The Best Ways to Open Command Prompt

Command Prompt is the command line interpreter for Windows operating systems. Officially, command prompt is called Windows Command Processor. Within command prompt, you can use commands to interact with your computer. To ordinary people, they are comfortable with the graphic operating system. However, you can do more things with command prompt. For example, you can check the details of error messages and troubleshoot. Although command prompt is a native application of Windows, you cannot find it on desktop or open it directly. If you want to learn the usage of command prompt, you have to begin with how to open command prompt. And this article will show you the best ways on different versions of Windows operating systems.

Part 1. Open command prompt available to all Windows

Although various versions of Windows operating systems are very different, there are some methods of accessing command prompt available to all Windows.

1. Open command prompt via Run dialog

You can open command prompt via Run dialog as open other applications.

2. Launch command prompt directly

Command prompt is an application titled cmd.exe. Although cmd.exe cannot be found on desktop, you can open it in Explorer directly.

3. Find command prompt in Start menu

You can find command prompt in Start menu on any Windows operating systems, although the locations are a little different.

4. Visit command prompt with shortcut

Another general way to open command prompt on Windows operating systems is desktop shortcut. Microsoft allows users to create desktop shortcut for any applications, including system programs.

Part 2. Access command prompt on Windows 10

Microsoft has improved Windows 10 in various aspects, so you can open command prompt with more methods, besides the general ways above.

1. Ask Cortana to open command prompt

Cortana is the intelligent personal assistant that Microsoft created for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile. You may be unfamiliar with artificial intelligence; however, you must have heard of Siri and Amazon Alexa. Cortana is the artificial intelligence assistant developed by Microsoft. And Cortana could help you to open command prompt on Windows 10.

2. Open command prompt and open command prompt as administrator

When you search for command prompt or open it on Windows computer, you may face two choices, open command prompt and open command prompt as administrator. If you log in your computer as a standard user, you can only get standard permissions. If you need administrator permissions, you'd better choose to as administrator. When it comes to the way to open command prompt as administrator, you can follow the steps below.

Conclusion

Based on the introductions above, you might grasp the best ways to open command prompt window. To some people, it is more comfortable to communicate with their computers by command lines. Moreover, you can access the features unavailable in graphic screen within command prompt. There are many ways to open command prompt in Windows. And we introduced the best ways in this article. If you just use command prompt occasionally, you can access it via Run dialog or go to Explore and open it directly. To the people that use command prompt regularly, the most convenient way is to create a desktop shortcut for command prompt. Windows 10 users have a unique way to visit command prompt. After turn on Cortana, you can use this artificial intelligence assistant with voice command. Finally, you have to know the differences and open command prompt as administrator.