The most useful CMD commands for Windows

The Command Prompt (CMD) looks old-fashioned, but it is still handy for quick troubleshooting. Here are the CMD commands you need most often, with a short explanation. Type cmd in the Start menu to begin. Some commands only work as administrator.

Network

• ipconfig shows your IP address and gateway. ipconfig /all gives all details.
• ipconfig /flushdns clears the DNS cache, useful when a website won't load after a change.
• ping 8.8.8.8 tests whether you have internet.
• tracert google.com shows the route to a server.
• nslookup domain.com looks up DNS records.
• netstat -ano shows open connections with their process ID.

System and repair

• systeminfo shows the Windows version, install date and memory.
• sfc /scannow checks and repairs Windows system files.
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth repairs the Windows image when sfc can't fix the errors.
• chkdsk C: /f checks the disk for errors (often after a restart).
• tasklist and taskkill /IM name.exe /F list and stop processes.
• shutdown /r /t 0 restarts immediately; shutdown /s /t 0 shuts down.

Management and domain

• gpupdate /force applies Group Policy right away.
• gpresult /r shows which policies are active.
• whoami shows which account you are signed in with.
• dsregcmd /status shows whether the PC is joined to Entra ID or a domain.
• winget upgrade --all updates installed apps. See winget in Windows.

Files and folders

• cd, dir, mkdir and copy to navigate and copy.
• robocopy source target /E reliably copies large folders, including subfolders.
• cls clears the screen.

Type /? after a command to see all its options. For managing Microsoft 365, PowerShell is the better choice: see check your PowerShell version and install PowerShell 7.

Read also

Run Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 11 and 10: 6 ways
Install and update software with winget on Windows
How to check your PowerShell version in Windows

Nederlandstalige versie: De meestgebruikte CMD-commando's voor Windows

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