Command Prompt is the command-line which enables users to execute different programs and commands. Microsoft is slowly removing command prompt support from all its major Windows platforms. PowerShell is the alternative to Command Prompt which supports almost all the commands of DOS and much more. Some users still insist on using Command Prompt instead of PowerShell. If the program you want to run in Command Prompt is not listed in the PATH variable, the Command Prompt will give you an error that it could not find the executable file. For this, we need to manually go to the folder where that particular program is located. One way of doing this is to type in the complete path of the file. Another way is to directly open the command prompt windows inside the folder. The second approach is more visual and easy to implement. Pro Tip: If you are using Windows 10, just open the folder and go to File menu –> Open Windows PowerShell. You also have the option to open Windows PowerShell as Administrator. In this article, we will discuss different techniques by which we can open command windows in a folder, the most popular being “Open Command Windows Here” context menu item. Let’s start.

Add Open Command Window Here to the context menu using Registry Editor Add Open Command Window Here using the REG file Open Command Prompt In A Folder Using Keyboard Shortcut? Using CMD command in File Explorer to open Command Prompt Window Add “Open Command Window Here” with Administrative privileges in the context menu How to get back Command Prompt in Win+X menu?

Add Open Command Window Here to the context menu using Registry Editor

This will permanently add “Open Command Window here” to the Windows Context menu. After editing the Registry, you will be able to open the command prompt by right clicking inside any folder and selecting “Open Command Window Here”.

Add Open Command Window Here using the REG file

This is basically the same method listed above. For your ease, we have created a REG file for all the actions mentioned above. You just have to download and run the REG file. It will automatically add the desired values inside the Windows Registry.   Add Open Command Window Here to Context Menu.reg (304 bytes, 20,203 hits) If the value does not come after running this file, please try restarting Windows Explorer or the computer.

Open Command Prompt In A Folder Using Keyboard Shortcut?

If you are in a hurry then this is the easiest method of opening Command Prompt inside the folder. Just follow the steps below:

Using CMD command in File Explorer to open Command Prompt Window

You can open a command prompt in any of your desired folder by using the file explorer location bar. One drawback of this technique is that it will open the command prompt in the regular user privilege mode and not in the administrative mode. To open it in administrative mode: Select Windows + R and type cmd. Click Ctrl+Shift+Enter instead of just hitting enter to open the Command Prompt in administrative mode. You can also open PowerShell window using the same technique. Just go to the folder and then type powershell in the File Explorer address bar. This will open PowerShell in the same folder location or path.

Add “Open Command Window Here” with Administrative privileges in the context menu

In order to “open Command Window here ” with administrative privileges you  can download the following file.   Open Command Window Here (Administrator) to context menu.reg (215 bytes, 12,141 hits) This will add a context menu option for the admin command prompt.

How to get back Command Prompt in Win+X menu?

In order to change the Windows Powershell options with Command Prompt go to Settings –> Personalization –> Taskbar.  After that turn off the option of “Replace Command Prompt with Windows Powershell Option in the menu when i right click the start button or press Windows key +X”. The Command Prompt still remains an important part of Windows Operating System and using the methods discussed above, you will be able to make productive use of your time by using shortcuts. What is your favorite method of running command prompt without typing in the folder paths?