[Windows Tip] Master List of All Commands to Use Command Prompt Like a Pro

Most of us use Windows operating system in our computers but very few of us are aware of Command Prompt program which comes bundled with Windows OS. Command Prompt is also known by various other names, some of them are MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), Command Shell, Windows Shell, Console, Command Line, CMD, CLI, etc.

When there was no GUI (Graphical User Interface) present in Microsoft’s operating system, only MS DOS existed which provided only command line interface. Later it was included as Command Prompt with Windows operating system which provided a GUI to the end users (like program windows, menus, dialog box, buttons, etc).

Command Prompt allows users to interact with the operating system by executing built-in commands. You just need to launch Command Prompt window which can be done by selecting Command Prompt shortcut from Start Menu or by using CMD command in RUN dialog box. After that you can type commands and press Enter key to perform various tasks. There are several commands provided by Command Prompt which can be used by users. You can manage hard disk partitions, manage files and folders (such as create, copy, move, delete files and folders), manage boot loader, run hard disk scan, manage networking and so on.

Command Prompt provides so many commands to users which can be used to perform several system as well as normal tasks and activities which can also be done using the graphical user interface. Command Prompt is mainly used by system administrators and sometimes it might be used to perform troubleshooting tasks when your Windows is not bootable and you have to repair it.

In good ol’ days of Windows 98, when we had to install Windows in computers, we had to use Command Prompt window to create/format partitions (remember fdisk command?) and to run Windows setup installer program. So a good knowledge of Command Prompt was required to be able to install and manage Windows OS in those old days. Now-a-days installing newer Windows versions is very easy and doesn’t require any knowledge of CLI (Command Line Interface).

So you see Command Prompt program is very useful and everyone should have at least some basic knowledge of this program like how to use it and how to execute important commands, etc.

Command Prompt provides a command Help which can be used to get a list of available commands but the list is not complete, only a few important commands are listed. Also if you want to learn more about a command, you can use /? after command name to get information about the command, for example xcopy /? will show information about xcopy command.

If you want to learn more about Command Prompt and its commands, Microsoft has provided a master list of all available commands to public.

Microsoft has released a PDF document named “ws-commands.pdf” and titled as “Windows Commands” which contains total of 948 pages and lists all available commands (total 260 commands) which can be used in Command Prompt window.

This document might help you in using Command Prompt like a Pro. You might be already aware of some commands listed in the document such as bcdedit, copy, diskcopy, edit, find, move, rd, xcopy, etc.

This official document is very useful. It provides complete information about every command such as use of command, list of all parameters which can be used with the command, examples, remarks, etc. So learning all commands with the help of this document is very easy.

It also lists commands which can be used to create a batch script to automate tasks.

The document mentions that the information is applicable to Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server operating systems only. But most of the commands will work in all Windows versions such as Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

So if you want to master Command Prompt in Windows OS and want to use Command Prompt like a professional, download the official PDF file from following link:

Download PDF Document Containing Master List of All Commands in Command Prompt

For your convenience, we are also listing all available commands for Command Prompt in a table format:

append	arp	assoc	at	atmadm
attrib	auditpol	autochk	autoconv	autofmt
bcdboot	bcdedit	bdehdcfg	bitsadmin	bootcfg
break	cacls	call	cd	certreq
certutil	change	chcp	chdir	chglogon
chgport	chgusr	chkdsk	chkntfs	choice
cipher	clip	cls	Cmd	cmdkey
cmstp	color	comp	compact	convert
copy	cprofile	cscript	date	dcgpofix
defrag	del	dfsrmig	diantz	dir
diskcomp	diskcopy	diskperf	diskraid	diskshadow
dispdiag	Dnscmd	doskey	driverquery	echo
edit	endlocal	erase	eventcreate	eventquery
eventtriggers	Evntcmd	exit	expand	extract
fc	find	findstr	finger	flattemp
fondue	for	forfiles	format	freedisk
fsutil	ftype	fveupdate	getmac	gettype
goto	gpfixup	gpresult	gpupdate	graftabl
help	helpctr	hostname	icacls	if
inuse	ipconfig	ipxroute	irftp	jetpack
klist	ksetup	Ksetup:delkdc	ktmutil	ktpass
label	lodctr	logman	logoff	lpq
lpr	macfile	makecab	manage-bde	mapadmin
Md	mkdir	mklink	mmc	mode
more	mount	mountvol	move	mqbkup
mqsvc	mqtgsvc	msdt	msg	msiexec
msinfo32	mstsc	nbtstat	netcfg	netsh
netstat	Net print	nfsadmin	nfsshare	nfsstat
nlbmgr	nslookup	ntbackup	ntcmdprompt	ntfrsutl
openfiles	pagefileconfig	path	pathping	pause
pbadmin	pentnt	perfmon	ping	pnpunattend
pnputil	popd	PowerShell	PowerShell_ise	print
prncnfg	prndrvr	prnjobs	prnmngr	prnport
prnqctl	prompt	pubprn	pushd	pushprinterconnections
qappsrv	qprocess	query	quser	qwinsta
rcp	rd	rdpsign	recover	reg
regini	regsvr32	relog	rem	ren
rename	repair-bde	replace	reset session	rexec
risetup	rmdir	robocopy	route_ws2008	rpcinfo
rpcping	rsh	rundll32	rwinsta	schtasks
Scwcmd	secedit	serverceipoptin	Servermanagercmd	setlocal
setx	sfc	shadow	shift	showmount
shutdown	sort	start	subst	sxstrace
sysocmgr	systeminfo	takeown	tapicfg	taskkill
tasklist	tcmsetup	telnet	tftp	time
timeout	title	tlntadmn	tpmvscmgr	tracerpt
tracert	tree	tscon	tsdiscon	tsecimp
tskill	tsprof	type	typeperf	tzutil
unlodctr	ver	verifier	verify	vol
waitfor	wbadmin	wdsutil	wecutil	wevtutil
where	whoami	winnt	winnt32	winpop
winrs	wlbs	wmic	wscript	xcopy

 

Also check out our exclusive list of useful keyboard shortcuts for Command Prompt given at following link:

List of Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Command Prompt in Windows