Running a command prompt is simple. However, sometimes it is required to run it as Administrator or Elevated Mode. Because of this, we recommend you always run it as an Administrator. If you've never done it before, see What Is an Elevated Command Prompt and How to Open One. Finally, keep in mind that while these commands are universal, the list is designed to cover every edition and version of Windows, so a small handful may not work on your operating system.

Most commands have built-in help. To use the help, simply type in the command followed by /? For example, to find help for the addusers command, type in addusers /? with a space after the command and before .?

addusers - Used to add and list users in a CSV file
admodcmd - Used for bulk modifying contents in an active directory
arp - Address Resolution Protocol is used to map IP address to the hardware address
assoc - Used to change associations for file extensions
associat - One step file association
at - Run a command at a specific time
atmadm - Display connection info of the ATM adapter
attrib - Used to change file attributes

bcdboot - Used to create and repair a system partition
bcdedit - Used to manage boot configuration data
bitsadmin- Used to manage the Background Intelligent Transfer Service
bootcfg -Used to edit boot configuration in Windows
break - Enable/Disable break capability (CTRL+C) in CMD

cacls - Used to change permissions of files
call - Used one batch program to call another
certreq - Used to request a certificate from a certification authority
certutil - Manage Certification Authority files and services
cd - Used to change folder (directory) or go to a specific one
change - Used to change terminal services
chcp - Displays the number of active console code page
chdir - Same as cd command
chkdsk - Used to check and repair issues in the disk
chkntfs - Used to check the NTFS file system
choice - Accept user input (via keyboard) to a batch file
cipher -Used to encrypt/decrypt files and folder
cleanmgr - Used clean temp files and recycle bin automatically
clip - Copy result of any command (stdin) to Windows clipboard
cls - Clear CMD screen
cmd -Used to start a new CMD shell
cmdkey - Used to manage stored usernames and passwords
cmstp - Used to install or remove a connection manager service profile
color - Change the color of the CMD shell using options
comp - Compare contents of two files or two sets of files
compact - Compress files and folders on an NTFS partition
compress - Compress one or more files
convert - Convert a FAT partition to NTFS
copy - Copy one or more files to another location
coreinfo - Show the mapping between logical and physical processors
cprofile - Cleans specified profiles of wasted space and disabled user-specific file associations
cscmd - Configure offline files on a client computer
csvde - Import or Export the data of an active directory

date - Used to display the date or change it.
defrag - Used to defragment system hard drive.
del - Used to delete a file(s).
delprof - Used to delete user profile(s).
deltree - Used to delete a folder and its sub-folders.
devcon - Access the command line device manager utility.
dir - Used to display files and folders list.
dirquota - Manage File Server Resource Manager quotas.
diruse - Used to display disk usage.
diskcomp - contents of two floppy disks.
diskcopy - Copy data of one floppy disk to another.
diskpart - Make changes to partitions of storage, both internal and connected.
diskshadow - Access the Disk Shadow Copy Service.
diskuse - View used space in folder(s).
doskey - Used to edit command line, recall commands, and create macros.
driverquery - Display a list of installed device drivers.
dsacls - View and edit access control entries for objects in active directory.
dsadd - Used to add objects to active directory.
dsget - View objects in active directory.
dsquery - Find objects in an active directory.
dsmod - Used to modify objects in an active directory.
dsmove - Rename or move an active directory object.
dsrm - Remove objects from an active directory.
dsmgmt - Manage Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services

echo - Turn command-echoing feature on/off, display a message on the screen.
endlocal - End localization environment changes in a batch file.
erase - Used to delete one or more file(s).
eventcreate - Add custom event to Windows event log (Admin rights required).
eventquerry - Display list of events and their properties from event logs.
eventtriggers - Display and configure event triggers on local and remote machines.
exit - Exit the command line (Quit current batch script).
expand - Uncompress one or more CAB file(s)
explorer - Open Windows Explorer.
extract - Uncompress one or more Windows CAB file(s)

fc - Used to compare two files.
find - Used to search a specified text string in a file.
findstr - Used to find string patterns in files.
finger - Display information about the user(s) on a specified remote computer.
flattemp - Used to enable/disable flat temporary folders.
For - Run a command in a loop for a file(s) for the defined parameter.
forfiles - Used for batch processing of selected file(s)
format - Used to format a disk.
freedisk - Used to check free space on a disk.
fsutil - File system utility to manage file and drive properties.
ftp - Use FTP service to transfer files from one PC to another.
ftype - Display/ Modify file extension type associations.

getmac - Used to display the MAC address of your network adapter.
goto - Used to direct a batch program to a line identified by a label.
gpresult - Display Group Policy Settings and Resultant Set of Policy for a user.
gpupdate - Update local and active directory based on group policy settings.
graftabl - Turn on the ability to display an extended character in graphics mode.

help - Display a list of commands and see online information for them.
hostname - Used to display hostname of the computer.

icacls - Used to change permissions of files and folders.
iexpress - Used to create a self-extracting zip archive.
if - Used for conditional processing in batch programs.
ifmember - Display the group(s) an active user belongs to.
inuse - Replace the files which the OS is currently using (restart required).
ipconfig - Display and change Windows IP configuration.
ipseccmd - Used to configure IP Security policies.
ipxroute - Display and modify routing table information used by IPX protocol.
irftp - Used to send files over an infrared link (infrared functionality required).

label - Used to change the name of a disk.
lodctr - Update registry values with latest performance counters.
logman - Used to manage performance monitor logs.
logoff - Log a user off.
logtime - Add the date, time, and a message to a text file.
lpq - Displays print queue status.
lpr - Used to send a file to a computer running the Line Printer Daemon service.

macfile - Manage files server for Mackintosh.
makecab - Used to create .cab files.
mapisend - Used to send email from command line.
mbsacli - Microsoft Baseline Security Analyser.
mem - Used to show memory usage.
md - Used to create directories and sub-directories.
mkdir - Used to create directories and sub-directories.
mklink - Used to create a symbolic link to a directory.
mmc - Access Microsoft Management Console.
mode - Configure COM, LPT, CON system devices.
more - Display one screen of output at a time.
mountvol - Create, list, or delete a volume mount point.
move - Used to move files from one folder to another.
moveuser - Move user account to a domain or between machines.
msg - Used to send a pop-up message to a user.
msiexec - Install, modify, configure using Windows Installer.
msinfo32 - Display system information.
mstsc - Create a remote desktop connection.

nbstat - Display NetBIOS over TCP/IP information.
net - Used to manage network resources and services.
netdom - Network Domain Manager utility
netsh - Display or modify network configuration
netstat - Display active TCP/IP connections.
nlsinfo - Used to display locale information
nltest - List domain controllers, force a remote shutdown, etc.
now - Display date and time.

nslookup - Check IP address on a Name Server.
ntbackup - Backup data to tape using CMD or batch file.
ntcmdprompt - Runs cmd.exe instead of command.exe in an MS-DOS application.
ntdsutil - Manage Active Directory Domain Services
ntrights - Used to edit user account privileges.
ntsd - Only for system developers.
nvspbind - Used to modify network bindings.

openfiles - Queries or displays open files.

pagefileconfig - Display and configure Virtual memory settings.
path - Set PATH environment variable for executable files.
pathping - Latency and Packet loss info for each node in the network path.
pause - Used to stop processing of a batch file.
pbadmin - Starts Phone Book Administrator
pentnt - Detect Floating Point Division error in the Pentium chip.
perfmon - Access performance monitor in CMD
perms - Display a user \'s ACL permissions for a file.
ping - Test network connection to a computer.
popd - Go to the latest path/folder stored by PUSHD command
portqry - Display TCP and UDP port status.
powercfg - To configure power settings and know battery health.
print - Used to print a text file(s) from CMD.
printbrm - For backup/recovery/migration of the print queue.
prncnfg - Used to configure/rename a printing device.
prndrvr - List/add/delete printer drivers.
prnjobs - List/pause/resume/cancel print jobs.
prnmngr - List/add/delete printers, display/set default printer.
prnport - List/create/delete TCP printer ports, display/change port configuration.
prnqctl - Clear printer queue, print a test page.
procdump - Monitor system for CPU spikes, generate a crash report during a spike.
prompt - Used to change the Prompt in CMD.
psexec - Run a CMD process on a remote computer.
psfile - Display remotely opened files, close an open file.
psinfo - List system information about a local/remote machine.
pskill - Kill a process(es) using its name or process ID.
pslist - Display process status and info about active processes.
psloggedon - Active users on a machine.
psloglist - Display event log records.
pspasswd - To change the account password.
psping - Used to measure network performance.
psservice - Display and control services on a machine.
psshutdown - Shutdown/restart/logoff/lock a local or remote machine.
pssuspend - Used to suspend a process on a local or remote computer.
pushd - Change current folder and store the previous folder for use by POPD.

qgrep - Search file(s) for a given string pattern.
query - Display information about processes.

rasdial - Display Remote Access Service Status.
rasphone - Manage RAS connections.
rcp - Copy files to a computer running remote shell service.
recover - Recover readable data from a defective disk.
reg - Display/add/change registry keys and values in Windows registry.
regedit - Import/export/delete settings from a .reg text file.
regsvr32 - Used to register/unregister a DLL file.
regini - Used to change registry permissions.
relog - Export performance counters to other formats like TSV, CSV, SQL.
rem - Add comments in a batch file.
ren - Used to rename a file(s).
replace - Used to replace a file with another file of the same name.
reset session - Used to reset a remote desktop session.
rexec - Run commands on remote machines running Rexec service.
rd - Used to delete a folder(s).
rmdir - Used to delete a folder(s).
rmtshare - Manage file and printer shares local or remote servers.
robocopy - Used to copy files and folders that have changed.
route - Display/change the local IP routing table.
rsh - Run commands on remote servers running RSH service.
rsm - Manage media resources using Removable storage.
runas - Run a program as a different user.
rundll32 - Used to run a DLL program.

sc - Use Service Controller to manage Windows services.
schtasks - Schedule command(s) to run at a specific time.
secedit - Configure system security.
set - Display/set/remove environment variables in CMD.
setlocal - Control visibility of environment variables in a batch file.
setspn - Manage Service Principal Names for an Active Directory service account.
setx - Set Environment Variables permanently.
sfc - System File Checker
share - List/edit a file share or print on any computer.
shellrunas - Used to run a command as a different user.
shift - Change the position of the batch parameters in a batch file.
shortcut - Create a Windows shortcut.
shutdown - Shutdown the computer.
sleep - Put computer to sleep for a specified number of seconds.
slmgr - Software Licensing Management tool for activation and KMS.
sort - Used to sort and display a redirected or piped input.
start - Start a program, command, or batch file.
strings - Find ANSI and UNICODE strings in binary files.
subinacl - Display/modify ACEs for file and folder permissions.
subst - Associate a path with a drive letter.
sysmon - Monitor and log system activity to Windows event log.
systeminfo - Display detailed configuration information about the computer.

takeown - Used to take the ownership of a file.
taskkill - To terminate on or more running processes.
tasklist - A list of running apps and services.
tcmsetup - Enable/disable TAPI client.
telnet - Communicate with a remote machine using TELNET protocol.
tftp - Transfer files to and from a remote machine running TFTP protocol.
time - Display/change system time.
timeout - a batch file execution for specified seconds.
title - Change the text on top of CMD window.
touch - Change file timestamps.

tracerpt - Process event trace logs and generate trace analysis report.
tracert - Traceroute to a remote host by sending ICMP request messages.
tree - Display a folder structure in the form of a graphical tree.
tsdiscon - Terminate a remote desktop connection.
tskill - Terminate a running process on an RD Session Host server.
tssutdn - Shutdown/reboot a terminal server remotely.
type - Show contents of a text file.
typeperf - Write performance data to a CMD window or a log file.
tzutil - Time Zone Utility.

unlodctr - Performance counter names and explanatory text for a service from the registry.

ver - Show version number of installed OS.
verify - Verify whether files are saved correctly on the disk.
vol - Disk volume label and serial number.
vssadmin - Show shadow copy backups, installed shadow copy writers and providers.

w32tm - Access Windows Time Service Utility
waitfor - Used to synchronize events between the networked computer(s).
wevtutil - Retrieve information about event logs and publishers.
where - Find and display file(s) in the current directory.
whoami - Display information about the active user.
windiff - Compare contents of two files or sets of files.
winrm - Windows Remote Management.
winrs - Windows Remote Shell.
wmic - Windows Management Instrumentation Command.
wuauclt - Windows Update Agent to download new update files.

xcalcs - Change ACLs for files and folders.

xcopy - Copy files or directory trees to another folder.