1/10/2019 30 Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - Make Tech Easier

30 Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know

By Mike Tee – Posted on Jun 2, 2018 in Windows

A quick-and-easy keyboard-only way to run Windows’ wealth of tools is through the

“Run” command. If you know the corresponding Run command of a tool or task, then
you know the quickest way to access said tool or task.

The following is a list of our favorite Run commands to help you be more productive.

Note: Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box, and enter
any of the below commands to access the respective tool.

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List of Run Commands

1. services.msc – When you enter “services.msc” and press the Enter button, it will
open the Windows Services app where you can easily start, stop and con gure other
settings for each and every service individually. It’s quite helpful when you want to
toggle a service.

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2. mstsc – Entering “mstsc” into the Run dialog box opens the Remote Desktop
Connection app which allows you to connect to another Windows computers over
the local network or through the Internet. This helps you use the host computer as
your own.

3. msinfo32 – If you want to quickly get your system information, then the
“msinfo32” command is the way to go. At a glance it will display all the system
details including the hardware resources and software environment.

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4. sdclt – This command opens the Backup and Restore window that allows you to
quickly set a backup schedule or restore any of your previous backups.

5. compmgmt.msc – The Computer Management app is where you can access

almost all the advanced Windows modules like Event Viewer, Shared Folder, System
Tools, etc.

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6. cleanmgr – This command allows you to open the Windows Disk Cleanup utility.
Once opened, simply select the drive your want to clean up and click the “OK” button.

7. eventvwr.msc – Windows Event Viewer is where Windows stores all the

monitoring and troubleshooting messages. You can use this command to quickly
access the Event Viewer application.

8. control – Every Windows user knows a thing or two about the Windows Control
Panel, and using this command you can quickly access the Control Panel with some
stumbling around.

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9. mmc – Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is an advanced Windows module

that is mainly aimed at system administrators and power users, as it sports all the
tools required for con guring and monitoring a Windows system.

10. resmon – Whenever you want to check how your system resources are being
utilized, simply use this Run command, and it displays everything from your CPU to
Dist to Network.

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11. – This is one of the lesser-known Run commands. Just enter the backslash into
the Run dialog box, and it will open up the C drive. It is one of the quickest ways to
access the C drive.

12. . – This is yet another lesser-known Run command. When executed, it opens the
current user’s home folder which hosts all the other local folders like the Downloads,
Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.

13. .. – When you execute these two dots in the Run dialog box, it will open up the
Users folder which is located directly in the C drive.

14. calc – If you want to quickly open the built-in Windows calculator app, typing
calc in the Run dialog box is the easiest way to do it.

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15. cmd – Even Windows users have to deal with the command line sometimes. With
this command you can quickly open the command prompt without administrator
privileges.

16. powershell – If the command prompt is too old for you, then you may want to try
PowerShell. Just type this command in the Run dialog box, and you will have your
PowerShell opened without administrator privileges.

17. netplwiz – The general user accounts option is available through the Control
Panel, but if you want to mess with the advanced user account options, then use this
command to open the Advanced User Accounts window. If you want to deal with the
Authorization Manager, then use the Run command azman.msc .

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18. gpedit.msc – Group Policy Editor in Windows allows you to set and edit different
Windows policies of a local or remote computer. Since Group Policy Editor is an
advanced tool, it is buried deep inside Windows, and this Run command is the
easiest way to access it.

19. lusrmgr.msc – Using this command, you can open the Local Users and Groups
Manager where you can edit several properties of all the users and groups.

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20. mrt – Every month Windows releases a newer version of Microsoft Windows
Malicious Software Removal Tool through the Windows Update. This free tool helps
you in cleaning some of the most popular malicious software from your Windows
computer. This tool runs silently in the background, but if you want to run it manually,
then use this Run command.

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21. ncpa.cpl – Being an Internet user means that you have to deal with occasional (if
not daily) network problems, and one way to troubleshoot your network connection is
by accessing your Network Adapters. To access all your Network Adapters, you can
use this Run command.

22. perfmon.msc – If you want to monitor the performance of your Windows

computer and effects of the programs you run, running Performance Monitor will
provide ample data. You can access the Performance Monitor using this command.

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23. powercfg.cpl – Windows hosts a wide range of power options to deal with your
computer’s power usage, and you can access all those Power Options using this
command.

24. appwiz.cpl – Using this command you can quickly access the Programs and
Features window where you can quickly uninstall your installed programs.

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25. devmgmt.msc – Windows Device Manager is where you can manage all your
hardware devices, and you can use this Run command to quickly access it.
Alternatively, you can also use the command “hdwwiz.cpl.”

26. regedit – Regedit Run command can be used to access the Windows

Registry, which is a hierarchical database that hosts all the con gurations and
settings of an operating system and the installed programs.

27. mscon g – Windows System Con guration is where you can edit different things
like the boot options, startup options, services, etc. You can use this Run command
to access the System Con guration window.

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28. sysdm.cpl – If you ever want to access the System Properties window, then using
this Run command opens it right up.

29. rewall.cpl – If you want to manage or con gure your Windows rewall, then you
can use this Run command to quickly access the Firewall window.

30. wuapp – Last but not least, you can use this command to check, manage and
con gure all your Windows update settings.

As you can see, the Windows Run command is one of the best utilities you can nd in
Windows. Besides the commands shared above that rst come to mind, there are
many other commands to access different parts of Windows. So if you think that we
missed any of your favorite Run commands, do share them in the comments below.

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Comments (22)

 

22 comments
Sean
Mar 2, 2015 at 9:53 pm

I cant understand why services.msc to open the Windows Service Control manager and
taskmgr.exe to get to the task manager are not included and high up on the list.

asdad
Nov 9, 2015 at 7:57 am

just press Ctrl Shift Esc.

Sean
Mar 2, 2015 at 9:55 pm
A ll I l f di d
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1/10/2019 30 Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - Make Tech Easier
Actually I also forgot regedit and regedt32 to get to the registry.

Peter
Mar 3, 2015 at 7:26 am

I would add “MSTSC” for remote desktop connections, maybe not too common with home
users.

Tiara Masters
Mar 4, 2015 at 10:12 am

Sweet!!!

SeniorRookie68
Mar 3, 2015 at 8:35 am

regedit is in the list not the 32.

Geoff
Mar 3, 2015 at 9:23 am

What about “Doskey” once in a command prompt – allows you to repeat previously entered
items during that Command prompt session, handy if you are repeating a number of things .

Tiara Masters
Mar 4, 2015 at 9:49 am

Sweet list and great comments. This is why I love this site

Matt
Apr 17, 2015 at 8:28 am

msinfo32 is also a good one to use for comprehensive system info

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1/10/2019 30 Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - Make Tech Easier

Hellen David
Aug 29, 2015 at 9:06 pm

Hey here is practice about A General Run Command Usually Use In Windows Operating System,
you can refer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgcfRnnM0U

Gnanasudheer
Dec 30, 2015 at 9:32 pm

Tnk u so much

John
Feb 12, 2016 at 8:11 am

There is a command to identify and list “errors & warnings” – but I can’t nd it.

Bruno
Jun 30, 2018 at 2:28 am

You probably meant Reliability Monitor – “perfmon /rel” or just search for the name.

dan
Jun 4, 2018 at 9:17 pm

Are you sure about ‘wuapp’?

It’s not on my Win 10 Pro system.
Dan

Marlon Passial
Aug 27, 2018 at 8:46 am

Hi there MakeTechEasier Gent;

Could you please be so kind to explain these following points to me, because i didn’t see them
nor get the point.

P i 11
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1/10/2019 30 Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - Make Tech Easier
Point 11
Point 12
Point 13

What exactly is the command?

Thank you kindly;)

Marlon;)

CoffeeNerd
Aug 29, 2018 at 2:08 pm

Points 11, 12, & 13 are one or two-character commands: ”, ‘.’, and ‘..’ followed by an Enter.
For each (backslash, period, or two periods), the Windows File Explorer will display a certain
directory as explained in each point.

Iravaathan
Nov 10, 2018 at 11:52 am

please do post more useful things like this.

Idrees Ali
Feb 11, 2019 at 5:20 am

Last command “wuapp” is not working.

Scott Mather
Feb 28, 2019 at 4:29 pm

I would guess you are using Windows 10, then. Not sure why, perhaps due to their auto-
update policy?

tomajo
Mar 7, 2019 at 11:16 pm

S d hi f l RSTRUI
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Some may nd this one useful: RSTRUI ….If your computer is not responding or is sluggish the
command will restore your system les/settings without affecting your personal les. But
recent downloads and drivers might be uninstalled. If you are worried about downloaded apps
or non windows drivers and programs, save them in another folder besides the Download
folder. Here is another one I found useful when I had a print job stuck in the Print queue. Didn’t
know what to do, then found this: C:\DeletePrintJobs.cmd . I only ever used it once, but it was a
life saver at the time ^.^_

Ahruf
Apr 7, 2019 at 9:22 am

How do i use it to shutdown system

Marius Rotundu
May 17, 2019 at 7:27 pm

@Ahruf try “shutdown -s -t 0” , type “shutdown /?” in command console for more info. For
“reboot” command type “shutdown -r -t 0”

Comments are closed.

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