34 common shortcuts on Windows Command Prompt

Command Prompt is one of the extremely useful tools on Windows operating system. This tool allows users to access all the commands that users cannot access in other ways.

In essence, Windows Command Prompt is based on the use of many keyboards, including handy shortcuts.

34 common shortcuts on Windows Command Prompt Picture 1

1. Shortcuts open and close Command Prompt

34 common shortcuts on Windows Command Prompt Picture 2

Here are some ways to open or close the Command Prompt with the shortcut:

- Press Windows (or Windows + R) then enter CMD into the Run: command window. Open Command Prompt in normal mode.

- Press Windows + X then press C: Open Command Prompt in normal mode (new shortcut on Windows 10).

- Press Windows + X , then press A : Open Command Prompt under Admin (new shortcut on Windows 10).

- Alt + F4 (or enter exit on the Command Prompt window): Close Command Prompt.

- Alt + Enter : Convert from full screen mode to window mode.

2. Shortcuts move on Command Prompt

Instead of using the mouse to manipulate, move on the Command Prompt window, you can use the shortcut to manipulate faster, save more time.

- Home / End key: Move the prompt to the beginning / end in the current line.

- Ctrl + left / right arrow : Move the prompt to the beginning or end of the previous word in the current line.

- Ctrl + up / down arrow keys : Scroll the page up or down without moving the prompt.

- Ctrl + M: access or exit Mark Mode (bookmark mode). When in Mark Mode you can use 4 up, down, left and right arrow keys to move the cursor around the window. Note that you can use the left / right arrow keys to move the prompt, even though Mark Mode is on or off.

3. Shortcuts select text

34 common shortcuts on Windows Command Prompt Picture 3

- Ctrl + A: Select all text on the current line. Press Ctrl + A again to select all text on CMD buffer (CMD Buffer).

- Shift + Left / right arrow: Expand the current selection of a left or right character.

- Shift + Ctrl + left / right arrow : Expand the current selection of one from the left or right.

- Shift + Up / down arrow: Expand the current selection of one line up or down.

- Shift + Home: Expand the current selection to start a command.

Press Shift + Home again to add the paths (eg C: Windows System32) in the selection.

- Shift + End: Expand the current selection to the end of the line.

- Ctrl + Shift + Home / End: Expand the current selection to the top or bottom of the screen buffer (respectively).

- Shift + Page Up / Page Down : Expand the current selection of a page up or down.

4. Shortcuts to manipulate text

34 common shortcuts on Windows Command Prompt Picture 4

- Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert): Copy the text you are selecting.

- Press F2 then press a letter: Copy the text to the right of the insertion point to the letter you entered.

- Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert): Paste text from clipboard.

- Backspace key: Delete the character to the left of the insertion point.

- Ctrl + Backspace: Delete the word on the left of the insertion point.

- Tab key: Automatically complete the folder name.

- Escape key: Delete the current line of text.

- Insert key: Switch to Insertion Mode, allowing you to type anything to insert into the current position of the prompt.

- Ctrl + Home / End: Delete text from the insertion point at the beginning or end of the current line.

- Ctrl + Z: Mark the end of a line.

5. Shortcut operation with Command history

Command Prompt saves the history of all the commands you typed from the beginning of the current session so that you can easily access the previous commands and save them.

- F3 key: Repeat the previous command.

- Up / down arrow keys: Move back and forward through the previous commands you entered in the current session.

Alternatively you can press the F5 key instead of using the up and down arrow keys to move backwards on the command history.

- Right arrow key (or F1 key): Show the previous command characters in characters.

- F7 key: Displays the history of previous commands. Alternatively, you can use the up / down arrow keys to select any command, then press Enter to execute the command.

- Alt + F7: Delete command history.

- F8 key: Move back to the command history to pair with the current command.

- Ctrl + C: Remove the current line you are entering or cancel an existing command.

Refer to some of the following articles:

If you want to master Windows, master these shortcuts

Shortcuts to start Windows 10 in Hibernate mode or quickly turn off

The 10 most useful keyboard shortcuts anyone should memorize

Good luck!

Samuel Daniel

Update 26 May 2019

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