20 Essential Windows CMD & Run Commands for Power Users (2025)

Even in 2025, Windows Command Prompt (CMD) and the Run dialog (Win + R) remain indispensable tools for system administrators, IT professionals, and power users. While graphical interfaces continue to improve, CMD and Run commands provide speed, precision, and access to low-level system controls that GUIs often hide.

This guide covers 20 essential commands, grouped by real-world usage scenarios, with explanations and practical examples.

📁 Navigation & File Management

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These commands form the foundation of daily CMD usage for file operations and directory control.

CD (Change Directory)

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Moves between folders.

cd /d D:\Work

• /d allows changing both the drive letter and directory in one command.

DIR (Directory Listing)

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Displays files and folders.

dir /s

• /s recursively lists all subdirectories.
• Combine with | more for long outputs.

MD (Make Directory)

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Creates new folders.

md NewProjects

• Can create nested folders in one step: md A\B\C

RD (Remove Directory)

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Deletes folders.

rd /s /q FolderName

• /s removes subfolders
• /q suppresses confirmation prompts (use carefully)

COPY

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Copies files from one location to another.

copy source.txt D:\Backup\

• For large or recursive copies, consider xcopy or robocopy.

DEL (Delete Files)

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Deletes files.

del *.log

• Supports wildcards (*, ?)
• Cannot recover files once deleted (bypasses Recycle Bin)

🌐 Network & System Information

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These commands are essential for diagnosing connectivity and system-level issues.

IPCONFIG

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Displays network configuration.

ipconfig /all

• Shows IP address, DNS, gateway, and MAC address.

ipconfig /flushdns

• Clears cached DNS entries (useful for website access issues).

PING

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Tests network connectivity and latency.

ping google.com

• Helps diagnose packet loss or unreachable hosts.

CLS (Clear Screen)

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Clears the CMD window.

cls

• Improves readability during long sessions.

🧰 System Management Consoles (.MSC)

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Many advanced Windows tools are accessed via Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, typically launched from Run (Win + R).

SERVICES.MSC

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Service manager.

• Start, stop, or disable Windows services.
• Critical for performance tuning and troubleshooting startup issues.

DISKMGMT.MSC

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Disk Management utility.

• Create, resize, and format partitions.
• Change drive letters and initialize new disks.

LUSRMGR.MSC

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Local Users and Groups.

• Manage local accounts and permissions.
• Available only on Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

DEVMGMT.MSC

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Device Manager.

• Update or roll back drivers.
• Diagnose hardware issues (GPU, network adapters, USB devices).

⚙️ Power, Utilities & Productivity Tools

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These commands provide quick access to core Windows utilities.

SHUTDOWN

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Controls system power state.

shutdown /s /t 0

• Immediate shutdown

shutdown /r /t 60

• Restart after 60 seconds

shutdown /a

• Cancel a scheduled shutdown

EXPLORER

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Launches File Explorer.

explorer .

• Opens the current CMD directory in Explorer.

CLEANMGR

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Disk Cleanup utility.

• Removes temporary files, cache, and system logs.
• Useful before system imaging or upgrades.

NOTEPAD

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Quick text editing.

notepad config.ini

• Ideal for editing config files and logs quickly.

CHARMAP

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Character Map.

• Find and copy special characters like ©, ®, ™, or Unicode symbols.

TASKMGR

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Task Manager.

• Monitor CPU, memory, disk, and GPU usage.
• Terminate frozen applications.

SFC /SCANNOW

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System File Checker.

sfc /scannow

• Scans and repairs corrupted system files.
• Requires Administrator privileges.
• Often paired with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

📊 Quick Reference Table

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🧠 Final Thoughts

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Despite decades of evolution, CMD and Run commands remain irreplaceable for fast diagnostics, automation, and system control. Mastering these essentials can save hours of GUI navigation and provide direct access to Windows internals—making them a must-have skill set for any serious Windows user in 2025.