The Ultimate Windows Run Commands List & Tricks

What is the easiest and fastest way to run or open something in Windows? Of course using the Run command. If you know Windows Run Commands for things you use frequently, you don’t have to navigate through menus and search for it: Imagine how much time it it would save you! Using Run commands is the fastest way to open programs, files, folders and websites too.
Windows run commands

How to Use a Run Command?

There are multiple ways you can use Windows Run commands.
1. Yo can simply press Windows+R key and type the command.
2. In Windows 8 it’s even easier, you have to only press Windows key to see the Start Screen and start typing. In fact in modern Windows, Run is replaced by Start Screen which serves as a multi-purpose tool.
3. You can also use a Run command in Command Prompt window.
4. You can also create a shortcut file for a command by right clicking in a folder or desktop and choose New -> Shortcut. (I noticed that this doesn’t work for some commands)
5. You can also press Windows+X to see Windows Power User menu and choose ‘Run’. (for Windows 8.1)

Twin Article:
The Most Useful Windows Commands You Must Know
Click Here to Download TechForWorld Windows Command Guide

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How to Create Your Own Run Command

A Run command is simply the name of the file used to execute a program. You can easily create your own Windows Run commands.
1. Create a shortcut of the program, file, folder or even any website link you want to create a Run command for.
2. Rename the shortcut to the command name you want to give.
3. Copy or move that shortcut to Windows folder. You can directly open Windows folder by running command %Windir%. Now you can easily access the shortcut you created from anywhere!

The Ultimate Windows Run Commands List

Here is the list of useful Windows Run commands which will make your life much easier. Please note that some of the commands may not work on your system depending on if a program is installed on your system, e.g. winword, powerpnt, mshearts, etc.

Accessibility Controls access.cpl
Accessibility Wizard accwiz
Add Features to Windows 8 windowsanytimeupgradeui
Add Hardware Wizard hdwwiz
Add/Remove Programs appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools control admintools
Advanced User Accounts netplwiz or control userpasswords2
Authorization Manager azman
Automatic Updates wuaucpl.cpl
Backup and Restore sdclt
Bluetooth File Transfer fsquirt
Buy a Product Key Online purchasewindowslicense
Calculator calc
Certificate Manager certmgr.msc
Certificates certmgr or certlm
Change Printer Settings printui
Character Map charmap
Check Disk Utility chkdsk
ClearType Tuner cttune
Clipboard Viewer clipbrd
Color Management colorcpl
Command Prompt cmd
Component Services dcomcnfg or comexp
Computer Management compmgmt.msc or CompMgmtLauncher
Connect to a Network Projector netproj
Control Panel control
Create A Shared Folder Wizard shrpubw
Create a System Repair Disc recdisc
Credential Backup and Restore Wizard (Manage stored User Names and passwords) credwiz
Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention
Date and Time Properties timedate.cpl
DDE Shares ddeshare
Device Manager devmgmt.msc or hdwwiz.cpl
Device Pairing Wizard (Add a Device) devicepairingwizard
Digitizer Calibration Tool tabcal
Direct X Control Panel (if installed)* directx.cpl
DirectAcesss Properties daprop
DirectX Diagnostic Tool/Troubleshooter dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility cleanmgr
Disk Defragment dfrg.msc
Disk Defragmenter dfrgui
Disk Management diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager diskpart
Display dpiscaling
Display Color Calibration dccw
Display Properties control desktop or desk.cpl
Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) control color
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility drwtsn32
Driver Package Installer dpinst
Driver Verifier Utility verifier
Ease of Access Center utilman
EFS REKEY Wizard rekeywiz
Encrypting File System Wizard rekeywiz
Event Viewer eventvwr or eventvwr.msc
Fax Cover Page Editor fxscover
File History filehistory
File Signature Verification Tool sigverif
Files and Settings Transfer Tool migwiz
Findfast findfast.cpl
Flash Player Settings Manager flashplayerapp
Folders Properties folders
Font Viewer fontview
Fonts control fonts
Fonts Folder fonts
Free Cell Card Game freecell
Game Controllers joy.cpl
Group Policy Editor gpedit.msc
Hearts Card Game mshearts
Help and Support helpctr
HyperTerminal hypertrm
IExpress Wizard iexpress
Indexing Service ciadv.msc
Install or Uninstall Display Languages lusrmgr
Internet Connection Wizard icwconn
Internet Explorer iexplore
Internet Properties inetcpl.cpl
Internet Setup Wizard inetwiz
IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /flushdns
IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) ipconfig /all
IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /showclassid
IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) ipconfig /displaydns
IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) ipconfig /setclassid
IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) ipconfig /registerdns
IP Configuration (Release All Connections) ipconfig /release
IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) ipconfig /renew
iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool iscsicpl
Java Control Panel (if installed) javaws
Keyboard Properties control keyboard
Language Pack Installer lpksetup
Local Group Policy Editor gpedit
Local Security Policy secpol
Local Security Settings secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups lusrmgr.msc
Location Activity locationnotifications
Logs You Out Of Windows logoff
Magnifier magnify
Make changes to your user account control userpasswords
Malicious Software Removal Tool mrt
Manage Your File Encryption Certificates rekeywiz
Math Input Panel mip
Microsoft Access (if installed) msaccess
Microsoft Chat winchat
Microsoft Excel (if installed) excel
Microsoft Management Console mmc
Microsoft Movie Maker moviemk
Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed) powerpnt
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool msdt
Microsoft Syncronization Tool mobsync
Microsoft Word (if installed) winword
Minesweeper Game winmine
Mouse Properties control mouse or main.cpl
NAP Client Configuration napclcfg
Narrator narrator
Netmeeting conf
Network Connections control netconnections or ncpa.cpl
Network Setup Wizard netsetup.cpl
New Scan Wizard (Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard) wiaacmgr
Notepad notepad
Object Packager packager
ODBC Data Source Administrator odbcad32 or odbccp32.cpl
ODBC Driver Configuration odbcconf
On-Screen Keyboard osk
Outlook Express msimn
Paint mspaint or pbrush
Password Properties password.cpl
Performance Monitor perfmon or perfmon.msc
Performance Options systempropertiesperformance
Phone and Modem Options telephon.cpl
Phone Dialer dialer
Pinball Game pinball
Power Configuration powercfg.cpl
Presentation Settings presentationsettings
Print Management printmanagement
Printer Migration printbrmui
Printers and Faxes control printers
Printers Folder printers
Private Character Editor eudcedit
Programs and Features appwiz.cpl
Protected Content (DPAPI Key) Migration dpapimig
Recovery Drive recoverydrive
Refresh Your PC systemreset
Regional Settings intl.cpl
Registry Editor regedit or regedt32
Remote Access Phonebook rasphone
Remote Desktop Connection mstsc
Removable Storage ntmsmgr.msc
Removable Storage Operator Requests ntmsoprq.msc
Resource Monitor resmon or perfmon /res
Resultant Set of Policy rsop
Resultant Set of Policy rsop.msc
Scanners and Cameras sticpl.cpl
Scheduled Tasks control schedtasks
Security Center wscui.cpl
Services services.msc or services
Set Program Access and Computer Defaults computerdefaults
Shared Folders fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows shutdown
Snipping Tool snippingtool
Sound Recorder soundrecorder
Sound Volume/Mixer sndvol
Sounds and Audio mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game spider
SQL Client Configuration cliconfg
Steps Recorder psr
Sticky Notes stikynot
Switch Display (Connect to a Projector) displayswitch
System Configuration Editor sysedit
System Configuration Utility msconfig
System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) sfc /purgecache
System File Checker Utility (Return Scan Setting To Default) sfc /revert
System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At The Next Boot) sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility (Sets Cache Size to size x) sfc /cachesize=x
System Information msinfo32
System Properties sysdm.cpl
System Properties (Advanced Tab) systempropertiesadvanced
System Properties (Computer Name Tab) systempropertiescomputername
System Properties (Hardware Tab) systempropertieshardware
System Properties (Remote Tab) systempropertiesremote
System Properties (System Protection Tab) systempropertiesprotection
System Restore rstrui
Task Manager taskmgr or launchtm
Task Scheduler taskschd
TCP Tester tcptest
Telnet Client telnet
Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel tabtip
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management tpm
User Account Control Settings useraccountcontrolsettings
User Account Management nusrmgr.cpl
Windows Activation Client slui
Windows Anytime Upgrade Results windowsanytimeupgraderesults
Windows Contacts/Address Book wab
Windows Contacts/Address Book Import Utility wabmig
Windows Disc Image Burning Tool isoburn
Windows Explorer explorer
Windows Fax and Scan wfs
Windows Features optionalfeatures
Windows Firewall firewall.cpl
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security wf
Windows Help and Support winhlp32
Windows Journal journal
Windows Management Infrastructure wmimgmt.msc
Windows Media Player dvdplay or wmplayer
Windows Memory Diagnostic Scheduler mdsched
Windows Messenger msmsgs
Windows Mobility Center mblctr
Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected) wiaacmgr
Windows PowerShell powershell
Windows PowerShell ISE powershell_ise
Windows Remote Assistance msra
Windows Script Host wscript
Windows SmartScreen smartscreensettings
Windows Store Cach Clear wsreset
Windows System Security Tool (Securing the Windows Account Database) syskey
Windows Update wuapp
Windows Update Launches wupdmgr
Windows Update Standalone Installer wusa
Windows Version Information winver
WMI Management wmimgmt
WMI Tester wbemtest
Wordpad write
XPS Viewer xpsrchvw

Shell Commands

Shell commands provide access to Windows special folders. You can find list and settings for all Shell folders in Windows Registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\FolderDescriptions (In Windows XP, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders).

Internet Explorer

Cookies shell:Cookies
Cookies\Low shell:Cookies\Low
Favorites shell:Favorites
Internet Explorer – 32-bit shell:InternetFolder
Temporary Internet Files shell:Cache

Library

Libraries shell:Libraries
Libraries shell:UsersLibrariesFolder
Libraries – Documents shell:documentsLibrary
Libraries – Music shell:MusicLibrary
Libraries – Pictures shell:PicturesLibrary
Libraries – Videos shell:VideosLibrary
Public Libraries Shell:PublicLibraries

Multimedia

Music shell:My Music
Music (all users) shell:CommonMusic
Pictures shell:My Pictures
Pictures (all users) shell:CommonPictures
Sample Music shell:SampleMusic
Sample Pictures shell:SamplePictures
Sample Videos shell:SampleVideos
Videos shell:My Video
Videos (all users) shell:CommonVideo

System

Administrative Tools shell:Administrative Tools
Administrative Tools (all users) shell:Common Administrative Tools
All User profiles folder shell:UserProfiles
Computer shell:MyComputerFolder
Control Pane – Network Connections shell:ConnectionsFolder
Control Panel shell:ControlPanelFolder
Control Panel – Get Programs shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
Control Panel – Programs and Features shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
Desktop (all users) shell:Common Desktop
Device Metadata Store shell:device Metadata Store
Documents (all users) shell:Common Documents
Downloads (all users) shell:CommonDownloads
Fonts shell:Fonts
GameExplorer shell:PublicGameTasks
Games shell:Games
Homegroup Shell:HomeGroupFolder
Installed Updates shell:AppUpdatesFolder
Network shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
Printers shell:PrintersFolder
Program Files shell:ProgramFilesX64
Program Files (x86) shell:ProgramFilesX86
Program Files (x86) – Common Files shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
Program Files – Common Files shell:ProgramFilesCommon
Program Files – Common Files shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64
Program Files folder shell:ProgramFiles
ProgramData (all users) shell:Common AppData
Public folder shell:Public
Public Suggested Locations shell:PublicSuggestedLocations
Recycle Bin shell:RecycleBinFolder
Resources shell:ResourceDir
Ringtones (all users) shell:CommonRingtones
search-ms: shell:SearchHomeFolder
Start Menu (all users) shell:Common Start Menu
Start Menu – Programs (all users) shell:Common Programs
Startup (all users) shell:Common Startup
System32 or System Folder shell:System
SysWOW64 shell:SystemX86
Templates (all users) shell:Common Templates
Windows folder shell:Windows
Windows Sidebar – Gadgets shell:Gadgets
Windows Sidebar – Gadgets shell:default Gadgets

User

App Data – LocalLow shell:LocalAppDataLow
AppData – Local shell:Local AppData
AppData – Roaming shell:AppData
AppData – Roaming – Credentials shell:CredentialManager
Contacts shell:Contacts
Current User folder shell:Profile
Current User folder shell:UsersFilesFolder
Desktop shell:desktop
Documents shell:Personal
Downloads shell:downloads
Internet Explorer – Quick Launch shell:Quick Launch
Internet Explorer – User Pinned shell:User Pinned
Links shell:Links
Microsoft Crypto shell:CryptoKeys
Network Shortcuts shell:NetHood
Protect shell:dpapiKeys
Recent items shell:Recent
Ringtones shell:Ringtones
Saved Games shell:SavedGames
Searches shell:Searches
SendTo locations shell:SendTo
Start Menu shell:Start Menu
Start Menu Programs shell:Programs
Startmenu – Startup items shell:Startup
SystemCertificates shell:SystemCertificates
Templates shell:Templates
Temporary Disk Burning Folder shell:CD Burning
Windows Game Explorer shell:GameTasks
Windows History shell:History
Windows Printer Shortcuts shell:PrintHood

Windows Sync

Sync Center shell:SyncCenterFolder
Sync Center – Conflicts shell:ConflictFolder
Sync Center – Sync Results shell:SyncResultsFolder
Sync Center – Sync Setup shell:SyncSetupFolder

Note:
Commands in Magenta color work only in Command Prompt.

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