Command Prompt can be used to execute specific commands and perform advanced tasks. If you need to troubleshoot your Windows laptop or computer, you may need to run Command Prompt. Luckily, you can launch CMD using several easy methods. You must have administrator access to run Command Prompt, so you won’t be able to do this on a school computer or other locked device. This wikiHow will show you how to get to and open the Command Prompt (CMD) on your Windows 8, 10, or 11 computer.

[Edit]things you should know

• Open the “Start” menu and type “cmd”. Click on “Command Prompt”.
• Press “Windows” + “R” to open the Run program. Type CMD and press Enter”.
• Open the “Start” menu. Click on the “Windows System” folder to expand it. Click on “Command Prompt”.

[Edit]step

[Edit]Searching for command prompt

1. Open Start. Click on the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen, or press windows key. You can search for Command Prompt on all supported versions of Windows such as Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11.^[1]
   
   • If you’re using Windows 8, place your mouse cursor in the upper-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon that appears.
2. Type or in the Start menu. Typing in the Start menu will automatically start a search.
   
3. Click on Command Prompt. You should see the Command Prompt icon near the top of the Start window. Clicking on its icon will open the command prompt.
   

[Edit]use run program

1. Open Run program. on your keyboard, press windows key + R At the same time. run The window will open.
   
   • Alternatively, you can right-click the Start icon (or press windows , X) and click run,
2. Type in run. This is the command to open the command prompt.
   
3. Click or tap This will run the command “cmd.exe”, which opens Command Prompt.
   
   • Now you will be able to use CMD.

[Edit]Navigating to the Command Prompt

1. Open the Start menu. Click on the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen. you can also press windows key.
   
   • On Windows 11, this can be found in the bottom-center of the screen.
2. Scroll down and click it. it will be near the bottom of the folder Start window.
   
   • click on windows 11 all appsThen windows tools,
3. Click on Command Prompt. it should be near the top windows system folder. This will open the command prompt.
   
   • On Windows 11, it will be at the top windows tools folder.
   • If you are unable to open Command Prompt, you may need to open as administrator.

[Edit]use file explorer

1. Open File Explorer. Click Start menu and type “file explorer”. Click file Explorer to open it.
   
   • If the shortcut is pinned to your taskbar, right-click the icon and click file Explorer to open a new window.
2. Click on the address bar. It’ll be near the top of the window.
   
   • you can see quick access By default in the address bar.
3. Type and press . This will replace any text in the address bar with your new path.
   
   • Command prompt will open.

[Edit]running as administrator

1. Locate Command Prompt. Click Start Menu and type. The search result will appear in the menu.
   
2. Right-click on Command Prompt. A pop-up menu will open.
   
3. Click. You can now use Command Prompt as an administrator, which gives you access to more permissions and commands.
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Advice

• The Command Prompt is a good place to run legacy or specialized software. You can also use this if you are trying to manipulate specific files.

[Edit]Warning

• If you are using a computer with limited access to settings and programs, you may not be able to open Command Prompt.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• run program at command prompt
• Fix Full Screen in Command Prompt (CMD)

[Edit]Reference

[Edit]quick summary