How to Open Command Prompt in Windows 10 and Windows 11

The Command Prompt is a handy tool in Windows that lets you execute various commands and scripts. Although the process of opening it is similar in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, some interface details may differ slightly in Windows 11. Let’s go over all the available methods to open Command Prompt in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Methods to Open Command Prompt in Windows 10

1. Using the Start Menu

The easiest way to open Command Prompt in Windows 10 is through the Start menu. To do this:

  • Click the “Start” button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
  • In the search bar, type “Command Prompt” or cmd.
  • Select the Command Prompt app from the list of results.

2. Open as Administrator

If you need to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges, follow these steps:

  • Open the Start menu and find “Command Prompt” (as described above).
  • Right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.

3. Using the Run Dialog Box

You can also open Command Prompt using the Run dialog:

  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type cmd and press Enter.

4. Quick Access via Keyboard Shortcut

In Windows 10, there’s a shortcut to quickly open Command Prompt:

  • Press Win + X to open the quick access menu.
  • In the menu, select “Command Prompt” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

Methods to Open Command Prompt in Windows 11

1. Using the Start Menu

In Windows 11, you can also open Command Prompt via the Start menu:

  • Click the “Start” button.
  • Type cmd in the search bar.
  • Select the Command Prompt app from the list of options.

2. Open as Administrator

The steps to open Command Prompt as an administrator are nearly the same as in Windows 10:

  • Open the Start menu, and search for “Command Prompt” or cmd.
  • Right-click on the app and select “Run as administrator”.

3. Using the Run Dialog Box

This method is similar to the one in Windows 10:

  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type cmd and press Enter.

4. Using Windows Terminal

Windows 11 introduced a new Windows Terminal that integrates multiple shells, including Command Prompt. To access it:

  • Right-click the “Start” button and choose “Windows Terminal”.
  • In the Terminal, click the dropdown arrow in the title bar and select “Command Prompt”.