Useful Run Commands Every

Windows User Should Know

By Mehvish Mushtaq / Updated Oct 13, 2021

A quick-and-easy keyboard-only way to run Windows’s wealth of tools is

through the “Run” command. If you know the corresponding Run command
of a tool or task, then you know the quickest way to access said tool or
task. This list of our favorite Run commands will help you be more
productive.

Note: press  Win  +  R  on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box and
enter any of the below commands to access the respective tool.
List of Run Commands
1. services.msc – When you enter “services.msc” and press the Enter
button, it will open the Windows Services app where you can easily start,
stop and configure other settings for each and every service individually.
It’s quite helpful when you want to toggle a service.

2. mstsc – Entering “mstsc” into the Run dialog box opens the Remote
Desktop Connection app which allows you to connect to other Windows
computers over the local network or through the Internet. This helps you
use the host computer as your own.

3. msinfo32 – If you want to quickly get your system information, then the
“msinfo32” command is the way to go. At a glance, it will display all the
system details, including the hardware resources and software
environment.
4. sdclt – This command opens the Backup and Restore window that
allows you to quickly set a backup schedule or restore any of your previous
backups.

Also read: Windows 11 Search Bar Not

Working? Here’s 7 Ways to Fix It

5. compmgmt.msc – The Computer Management app is where you can

access almost all the advanced Windows modules, like Event Viewer,
Shared Folder, System Tools, etc.
6. cleanmgr – This command allows you to open the Windows Disk
Cleanup utility. Once opened, simply select the drive your want to clean up
and click the “OK” button.

7. eventvwr.msc – Windows Event Viewer is where Windows stores all the

monitoring and troubleshooting messages. You can use this command to
quickly access the Event Viewer application.

8. control – Every Windows user knows a thing or two about the Windows
Control Panel, and using this command, you can quickly access the Control
Panel with some stumbling around.

Also read: How to Run a Java Program from

the Command Prompt
9. mmc – Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is an advanced Windows
module that is mainly aimed at system administrators and power users, as
it sports all the tools required for configuring and monitoring a Windows
system.

10. resmon – Whenever you want to check how your system resources are
being utilized, simply use this Run command, and it displays everything
from your CPU to Disc to Network.

11. () – This is one of the lesser-known Run commands. Just enter the
backslash () into the Run dialog box, and it will open up the C drive. It is
one of the quickest ways to access the C drive.
12. (.) – This is yet another lesser-known Run command. Type period (.) to
open the current user’s home folder, which hosts all the other local folders,
such as Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.

13. (..) – When you execute these two dots in the Run dialog box, it will
open the Users folder, which is located directly in the C drive.
14. calc – If you want to quickly open the built-in Windows calculator app,
typing  calc  in the Run dialog box is the easiest way to do it.

15. cmd – Even Windows users have to deal with the command line
sometimes. With this command, you can quickly open the command
prompt without administrator privileges.

16. powershell – If the command prompt is too old for you, then you may
want to try PowerShell. Just type this command in the Run dialog box to
open your PowerShell without administrator privileges.

Also read: Enable Standard Users to Run a

Program with Admin Rights in Windows

17. netplwiz – The general user accounts option is available through the

Control Panel, but if you want to mess with the advanced user account
options, then use this command to open the Advanced User Accounts
window. If you want to deal with the Authorization Manager, then use the
Run command  azman.msc .

18. gpedit.msc – Group Policy Editor in Windows allows you to set and

edit different Windows policies of a local or remote computer. Since Group
Policy Editor is an advanced tool, it is buried deep inside Windows, and this
Run command is the easiest way to access it. However, this command will
only work on the Windows 10 Pro version and not the Home variant.
For Windows 10 Home, download the gpedit-enabler.bat file, right-click on
it, and Run as an administrator. Let the installation process complete, then
use the gpedit.msc command.

19. lusrmgr.msc – Using this command, you can open the Local Users
and Groups Manager, where you can edit several properties of all the users
and groups. Again, this command will only work on Windows 10 Pro. To
use it on Windows 10 Home, install its third-party alternative.

20. mrt – Every month Windows releases a newer version of Microsoft

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool through the Windows Update.
This free tool helps you in cleaning some of the most popular malicious
software from your Windows computer. This tool runs silently in the
background, but if you want to run it manually, then use this Run command.
21. ncpa.cpl – Being an Internet user means that you have to deal with
occasional (if not daily) network problems, and one way to troubleshoot
your network connection is by accessing your Network Adapters. To
access all your Network Adapters, you can use this Run command.

22. perfmon.msc – If you want to monitor the performance of your

Windows computer and effects of the programs you run, running
Performance Monitor will provide ample data. You can access the
Performance Monitor using this command.
23. powercfg.cpl – Windows hosts a wide range of power options to deal
with your computer’s power usage, and you can access all those Power
Options using this command.
24. appwiz.cpl – Using this command you can quickly access the
Programs and Features window where you can quickly uninstall your
installed programs.

25. devmgmt.msc – Windows Device Manager is where you can manage

all your hardware devices, and you can use this Run command to quickly
access it. Alternatively, you can also use the command “hdwwiz.cpl.”

26. regedit – The Regedit Run command can be used to access the

Windows Registry, which is a hierarchical database that hosts all the
configurations and settings of an operating system and the installed
programs.

27. msconfig – Windows System Configuration is where you can edit

different things, like the boot options, startup options, services, etc. You
can use this Run command to access the System Configuration window.

28. sysdm.cpl – If you ever want to access the System Properties window,

then using this Run command opens it.
29. firewall.cpl – If you want to manage or configure your Windows
firewall, then you can use this Run command to quickly access the Firewall
window.

30. wuapp – You can use this command to check, manage and configure
all your Windows Update settings. Please note that this command will not
work on Windows 10 devices, as all the options related to Windows Update
are now available under “Start → Settings → Update and Security.” You
may, however, use the “ms-settings:windowsupdate” command to open the
Windows Update window.

Also read: How to Downgrade from Windows

11 to Windows 10

31. taskmgr – This command launches the Task Manager utility, which

displays the programs, services, and processes that are currently running
on your PC. It also allows you to monitor the performance of your computer
in terms of CPU usage, memory, network status, disk usage, and GPU
usage. Viewing app history, changing startup programs, and terminating a
non-responding program are other tools offered by Task Manager.
32. charmap – This command will unveil the Character Map app, which
contains a variety of special characters not found on your keyboard, such
as accented letters, foreign language characters, and other symbols. It
allows you to copy-paste special characters into your document or simply
drag them into compatible programs, such as Microsoft Word, WordPad,
and so on.

33. shutdown – Use this command to shut down or restart your computer.
To shut down, type  shutdown /s , and to restart, type  shutdown /r . If you
want the computer to shut down automatically after a certain amount of
time, type  shutdown /s /t seconds , where the number seconds is denotes
the time the computer will wait before it will shut down automatically.

Tip: type  shutdown /a  to cancel the scheduled shutdown.

34. rstrui – If you need to restore your computer, use this command to get
to the System Restore interface quickly, then follow the on-screen
instructions to restore your computer.

More Run Commands

Can’t get enough of the Run command? Here we have compiled a big list
of all the Run commands available in Windows.

Task Name Run Command

About Windows winver

Add a Device devicepairingwizard

Add Hardware Wizard hdwwiz

Advanced User Accounts netplwiz

Authorization Manager azman

Backup and Restore sdclt

Bluetooth File Transfer fsquirt

Calculator calc
Task Name Run Command

Certificates certmgr

Change Computer Performance systempropertiesperformance

Settings

Change Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Settings

Change Printer Settings printui

Character Map charmap

ClearType Tuner cttune

Color Management colorcpl

Command Prompt cmd

Task Name Run Command

Component Services comexp

Component Services dcomcnfg

Computer Management compmgmt

Computer Management compmgmtlauncher

Connect to a Network Projector netproj

Connect to a Projector displayswitch

Control Panel control

Create A Shared Folder Wizard shrpubw

Create a System Repair Disc recdisc

Task Name Run Command

Credential Backup and Restore Wizard credwiz

Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Default Location locationnotifications

Device Manager devmgmt

Device Pairing Wizard devicepairingwizard

Diagnostics Troubleshooting Wizard msdt

Digitizer Calibration Tool tabcal

DirectX Diagnostic Tool dxdiag

Task Name Run Command

Disk Cleanup cleanmgr

Disk Defragmenter dfrgui

Disk Management diskmgmt

Display dpiscaling

Display Color Calibration dccw

Display Switch displayswitch

DPAPI Key Migration Wizard dpapimig

Driver Verifier Manager verifier

Task Name Run Command

Ease of Access Center utilman

Encrypting File System Wizard rekeywiz

Event Viewer eventvwr

Fax Cover Page Editor fxscover

File Signature Verification sigverif

Getting Started gettingstarted

IExpress Wizard iexpress

Import to Windows Contacts wabmig*

Task Name Run Command

iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool iscsicpl

iSCSI Initiator Properties iscsicpl

Language Pack Installer lpksetup

Local Group Policy Editor gpedit

Local Security Policy secpol

Local Users and Groups lusrmgr

Location Activity locationnotifications

Magnifier magnify
Task Name Run Command

Malicious Software Removal Tool mrt

Manage Your File Encryption rekeywiz

Certificates

Math Input Panel mip*

Microsoft Management Console mmc

Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool msdt

NAP Client Configuration napclcfg

Narrator narrator
Task Name Run Command

New Scan Wizard wiaacmgr

Notepad notepad

ODBC Data Source Administrator odbcad32

ODBC Driver Configuration odbcconf

On-Screen Keyboard osk

Paint mspaint

Performance Monitor perfmon

Performance Options systempropertiesperformance

Phone Dialer dialer

Task Name Run Command

Presentation Settings presentationsettings

Print Management printmanagement

Printer Migration printbrmui

Printer User Interface printui

Private Character Editor eudcedit

Problem Steps Recorder psr

Protected Content Migration dpapimig

Registry Editor regedit

Task Name Run Command

Remote Access Phonebook rasphone

Remote Desktop Connection mstsc

Resource Monitor resmon

Resultant Set of Policy rsop

Securing the Windows Account syskey

Database

Services services

Set Program Access and Computer computerdefaults

Defaults
Task Name Run Command

Share Creation Wizard shrpubw

Shared Folders fsmgmt

Snipping Tool snippingtool

Sound Recorder soundrecorder

SQL Server Client Network Utility cliconfg

Sticky Notes stikynot

Stored User Names and Passwords credwiz

Sync Center mobsync

System Configuration msconfig

Task Name Run Command

System Configuration Editor sysedit (This command doesn't work in the 64-bit version of
Windows.)

System Information msinfo32

System Properties (Advanced Tab) systempropertiesadvanced

System Properties (Computer Name systempropertiescomputername

Tab)

System Properties (Hardware Tab) systempropertieshardware

System Properties (Remote Tab) systempropertiesremote

Task Name Run Command

System Properties (System Protection systempropertiesprotection

Tab)

System Restore rstrui

Tablet PC Input Panel tabtip*

Task Manager taskmgr

Task Scheduler taskschd

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) tpm

Management

User Account Control Settings useraccountcontrolsettings

Utility Manager utilman

Task Name Run Command

Version Reporter Applet winver

Volume Mixer sndvol

Windows Activation Client slui

Windows Anytime Upgrade Results windowsanytimeupgraderesults

Windows Contacts wab*

Windows Disc Image Burning Tool isoburn

Windows DVD Maker dvdmaker*

Windows Easy Transfer migwiz*

Windows Explorer explorer

Task Name Run Command

Windows Fax and Scan wfs

Windows Features optionalfeatures

Windows Firewall with Advanced wf

Security

Windows Help and Support winhlp32

Windows Journal journal*

Windows Media Player wmplayer*

Windows Memory Diagnostic mdsched

Scheduler
Task Name Run Command

Windows Mobility Center mblctr

Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard wiaacmgr

Windows PowerShell powershell*

Windows PowerShell ISE powershell_ise*

Windows Remote Assistance msra

Windows Repair Disc recdisc

Windows Script Host wscript

Windows Update wuapp

Windows Update Standalone Installer wusa

Task Name Run Command

WMI Management wmimgmt

WMI Tester wbemtest

WordPad write

XPS Viewer xpsrchvw

Access Screen Resolution page desk.cpl

Access Mouse properties main.cpl

Access Windows Action Center wscui.cpl

Access Network Adapters ncpa.cpl

Task Name Run Command

Access Power Option powercfg.cpl

Access the Programs and Features appwiz.cpl

Window

Access the System Properties sysdm.cpl

Access the Windows Firewall firewall.cpl

*You cannot run these commands from a command prompt or the

search box.

As you can see, the Windows Run command is one of the best utilities you
can find in Windows.