Essential Run Commands -
Windows
🔧 System Information & Configuration
● msinfo32
Opens the System Information utility to view detailed
hardware and software information.
● dxdiag
Launches the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, useful for
troubleshooting video/sound issues.
● msconfig
Opens the System Configuration utility to manage
startup, services, and boot settings.
● perfmon
Opens the Performance Monitor for real-time system
performance monitoring.
● systempropertiesadvanced
Directly opens Advanced System Settings
(Environment Variables, Performance options, etc.).
● control sysdm.cpl
Opens the full System Properties window.
⚙️ Control Panel Applets & Settings
● control
Opens the classic Control Panel.
● control printers
Opens the Devices and Printers window.
● control admintools
Opens Administrative Tools like Event Viewer,
Services, etc.
● intl.cpl
Opens Region settings.
● ncpa.cpl
Opens Network Connections (used to enable,
disable, or configure adapters).
● powercfg.cpl
Opens Power Options.
● appwiz.cpl
Opens Programs and Features to uninstall or change
installed programs.
● hdwwiz.cpl
Opens Device Manager.
● firewall.cpl
Opens Windows Defender Firewall settings.
● inetcpl.cpl
Opens Internet Properties.
● sysdm.cpl
Another way to open System Properties.
● timedate.cpl
Opens Date and Time settings.
🧰 Computer Management & Admin Tools
● compmgmt.msc
Opens the Computer Management console (contains
Event Viewer, Disk Management, Services, etc.).
● devmgmt.msc
Opens Device Manager directly.
● diskmgmt.msc
Opens Disk Management for creating, formatting, or
modifying disk partitions.
● eventvwr.msc
Opens the Event Viewer to view system, application,
and security logs.
● services.msc
Opens the Services management console to
start/stop or configure Windows services.
● taskschd.msc
Opens the Task Scheduler for managing scheduled
tasks.
● secpol.msc
Opens Local Security Policy settings (e.g., password
policies, user rights).
● gpedit.msc
Opens the Group Policy Editor (only available in
Pro/Enterprise editions).
● lusrmgr.msc
Opens Local Users and Groups Manager.
● resmon
Launches Resource Monitor for detailed resource
usage.
● taskmgr
Opens Task Manager.
● regedit
Opens the Windows Registry Editor.
● notepad
Opens Notepad (useful for quickly documenting
findings).
👥 User and Account Management
● netplwiz
Opens advanced user account management dialog.
● control userpasswords2
Same as above — useful for disabling password
prompt on login.
● lusrmgr.msc
Opens the Local Users and Groups management
console.
● cmd
Launches the Command Prompt.
● powershell
Opens a PowerShell session for scripting and
automation tasks.
● runas
Allows you to run a program as another user.
🌐 Networking & Connectivity
● cmd /k ipconfig /all
Displays full IP configuration, DNS, MAC address,
etc.
● cmd /k ping google.com
Checks basic internet connectivity.
● cmd /k tracert google.com
Traces the route taken by packets to reach Google
servers.
● cmd /k netstat -ano
Displays active TCP/UDP connections along with
PIDs.
● cmd /k nslookup
Performs DNS resolution queries.
● cmd /k arp -a
Displays the ARP cache.
● cmd /k route print
Displays the system's routing table.
● cmd /k netsh wlan show profiles
Lists saved Wi-Fi profiles.
● cmd /k net use
Lists connected network shares and mapped drives.
🔐 Security and Credentials
● credwiz
Opens the Credential Backup and Restore wizard.
● control keymgr.dll
Opens Credential Manager to manage saved
passwords and certificates.
● mrt
Runs the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool.
● certmgr.msc
Opens the Certificate Manager for managing
user-level certificates.
🧪 Troubleshooting Utilities
● eventvwr
Opens Event Viewer for log diagnostics.
● msdt
Launches Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (legacy
tool for troubleshooting).
● control troubleshoot
Opens the Troubleshooting section in Control Panel.
● cleanmgr
Opens Disk Cleanup to free up disk space.
● charmap
Opens the Character Map utility.
● sfc /scannow (run inside elevated CMD)
Scans and repairs system files.
● cmd /k chkdsk
Checks disk integrity and errors.
● cmd /k tasklist
Lists all currently running tasks/processes.
🗂️ File Explorer & Folder Access
● .
Opens the current user’s profile folder.
● ..
Opens the Users folder (C:\Users).
● explorer
Opens File Explorer.
● explorer shell:startup
Opens the current user’s Startup folder.
● shell:Recent
Opens the Recent Items folder.
● shell:sendto
Opens the Send To folder.
● shell:common startup
Opens the Startup folder for all users.
● shell:appdata
Opens the Roaming AppData folder.
🧠 Memory, Startup, and Performance
● resmon
Opens Resource Monitor for analyzing RAM, disk,
and network activity.
● msconfig
Opens the startup and boot configuration interface.
● taskmgr
Opens Task Manager for performance monitoring.
● cmd /k wmic memorychip get capacity
Displays installed physical memory details.
● cmd /k systeminfo
Shows detailed system summary including install
date, hotfixes, and uptime.
🔄 Restart, Shutdown, and Restore
● shutdown /s /f /t 0
Shuts down the system immediately.
● shutdown /r /f /t 0
Restarts the system immediately.
● shutdown /l
Logs off the current user.
● logoff
Another command to log off the user.
● rstrui
Opens System Restore wizard.
● sysdm.cpl
Also used to configure System Protection and restore
points.
🧩 Miscellaneous and Accessibility
● osk
Opens the on-screen keyboard.
● magnify
Launches screen magnifier.
● snippingtool or sniptool
Opens the Snipping Tool for screenshots.
● calc
Launches Calculator.
● write
Opens WordPad.
● clip
Used to copy output from CLI to clipboard.
● fsmgmt.msc
Opens Shared Folders console.
● printmanagement.msc
Opens Printer Management console (only on
Pro/Enterprise).
