DOS/Command Prompt Reference

This page includes 100 or more command references for MS-DOS Prompt and Windows Command Prompt. Some command references have samples for the prompt and the batch files.

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Command list

Please also see ‘List of commands by purpose’.

Commands/Programs
A B C D E F G H IJKL MNO P Q R S TUV W XYZ
A
Adddrv	[DOS][W9x]Loads character device files into the current session.
Append	[DOS]Configures files in the specified directory to be treated as if they exist in the current directory.
Assoc	Displays or modifies file associations.
Attrib	Displays or changes file/directory attributes.
B
Break	[DOS]Changes the configuration for handling Ctrl+C input during file access and similar operations.
C
Call	Executes a batch program from a batch program without terminating. Or executes subroutines.
Cd	Changes the current directory.
Chcp	Displays/changes the code page for the current session.
Chdir	Changes the current directory.
Chev	[DOS][W9x]Switches the language (mode) for the current session.
Chkdsk	Conducts a disk check.
Chkntfs	Schedules volume check for the next startup.
Choice	Displays choices on the screen and prompts for input.
Clip	Copies the provided input to the clipboard.
Cls	Clears all output in the screen.
Cmd	Executes the Windows Command Interpreter (Command Prompt).
Color	Changes the prompt color.
Command	[DOS][W9x]Executes the MS-DOS command interpreter (MS-DOS prompt).
Comp	Compares files in binary.
Compact	Manages the compression status of files on NTFS.
Convert	Converts a volume with FAT/FAT32 file system to NTFS.
Copy	Copies the file(s).
Curl	Performs data transfer using URLs.
D
Date	Displays and changes the system date.
Del	Deletes the file(s).
Deldrv	[DOS][W9x]Unloads character device files that have been loaded into the current session.
Deltree	[DOS][W9x]Deletes the directory tree (directory and files/directories in its directory).
Dir	Displays the file list in the directory.
Diskcomp	Compares the (floppy) disks.
Diskcopy	Copies the (floppy) disk.
Doskey	Configures input assistance settings for the prompt.
E
Echo	Outputs text to the screen. Also toggles prompt display.
Endlocal	Ends localization of environment changes.
Erase	Deletes the file(s).
Exit	Exits the prompt, batch programs, or subroutines.
Expand	Expands files compressed in a specific format.
F
Fc	Compares files.
Find	Searches for the string from the file.
Findstr	Searches for the string from the file. More advanced search options than Find are available.
For	Executes a command for each files or texts matching with the specified pattern.
Forfiles	Executes a command on files/directories located under the specified directory.
Format	Formats a drive.
Ftp	Connects to the FTP server and performs file transfers.
Ftype	Manages the file types used in file associations.
G
Goto	Moves execution to the specified label in batch files.
H
Help	Displays the command's help.
Hostname	Outputs the hostname for the computer on which the Hostname program is executed to the screen.
I
Icacls	Displays or changes Access Control List (ACL).
If	Executes a command when specified condition is met.
Ipconfig	Performs operations related to network adapters and IP addresses.
L
Label	Displays or changes the volume label of a drive.
Lh	[DOS]Loads a resident program into upper memory.
Loadhigh	[DOS]Loads a resident program into upper memory.
M
Md	Creates a new directory.
Mem	[DOS]Outputs the memory usage status of resident programs.
Mkdir	Creates a new directory.
Mklink	Creates a symbolic link, a hard link, etc.
Mode	Configures devices such as CON, COMn, etc.
More command	Displays the long output per screen.
Mountvol	Manages volume drive assignments.
Move	Moves the file(s).
O
Openfiles	Checks and closes open files among those shared remotely.
P
Path	Displays or changes the path(s) to search for programs.
Pause	Stops (pauses) the execution and prompts for any key input.
Popd	Restores Pushd's directory change just before.
Print	Prints (sends) text to the printer.
Prompt	Sets/changes the prompt display.
Pushd	Changes the current directory. The current directory can be restored by calling Popd.
Q
Qbasic	[DOS]Launches MS-DOS QBasic.
R
Rd	Deletes the directory.
Recover	Attempts to recover (restore) the file.
Reg	Operates on the Windows Registry.
Rem	Does nothing. Used for writing comments in batch files.
Ren	Changes the name of the file.
Rename	Changes the name of the file.
Replace	Replaces files in a specified directory with files from another directory.
Rmdir	Deletes the directory.
Robocopy	Copy files and directories using the specified conditions.
Runas	Runs the program with a user and privileges different from the current user.
S
Scandisk	[DOS][W9x]Performs a check on the disk (drive) and repair the file system.
Schtasks	Manages tasks, which execute programs at specific timings.
Set	Displays or modifies environment variables.
Setlocal	Begins localization of environment changes, making environment variable changes or etc. temporary.
Setver	[DOS][W9x]Manages the MS-DOS version table and changes the MS-DOS version presented to a specific program.
Setx	Adds or modifies values in user-specific/system-wide environment variable settings.
Shift	Shifts parameters, specified to the batch program, and enables to use 10 or more parameters.
Shutdown	Shuts down or restarts the computer.
Sort	Sorts each line of input data and prints the result.
Start command	Launches the program or executes the default processing for the file.
Subst	Assigns a specific directory to a virtual drive.
Switch	[DOS]Switches the language environment of MS-DOS.
Sys	[DOS][W9x]Copies files for an MS-DOS boot disk to a drive.
Systeminfo	Displays system information.
T
Takeown	Sets the owner of the file/directory to the current user.
Taskkill	Terminates the currently running program.
Tasklist	Displays a list of currently running programs.
Time	Displays and changes the system time setting.
Timeout	Waits for a specified duration (waiting for input).
Title	Changes the title of the prompt window.
Tree	Displays subdirectories (or files) in the tree format.
Tskill	Forcefully terminates the running process (program).
Type	Outputs the file content.
Tzutil	Displays or changes the time zone setting.
V
Ver	Prints the version of MS-DOS or Windows.
Verify	Sets whether to verify writing a file to a disk.
Vol	Displays the volume label and volume serial number.
W
Waitfor	Sends/receives signals to wait for.
Where	Searches for files that match the pattern and outputs their locations.
Whoami	Outputs the username, group names, and permissions based on the current session.
X
Xcopy	Copies files and directories.

* Command is an internal command, Command is an external command (program).
* Command is treated as an internal command only in Command Prompt and batch files running under Command Prompt environments.

Pipe/redirection symbols
\|	[Pipe] Passes the output of the left command as input to the right command.
<	[Input redirection] Passes specified file contents as input to the command.
>	[Output redirection] Writes the output of the command to the specified file.
>>	[Append redirection] Appends the output of the command to the specified file.

Special characters/symbols, device file name etc.
* Please see also ‘Pipe/redirection symbols’.
@	Suppresses echo-back of commands in batch files.
:	Defines a label in batch files.
;	Used to write comments in Config.sys file.
%	Used to retrieve values of environment variables and batch program parameters.
!	Used for the delayed environment variable expansion.
^	Treats the following character as a regular character. Or treats multiple lines as one-line command line.
&	Executes two or more commands in a row.
\|\|	Used to execute the another command when the command fails.
&&	Used to execute the another command when the command succeeds.
( )	Treats multiple commands like one command.
*	Represents ‘any string of length 0 or more’ as a wildcard character.
?	Represents ‘any single character’ as a wildcard character.
CON	A device file of ‘console’.
NUL	A device file of ‘an empty file’
AUX	A device file used to communicate with the device through the default serial port.
COMn	A device file used to communicate with the device through the serial port corresponding to the specified number.
PRN	A device file used to communicate with the device (printer) through the default parallel port.
LPTn	A device file used to communicate with the device through the parallel port corresponding to the specified number.

Common environment variables
COMSPEC	Contains the path to the command interpreter.
PATH	Contains the path(s) to search for programs when executing.
PATHEXT	Contains a list of extensions to attempt when an extension is omitted.
PROMPT	Contains the prompt setting.
TEMP	Contains the path to the directory used for temporary data.
TMP	Contains the path to the directory used for temporary data.

Notes

On this site, ‘Windows NT series’ means Windows NT/2000/XP or later environments or ‘cmd.exe’ environments (Not all Windows versions are researched). ‘command.com’ environment may be differ from ‘cmd.exe’ environment.

DOS/Command Prompt Reference

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Command list

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