10 Basic CMD Commands on Windows 11

Edmund_McGowan · 5:25AM

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Welcome back to the corner. While we often talk about computing power in terms of the ability of a computer to perform tasks or process data, today we’re taking a path less trodden. How about giving you, the PC user, a direct line of control over your operating system via CMD prompt commads? CMD commands are used to execute a range of precise tasks that directly manage files, run programs, and troubleshoot network issues and system errors.

If CMD prompt commands sound powerful, that’s because they are! CMD, short for Command Prompt, is actually one of the most formidable tools on your Windows PC. They allow you to interact directly with the OS, without getting muddled up in the graphical user interface. While Windows has over 280 CMD commands, today we’ll cover 10 must-know commands. In this article, we’ll show you how to use CMD commands, and even throw in a few CMD commands for fixing the drive.

Last, but not least, you may have arrived here wondering what are CMD commands to clean a computer? Fear not, for we’ll also provide you with the CMD command to run the System File Checker tool.

What are CMD commands?

Simply put, CMD commands are inbuilt programs, or instructions that run through the Windows Command Prompt. This is a command-line interpreter providing users with direct access to the core functions of the operating system. CMD commands range from fundamental system admin tasks such as copying files, to advanced utilities that expert users and IT pros may require for system diagnostics and configuration. Master CMD commands, and you’ll be able to directly instruct your OS to execute various commands including the automation of certain tedious, time-consuming tasks.

How to use CMD commands

A quick internet search will provide you with a list of more CMD commands than you can shake a metaphorical stick at. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should command your OS willy-nilly! Indeed, similar to learning any new skill, it pays to begin at the beginning, and with CMD commands that means the basic commands that we’ll cover shortly.

To use CMD commands, you must first access Windows Command Prompt. To do this, simply search in the start menu:

Click the taskbar
Type “cmd” or “command prompt” in the search bar (note that CMD commands are not case sensitive)
Select Command Prompt

Alternatively, if you’re born to run and would rather avoid the start menu, to access the Windows Command Prompt via Run:

Hit Windows + R to open the Run box
Type “cmd” and press Enter

If you’re accessing as an administrator, you’ll want to exercise your elevated privileges in order to execute system-level commands. To do this, follow either of the above approaches, but don’t just open Command Prompt, instead you should right-click it and choose Run as administrator. Once you’ve opened the command Prompt, you can type to your heart’s content and interact directly with your OS.

10 must use basic CMD commands

ipconfig: Displays network configuration details like IP address, subnet mask, and default gateways for all your network adapters. Use this command to troubleshoot network issues, as well as view network connection info and resetting your IP address.

ping: A handy troubleshooter, ping checks the connectivity to a specific IP address or website. By sending small data packets to the target address and measuring the time taken for responses, ping tests if a device is reachable and checks for network latency.

dir: For a list of files and directories in the current folder, dir is a no-brainer. This CMD command is useful for organizing your files in the command line and viewing the contents of a directory including names, file size and dates of modification.

cd: Smooth navigations between directories and file organization are the name of the cd game. Change the current directory by entering cd and then the folder path to move through directories in the file system.

copy: As the command suggests, copy duplicates files from one location to another. A rapid, failsafe way to back up your data and get organized, simply type the command followed by the source file and destination path, and there you have it!

del: Short for, you’ve guessed it, delete, del removes files from a specified directory, without sending them to the purgatory of the recycle bin. del means business, and permanently removes files, a useful command for general housekeeping and file management.

tasklist: similar to Task Manager, tasklist shows you a list of all running tasks and processes on your PC. A great tool for monitoring system performance and sorting out troublesome running processes, tasklist displays memory usage, executable names and process IDs.

shutdown: Sometimes you’ve just got to turn off the machine, or restart it with shutdown/r. This command can also be used to log off from the computer by typing the command followed by /l.

chkdsk: Checks hard drive disks for errors and attempts to repair them. By scanning the disk for bad sectors, file system integrity and logical errors, chkdsk is all about ensuring data integrity. This is a priceless maintenance tool that can resolve a range of issues and optimize disk performance.

sfc /scannow: The system file checker scans and repairs corrupted system files. After checking the integrity of Windows system files, sfc /scannow replaces any corrupted ones with cached copies safely stored in the system. For stability and getting to the bottom of app crashes and system errors, sfc /scannow is a skilled worker on call 24/7 for PC system maintenance.

Final command

That’s about it for today’s adventure into the world of CMD commands on Windows. Find a few minutes to experiment with the CMD commands we covered to discover how they can benefit your relationship with your OS and your PC! We recommend the 10 basic commands covered in this article as a starting point for your CMD command journey. If you’re curious about taking the plunge and discovering more CMD commands, here is the source of command knowledge, courtesy of the creator, Microsoft.