ll execute the command.

Type a few characters and press “F8” key and it’ll automatically fill the matching command. Keep pressing “F8” key will cycle though all matching commands.

You can clear the whole command history by pressing “Alt” and “F7” keys together.

Click on Start ORB and type cmd in search box. Now press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys together and it’ll open an elevated Command Prompt window i.e. Command Prompt as Administrator.