Open Command Prompt in Windows 11 or 10

There are a few ways, but using the search bar on the taskbar is one quick method.

Open Command Prompt Through the Start Menu Folder

Another way to open Command Prompt in Windows 10 is to look in its Start menu folder: If you’re using the latest version of Windows 11, Command Prompt will open within Terminal.

Open Command Prompt Using Power User Menu

One more method is through the Power User Menu. If you’re using a keyboard or mouse, choose Terminal (Windows 11) or Command Prompt (Windows 10) from the menu that appears after pressing Win+X or right-clicking the Start button.

Open Command Prompt in Windows 8 or 8.1

You’ll find Command Prompt in Windows 8 through the Apps screen.

Open Command Prompt in Windows 7, Vista, or XP

In these versions of Windows, Command Prompt is found through a folder group in the Start menu. Prior to the Windows 8.1 update, the Apps screen can be accessed from the Start screen by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, or right-clicking anywhere, and then choosing All apps.

Other Ways to Open Command Prompt

Command Prompt in Windows 11 through Windows XP can also be opened with a command. This is especially helpful if you like using the Run dialog box or if File Explorer has crashed and the Start menu is inaccessible (and thus the directions above don’t work). To do this, enter cmd into the command-line interface. This can be in the Run dialog box (WIN+R) or Task Manager’s Run new task option (go to File > Run new task if you’re not using Windows 11).

Elevated Command Prompts and Old Windows Versions

In versions of Windows released before Windows XP, like Windows 98 and Windows 95, Command Prompt doesn’t exist. However, the older and very similar MS-DOS Prompt does. This program is located in the Start menu and can be opened with the command run command. Some commands, like the sfc command that’s used to repair Windows files, require that Command Prompt be opened as an administrator before they can be executed. You’ll know if this is the case if you get a message like one of these after trying to execute the command:

check that you have administrative rights… command can only be executed from an elevated command promptyou must be an administrator