How to Copy Files in Command Prompt

This updated guide examines How to Copy Files in Command Prompt and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Part 1of 3:

Preparing to Copy

1. Find out your file's location. You'll need the file's location—also known as a "directory"—to tell Command Prompt where to look for the file.
   • You can find the file's directory by going to the file's location in File Explorer and then clicking the URL bar near the top of the File Explorer window.
   • Most files will be somewhere in the following directory: [drive letter]:Users[username] (for example, "C:UsersKyle"). This is the directory in which almost every user-created file on your computer is located.
   • A file on your desktop for the above example would be in the "C:UsersKyleDesktop" directory, while a file in the Documents folder would be in the "C:UsersKyleDocuments" directory.
2. Know your file's name. If you want to copy your file, you'll need to know its name. Keep in mind that file names are case-sensitive in Command Prompt, so you'll need to include the proper capitalization.
3. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
4. Type incommand prompt. Doing so will search your computer for the Command Prompt program.
5. ClickCommand Prompt. It's at the top of the Start window. Doing so will open the Command Prompt program.
   • Keep in mind that if you're on a shared computer (e.g., a school or public PC), you may not be able to access the Command Prompt.

Part 2of 3:

Copying Individual Files

1. Enter the "change directory" command. Type incdfollowed by a space, but don't press↵Enter.
2. Type in your file's directory. Enter the directory in which the file that you want to copy is located.
3. Press↵Enter. Doing so will reset Command Prompt to look in the entered directory.
4. Enter the "copy" command. Type incopyfollowed by a space, but don't press↵Enteryet.
5. Enter your file's name. Type in your file's name followed by a space, making sure to include the file's extension (e.g.,.txt) for a text file. Don't press↵Enterafter doing so.
   • If there are spaces in the file's name, you need to put quotation marks around them. For example, a file named "Pickles are Good.txt" would bePickles" "are" "Good.txtin Command Prompt.
6. Enter a destination directory. Type in another directory (e.g.,C:Users[you]Desktopinto which you want to copy the file.
   • If you don't do this, the file will be copied to your user directory (e.g., "C:Users[you]") by default.
7. Press↵Enter. Doing so will copy the file into your indicated directory. You can view the copied file by going to the directory in question in your computer's File Explorer.

Part 3of 3:

Copying a Folder's Contents

1. Go to the folder's directory. Type incdfollowed by a space, then type in the folder's directory and press↵Enter.
   • For example, if you want to copy all of the files inside of a folder called "Example" that's on your desktop, you'd go toC:UsershumpbDesktophere.
2. Enter therobocopycommand. Type inrobocopyand then a space, but don't press↵Enteryet.
3. Enter a folder's name. Type in the name of the folder that you want to copy, then add a space. Again, don't press the↵Enterkey just yet.
   • As with file names, you'll need to use quotes around any spaces in the folder name.
4. Enter a destination. Type in a directory into which you want to copy the folder's files.
   • If there are lots of files in the folder, this can get messy if you copy them into an unorganized folder since the folder itself won't be copied with the files.
5. Press↵Enter. Doing so will copy the contents of the folder into your destination folder.