Windows command prompt: the most important commands

In this practical tip, we will show you the most important commands of the Windows command prompt, with which some things can be done more easily.

The main commands of the Windows command prompt

You can enter the following commands at the command prompt. Confirm them with "Enter".

• shutdown: If you enter "shutdown" and pass a parameter behind it, you can switch off your computer. "shutdown -s" turns off your computer, "shutdown -l" only logs you out, "shutdown -r" restarts the PC. The time-controlled switch-off function is also useful: "shutdown -s -t 60" switches off your PC in 60 seconds.
• ipconfig: You can obtain a detailed list of information about the network environment in which your computer is located - for example, your IP address - with the "ipconfig / all" command.
• tasklist: You can get a list of processes that are currently running with the command "tasklist".
• cd: For some commands the command prompt has to work in a certain directory. You can see which is the current one to the left of the small sign. With the command "cd C: // Users / Chip" you change, for example, to the "Chip" folder in the "Users" directory. Don't forget to put the path in quotes if it contains spaces (see screenshot).
• dir: To delete a folder, you can use the command "rmdir folder", "folder" stands for the folder name. With "mkdir" you create a new folder. With "dir" you can display the contents of the folder in which you are currently located.
• help: If you need more commands or don't know what to do, you can simply enter "help". You will now see a list of commands that you can execute.
• color: Finally something for the eye. With "color number" you can change the color scheme of your prompt. Simply enter any two-digit number instead of "number".

This practical tip shows you how to open the console at all.