How to Launch and Use Command Prompt: A Super Beginner's Guide for Windows Users

In the previous article, we learned about the history of the traditional Windows shell, "Command Prompt (cmd.exe)," and how it differs from PowerShell. Through that, I hope you've come to understand that while it's an old-school tool, it still has its uses today.

However, if you're accustomed to graphical user interfaces (GUIs), it's not uncommon to get stuck at the very beginning, wondering, "How do I even open that black screen?" or "What exactly do I do to type in commands?"

Don't worry! In this article, for those Windows beginners and web creators who have avoided the black screen, we will carefully explain the various ways to launch Command Prompt and the absolute basic operations you need to know, one by one. By the time you finish reading this, your apprehension towards the black screen will vanish, and you should be able to take your first step into command-line operations with confidence!

1. How to Launch Command Prompt - Let's Open the Door

There's more than one way to launch Command Prompt. Find the method that's easiest for you and let's open up that black screen.

Method 1: Search from the Start Menu

This is the most reliable and straightforward method.

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Start typing "cmd" on your keyboard.
3. "Command Prompt" will appear in the search results. Click it or press the Enter key.

With that, the familiar black window will launch.

【TIP】Run as administrator
If you right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results and select "Run as administrator," you can launch it with more powerful permissions. Some commands, such as those that change system settings, cannot be executed without these permissions.

Method 2: Launch from "Run"

This is a quick launch method favored by slightly more experienced users.

1. Press the Windows key + R key simultaneously on your keyboard.
2. A small window titled "Run" will appear.
3. In the input field, type "cmd" and press the Enter key or click the "OK" button.

Method 3: Launch from the File Explorer Address Bar (Recommended for Web Developers!)

This is a pro-level technique that is extremely convenient when you want to work in a specific folder.

1. In File Explorer, open the folder you want to work in (for example, your website's project folder).
2. Click on the address bar at the top of the window (the part that says something like C:\Users\YourName\Documents\...).
3. With the path text selected in blue, type "cmd" and press the Enter key.

Amazingly, Command Prompt will launch with that folder as the current directory. This is a highly efficient method that saves you the trouble of navigating with the cd command.

2. Super Basic Operations - How to Interact with the Black Screen

Once you've successfully opened the black screen, the next step is to learn how to "interact" with it.

Understanding the Prompt

The string of text displayed in the window, like C:\Users\YourName>, is called the "prompt." This is a message from Command Prompt saying, "I am currently in the C:\Users\YourName directory. Please give me a command." A blinking cursor appears after this, which is where you will type your commands.

Copy & Paste

On modern versions of Windows 10/11, you can use the keyboard shortcuts you use every day.

• Paste: You can paste a copied command by pressing Ctrl + V in the window. A right-click with the mouse also works.
• Copy: You can select text in the window by dragging your mouse over it and copy it with Ctrl + C.

Recalling Command History

You can cycle through previously executed commands by pressing the ↑ (up arrow) key. Conversely, pressing the ↓ (down arrow) key moves to more recent commands in the history. There's no need to type the same command over and over.

Stopping a Running Command

If you want to forcibly stop a command you ran by mistake or a process that is taking too long, press the Ctrl + C keys simultaneously. Let's try it. The following command continuously checks the connection to google.com indefinitely.

ping -t google.com

When you run it, responses will scroll endlessly. To stop it, hold down the Ctrl key and press the C key. "^C" will be displayed, and the process will be interrupted.

3. Three Essential Commands to Memorize

Once you're comfortable with the basic operations, let's learn just these three super basic commands as a first step.

dir - See what's in your current location

Displays a list of files and folders in the current directory.

dir

cd - Change directory

Navigates to a specific folder.

cd Desktop

cls - Clear the screen

When the screen gets cluttered after running various commands, you can use the cls (Clear Screen) command to clear all the text and tidy it up.

cls

Conclusion

In this article, we've covered the various ways to launch Command Prompt and the truly fundamental operations for typing commands. With just this knowledge, you'll no longer be frozen in front of the black screen.

In particular, the method of launching from the File Explorer address bar by typing cmd is extremely useful for web developers when starting work in a specific project folder, so be sure to remember it.

By opening the door to Command Prompt and learning the basic methods of interaction, you have already taken a significant first step. In the next article, we will introduce a selection of essential commands for file manipulation, such as file copying (copy) and deletion (del), in addition to the dir and cd commands we briefly touched on this time. Look forward to it!

10 Essential Commands You Should Learn First (dir, copy, cls, exit, etc.)