How to: Open Command Prompt in Windows


Instructions

Jump to: Run Command Prompt as administrator

Run Command Prompt

Method A: Run dialog box
  1. Open the "Run" dialog box.

  2. Type cmd. Then, click OK or press Enter.

    the run dialog box saying Type the name of a program, folder, document, or internet resource and Windows will open it for you. with a open field with cmd typed inside and the ok option below highlighted

    Jump to: Outcome
Method B: Start menu search
  1. Click the Start button.

    The Start button on the taskbar highlighted

  2. In the search field, type command prompt, but do not press Enter. In the list of search results that appears, click Command Prompt.

    in the windows start menu, command prompt is typed in the search bar and the command prompt app highlighted in the search results

    Jump to: Outcome

Run Command Prompt as administrator

  1. Click the Start button.

    The Start button on the taskbar highlighted

  2. In the search field, type command prompt, but do not press Enter.

    in the windows start menu, command prompt is typed in the search bar and the command prompt app highlighted in the search results

  3. In the list of search results that appears, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

    the command prompt app selected after being right clicked on, the drop down menu has the run as administrator option highlighted

  4. If prompted about User Account Control, click Yes.

    User account control window asking Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device? with the yes option highlighted

Outcome

The Command Prompt application is open.

the command prompt application window