Windows Run Commands Cheat Sheet

Run commands in Windows are so handy! Anytime you want something, simply type in the command, and it takes only about two seconds to get it. Here is a big list of Run Commands that you can use. This list has 148 of them.

Note that there are asterisks by some of the commands. All of the programs called up by these commands can be accessed from the Run box, the search box in your Start menu, or a command prompt. The ones with the asterisks can only be accessed by using the Run box; you can’t get the files with the search box or command prompt. Also, while most of the commands will work in Windows 8/8.1/10, some of them only run in Windows 7.

Task Name	Run Command
About Windows	winver
Add a Device	devicepairingwizard
Add Hardware Wizard	hdwwiz
Advanced User Accounts	netplwiz
Authorization Manager	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 Printer 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 Network Projector	netproj
Connect to a Projector	displayswitch
Control Panel	control
Create A Shared Folder Wizard	shrpubw
Create a System Repair Disc	recdisc
Credential Backup and Restore Wizard	credwiz
Data Execution Prevention	systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention (remove this)
Default Location	locationnotificationwindows
Device Manager	devmgmt.msc
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
Encrypting File System Wizard	rekeywiz (doesn’t work on Windows 10)
Event Viewer	eventvwr
Fax Cover Page Editor	fxscover
File Signature Verification	sigverif
Getting Started	gettingstarted (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
IExpress Wizard	iexpress
Import to Windows Contacts	wabmig*
iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool	iscsicpl
iSCSI Initiator Properties	iscsicpl
Language Pack Installer	lpksetup
Local Group Policy Editor	gpedit
Local Security Policy	secpol
Local Users and Groups	lusrmgr.msc
Location Activity	locationnotifications (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Magnifier	magnify
Malicious Software Removal Tool	mrt
Manage Your File Encryption Certificates	rekeywiz (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Math Input Panel	mip*
Microsoft Management Console	mmc
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool	msdt
NAP Client Configuration	napclcfg (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Narrator	narrator
New Scan Wizard	wiaacmgr
Notepad	notepad
ODBC Data Source Administrator	odbcad32
ODBC Driver Configuration	odbcconf
On-Screen Keyboard	osk
Paint	mspaint
Performance Monitor	perfmon
Performance Options	systempropertiesperformance
Phone Dialer	dialer
Presentation Settings	presentationsettings (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Print Management	printmanagement (doesn’t work)
Printer Migration	printbrmui (doesn’t work)
Printer User Interface	printui
Private Character Editor	eudcedit
Problem Steps Recorder	psr
Protected Content Migration	dpapimig
Registry Editor	regedit
Remote Access Phonebook	rasphone
Remote Desktop Connection	mstsc
Resource Monitor	resmon
Resultant Set of Policy	rsop (doesn’t work)
Securing the Windows Account Database	syskey
Services	services
Set Program Access and Computer Defaults	computerdefaults
Share Creation Wizard	shrpubw
Shared Folders	fsmgmt.msc
Snipping Tool	snippingtool
Sound Recorder	soundrecorder (doesn’t work in Winows 10)
SQL Server Client Network Utility	cliconfg (doesn’t work)
Sticky Notes	stikynot (doesn’t work)
Stored User Names and Passwords	credwiz
Sync Center	mobsync
System Configuration	msconfig
System Configuration Editor	sysedit (This command doesn’t work in the 64-bit version of Windows.)
System Information	msinfo32
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
Tablet PC Input Panel	tabtip*
Task Manager	taskmgr
Task Scheduler	taskschd.msc
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management	tpm.msc
User Account Control Settings	useraccountcontrolsettings
Utility Manager	utilman
Version Reporter Applet	winver
Volume Mixer	sndvol
Windows Activation Client	slui
Windows Anytime Upgrade Results	windowsanytimeupgraderesults (doesn’t work)
Windows Contacts	wab*
Windows Disc Image Burning Tool	isoburn
Windows DVD Maker	dvdmaker* (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Windows Easy Transfer	migwiz*
Windows Explorer	explorer
Windows Fax and Scan	wfs
Windows Features	optionalfeatures
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security	wf.msc
Windows Help and Support	winhlp32
Windows Journal	journal* (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
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 (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Windows Update Standalone Installer	wusa
WMI Management	wmimgmt.msc
WMI Tester	wbemtest
WordPad	write
XPS Viewer	xpsrchvw (doesn’t work in Windows 10)
Access Screen Resolution page	desk.cpl
Access Mouse properties	main.cpl
Access Windows Action Center	wscui.cpl
Access Network Adapters	ncpa.cpl
Access Power Option	powercfg.cpl
Access the Programs and Features Window	appwiz.cpl
Access the System Properties	sysdm.cpl
Access the Windows Firewall	firewall.cpl
*You cannot run these commands from a command prompt or the search box.

Mahesh Makvana is a freelance tech writer who’s written thousands of posts about various tech topics on various sites. He specializes in writing about Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android tech posts. He’s been into the field for last eight years and hasn’t spent a single day without tinkering around his devices.

www.makeuseof.com

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The Essential Windows Run Commands Cheat Sheet

Access Windows apps, files, settings, and more without taking your hands off the keyboard.

If you want a quick way to launch programs, documents, settings, utilities, and other resources on your Windows machine, look no further than the Run dialog.

You don’t need to learn anything complex to use this built-in feature. Memorizing a few useful commands will do. And you’ll find the best of these Run dialog commands (commonly called Run commands) in our cheat sheet below.

To use a particular command, summon the Run dialog with the shortcut Win + R, type in the command for a particular Windows item, and hit Enter to launch that item.

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download Essential Run Commands for Windows.

Essential Run Commands for Windows

Shortcut	Action
Common Windows Tools
explorer	Windows Explorer
c:	Open C: Drive
regedit	Registry Editor
services.msc	Windows Services (local)
taskmgr	Task Manager
msconfig	System Configuration Utility
mstsc	Remote Desktop (Microsoft Terminal Services Client)
logoff	Log Off Windows (without confirmation!)
shutdown	Shuts Down Windows (Save all your work first)
cmd	Command Prompt
notepad	Notepad
osk	On Screen keyboard
mailto:	Open Default Mail Application
Website address	Open entered URL in default browser
Other Windows Tools & Utilities
calc	Calculator
chkdsk	Check Disk
charmap	Character Map
cleanmgr	Clean Manager — Disk Cleanup Utility
clipbrd	Clipboard Viewer (not available after Windows XP)
cmd	Command Prompt
comp	Compare Files
colorcpl	Color Management
cttune	ClearType Text tuner
dxdiag	Direct X Troubleshooter
eudcedit	Private Characters Editor
fonts	Fonts
fsquirt	Bluetooth Transfer Wizard
ftp	MS-DOS FTP
iexplore	Internet Explorer
joy.cpl	Game Controllers
label	Volume Serial Number for C:
magnify	Windows Magnifier
microsoft-edge://	Edge
migwiz	Migration Wizard — Files and Settings Transfer Tool
mip	Math Input Panel
mrt	Malicious Software Removal Tool
msiexec	Windows Installer Details
msinfo32	System Information
mspaint	Paint
narrator	Narrator
powershell	Powershell
shrpubw	Create a shared folder Wizard
sigverif	File Signature Verification Tool
sndvol	Volume Control
snippingtool	Snipping Tools
stikynot	Sticky Notes
utilman	Narrator Settings
verifier	Driver Verifier Utility
was	Contacts
wf.msc	Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
wfs	Windows Fax and Scan
wiaacmgr	Scanner
winver	Windows Version (Check your Windows version)
wmplayer	Windows Media Player
write	WordPad
xpsrchvw	XPS Viewer
winword	Word
Word /safe	Word Safe Mode
Control Panel Commands
appwiz.cpl	Application Wizard (Program and Features)
control	Control Panel
control admintools	Administrative Tools
control color	Personalization — Color and Appearance
control desktop	Display Properties (Personalization)
control folders	Folders Properties
control keyboard	Keyboard Properties
control mouse	Mouse Properties
control netconnections	Network Properties
control printers	Printers Folders
control schedtasks	Scheduled Tasks
control update	Windows Update
control userpasswords	Manager current User Account
control userpasswords2	Manager all User Accounts
desk.cpl	Display — Screen Resolution
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager
firewall.cpl	Windows Firewall
inetcpl.cpl	Internet Properties (Internet Control Panel)
intl.cpl	Regional Settings (International)
mmsys.cpl	Sound Properties (Multimedia System Settings)
ncpa.cpl	Network Properties
netplwiz	To create User Account
powercfg.cpl	Power Configuration
sysdm.cpl	System Properties
timedate.cpl	Date and Time Properties
utilman	Ease of Access Utility Manager
wscui.cpl	Security Center (Windows Security Center UI)
Windows Administrative Tools
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management including System Tools, Storage, Services and Applications
defrag	Defrag Command
dcomcnfg	Component Services (Detailed Component Configuration)
devmgmt.msc	Device Management
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Partition Manager
diskpart	Diskpart Command
eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer
fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders (File Sharing Management)
gpedit.msc	Group Policy Editor
lusrmgr.msc	Local User and Groups
perfmon.msc	Performance Monitor
rekeywiz	File Encryption
System File Checker Utility
sfc /scannow	System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately)
sfc /scanonce	System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot)
sfc /scanboot	System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot)
sfc /revert	System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Settings)
sfc /purgecache	System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache)
sfc /cachesize=x	System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to Size x)
Common Environment Variables
%AllUsersProfile%	Program Data
%ProgramFiles%	Program Files
%SystemDrive%	System Drive
%SystemRoot%	System Root
%Temp%	Temporary Folder
%UserProfile%	User Profile
%WinDir%	Windows Directory

A Powerful, Underrated Windows Feature

Run commands are time saving and easy to use, and also a satisfying way to access Windows items using only the keyboard.

Don’t worry if you can’t remember certain useful commands you need. You can replace them with custom command names that are more memorable. We’ll show you how to do that in our Run Dialog primer.

And speaking of useful commands, it’s now time to discover some of the best Windows CMD commands.