Command Prompt is one of the most useful tools on the Windows operating system, allowing easy system control via the command line. This tool enables users to execute commands that would normally be inaccessible through other means. Lets explore the following common command prompt shortcuts compiled by TipsMake.
Essentially, Command Prompt is based on the use of MS-DOS commands, Microsoft's first operating system and the foundation of subsequent generations of Windows. Command Prompt, also known as CMD, is one of the most useful tools for those who want to explore more of Windows. Even on Windows 10, CMD is still retained; if you are using Windows 10, you can see how to open CMD on Windows 10 with administrator privileges here.
Common keyboard shortcuts in Command Prompt
Opening and closing Command Prompt:
- Windows + X , press the C key : Opens Command Prompt in normal mode (Windows 10).
- Windows + X , press the A key : Opens Command Prompt in Admin mode (Windows 10).
- Windows + R , type CMD : Opens Command Prompt in normal mode.
- Alt + F4 (or type "Exit"): Closes the Command Prompt window.
- Alt + Enter : Switches from full-screen mode to windowed mode.
Text manipulation shortcuts:
- Ctrl + Backspace : Deletes the word to the left of the cursor.
- Tab : Auto-completes the folder name.
- Escape : Deletes the current line.
- Ctrl + C ( Ctrl + Insert ): Copies the selected text.
- F2 + press a letter: Copies the text to the right of the cursor to the letter you type.
- Ctrl + V ( Shift + Insert ): Pastes text from the clipboard.
- Backspace : Deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
- Insert : Toggles insert mode, allowing you to type anything to insert at the current prompt position.
- Ctrl + Home/End : Deletes text from the insertion point at the beginning or end of the current line.
- Ctrl + Z : Marks the end of a line.
Navigation shortcuts:
- Home/End : Move the cursor to the beginning/end of the current line.
- Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow : Move the cursor to the previous/next word in the current line.
- Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow : Scroll the page up or down without moving the cursor.
- Ctrl + M : Access or exit markup mode. In markup mode, you can use the up, down, left, and right arrow keys to move the cursor around the window.
Text selection shortcut:
- Shift + End : Extends the current selection to the end of the line.
- Ctrl + A : Selects all text on the current line. Press again to select all text in the CMD buffer.
- Shift + Left/Right Arrow : Extends the current selection of a character to the left or right.
- Shift + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow : Extends the current selection of a word to the left or right.
- Shift + Up/Down Arrow : Extends the current selection of a line up or down.
- Shift + Home : Extends the current selection to the beginning or end of a command. Press again to include the path in the selection.
- Ctrl + Shift + Home/End : Extends the current selection to the beginning or end of the buffer.
- Shift + Page Up/Page Down : Extends the current selection of a page up or down.
Shortcuts with Command history:
- Alt + F7 : Clear command history.
- F3 : Repeat the previous command.
- Up/Down arrows : Move back and forth between previously used commands.
- F7 : Display the history of previous commands. Alternatively, you can use the up/down arrow keys to select any command, then press
Enter to execute it.
- F8 : Move back to the command history to combine with the current command.
- Ctrl + C : Cancel the current line of input or the command being executed.
The above are basic commands and common keyboard shortcuts in Command Prompt. Hopefully, they will help you in working with CMD and exploring more of CMD in Windows. For those using Windows 8 or 7, you can refer to the following CMD commands, which will help you better understand the CMD command prompt through easy-to-understand examples.