Windows Command Line Cheat Sheets

Navigating the file system:

C:\ > cd : Changes the current directory.

C:\ > cd dirName

C:\ > dir : Lists the files and directories in the current directory.

C:\ > popd : Changes the current directory back to the previously stored directory.

C:\ > chdir or $ pushd : Changes the current directory and stores the previous directory.

C:\ > pushd [path]

C:\ > tree : Lists the files and directories in a hierarchical format.

Creating and managing files and directories:

C:\ > md or C:\ > mkdir : Creates a new directory

C:\ > mkdir new_folder

C:\ > copy : Copies a file or directory.

C:\ > copy file1.txt file2.txt : To copy file1.txt to file2.txt            

C:\ > copy foldername newfoldername /s : To copy the whole folder with its contents to a new folder     

C:\ > move or C:\ > ren : Moves or renames a file or directory.

C:\ > move file1.txt file2.txt or ren file1.txt file2.txt : To rename file1.txt to file2.txt 

C:\ > move foldername newfoldername

C:\> ren foldername newfoldername

C:\ > del or C:\ > erase : Deletes a file or directory.

C:\ > del file1.txt or C:\ >erase file1.txt :   To delete file1.txt

Viewing and editing files:

C:\ > type : Displays the contents of a file.

C:\ >  type filename

C:\ > more: Allows you to view the contents of a file one page at a time.

C:\ >  more fileName

C:\ > notepad : A simple text editor to edit the file in command line.

C:\ >  notepad fileName

C:\ > edit : A simple text editor in command line, that works only in command prompt.

C:\ >  edit filename

Searching and filtering:

C:\ > find or C:\ > findstr : Search for a specific string in a file or multiple files.

To search for “search_string” in file1.txt

                 C:\ >  find “search_string” file1.txt or findstr /s /c:”search_string” file1.txt

C:\ > forfiles : Select a file or a set of files and then execute a command on those files.

 C:\ >  forfiles /p “C:\Windows” /s /c “cmd /c echo @file” : To search for files in the directory “C:\Windows” and print their name.

Permissions and ownership:

C:\ > cacls : Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.

                  C:\ >  cacls file1.txt : To view the permissions of file1.txt

                  C:\ >  cacls file1.txt /g user1:F :   To give permission

Miscellaneous:

C:\ > cls : Clears the terminal screen.

C:\ > exit : exits the command line