Windows Run Commands: Complete List
Windows Run Commands: Windows has a Run dialog box that executes a command to quickly and directly access settings, tools, and operating system features without using other methods. Launching the Run command will allow you to immediately begin performing the necessary operations in an application or operating system component, without wasting time opening various windows using other methods in Windows.
Some system tools are not directly accessible from Control Panel, Settings, or the Start menu, so Windows Run commands can help you quickly access hidden system settings. Windows Run commands can be used as an additional way to launch applications or operating system tools.
- Opening the Run Dialog Box in Windows
- Launching browsers using commands from “Run”
- Launching system applications from the Run window
- Launching Microsoft programs
- Opening individual folders, drives
- Launching Windows system functions, administration
- Setup, check equipment, device and network
- Article Conclusions
In the tables of this article you will find a list of commands “Run” (Windows Run), which I have divided into several blocks for easier searching. The presented list of commands work in different versions of the Windows operating system: in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7.
In the article you will find more than 130 commands suitable for all kinds of cases that a user may encounter when working on a computer.
Opening the Run Dialog Box in Windows
First, read the instructions on how to invoke the Run command on a Windows system. In Windows 7, this will not be difficult, the dialog box is located in the Start menu, in the Accessories folder. In Windows 10 and in Windows 8.1, you will need to right-click on the Start menu, and select Run from the menu that opens. In the Start menu of the Windows 10 operating system, the Run command is located in the System – Windows folder.
Let’s see how to open the Run command in another universal way that works in all modern versions of the Windows operating system.
Follow these steps:
- Press the keyboard keys “Win” + “R” at the same time.
- The Run dialog box opens, prompting you to enter the name of the program, folder, document, or Internet resource you want to open.
- Enter the appropriate command in the “Open” field, and then click on the “OK” button, or press the “Enter” key.
After that, the window of the application or system tool, called by the user’s command, will open.
Launching browsers using commands from “Run”
The first table shows the “Run” menu commands required to launch Internet browsers – browsers. To launch the main, most popular browsers, you should use the commands from the table below.
| Team | Action to take |
|---|---|
| iexplore | launching the Internet Explorer browser |
| inetcpl.cpl | Internet Explorer properties |
| msedge | launching the Microsoft Edge browser |
| chrome | launching the Google Chrome browser |
| firefox | Mozilla Firefox browser launch |
| opera | launching the Opera browser |
| vivaldi | Launching the Vivaldi Browser |
Launching system applications from the Run window
Applications are built into the Windows operating system to perform certain functions using system tools. Programs are launched using the appropriate command through “Run”. The table contains standard applications that are included with Windows.
| Team | Action to take |
|---|---|
| notepad | launching Notepad |
| mspaint | opening the graphic editor Paint |
| write | launching the WordPad test editor |
| calc | Launching the Calculator app |
| snipping tool | opening the Scissors program to take a screenshot |
| osk | Launching the application On-Screen Keyboard |
| magnify | opening Magnifier |
| wmplayer | launching Windows Media Player |
| xpsrchvw | launching the XPS Viewer application |
| narrator | Launch Narrator |
| charmap | opening the Symbol Table |
| cttune | text adjuster for easier reading |
| mip | input panel for mathematical expressions |
| dialer | phone app |
| dvd maker | Windows DVD Maker (not available on all versions of Windows) |
| isoburn | Windows Disc Image Burner |
Launching Microsoft programs
You can run programs from the Run dialog box. created by Microsoft, the manufacturer of the Windows operating system.
| Team | Action to take |
|---|---|
| win word | launching the Word text editor |
| excel | opening the Excel spreadsheet editor |
Opening individual folders, drives
The following set of Run commands will be useful for entering, using a dialog box, various folders in the Windows operating system.
| Team | Action to take |
|---|---|
| . | a command consisting of a single dot to open the profile folder of the current user (“User”, “Masha”, “Ivan”, etc.) of the computer |
| .. | command consisting of two dots to open the shared folder of the profile of all users (“Users”, “Users”) of the computer |
| \ | opening the system drive “C:” using the backslash character (slash) |
| control folders | setting folder options in File Explorer |
| fsmgmt.ms | public folder management |
| recent | view recently opened folders and files |
| appdata | AppData folder |
| documents | folder “Documents” (“My Documents”) of the current user |
| downloads | Downloads folder |
| favorites | Favorites folder |
| pictures | folder “Pictures” |
| videos | Video folder |
| music | Music folder |
| 3d object | Bulk Objects folder in Windows 10 |
Launching Windows system functions, administration
This table lists the commands in the Run line that are related to working with the settings and tools of the Windows operating system.
| Team | Action to take |
|---|---|
| explorer | launch file manager Windows Explorer |
| control | launching the Windows Control Panel |
| msconfig | opening the System Configuration utility |
| msinfo32 | getting system information |
| mmc | management console |
| sysdm.cpl | properties of the system |
| control admintools | administration |
| services.msc | windows services |
| perfmon.msc | system monitor |
| resmon | resource monitor |
| comexp.msc | component services |
| dcomcnfg | Component Service setup |
| compmgmt.msc | Launching the Computer Management snap-in |
| compmgmtlauncher | computer management |
| diskmgmt.msc | launch the Disk Management snap-in |
| netplwiz | user account management |
| control userpasswords2 | account management |
| shell:sendto | opening the “Send” menu |
| eventvwr.msc | event viewer |
| cmd | run command line without admin privileges |
| powershell | running Windows PowerShell without administrator privileges |
| regedit | launch Registry Editor |
| gpedit.msc | launching the Local Group Policy Editor (the component is present in Windows Pro and Windows Enterprise editions) |
| azman.msc | Launch Authorization Manager |
| taskmgr | launch task manager |
| devmgmt.msc | launch Device Manager |
| taskschd.msc | start Task Scheduler |
| control schedules | control of running tasks in the Task Scheduler |
| utilman | managing the settings of utilities included in the “Accessibility” group |
| appwiz.cpl | opening the Programs and Features section of the Control Panel to remove or change programs using the system tools |
| sdclt | backup and restore from an archive copy using Windows |
| recdisc | creating a system recovery disk Windows 10 , Windows 8.1 , Windows 7 |
| recovery drive | creating a Windows 11 recovery drive |
| firewall.cpl | configuring Windows Defender Firewall |
| wf.msc | monitoring Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security |
| rstrui | Starting System Restore from Windows Restore Points |
| log off | Sign Out |
| shutdown /s | shutdown Windows |
| shutdown /r | shutdown and restart the operating system |
| perfmon /res | system resource monitor: CPU, memory, disk, network |
| cleanmgr | Windows Disk Cleanup |
| dfrgui | disk defragmentation by means of the system |
| lpksetup | install or remove Windows interface languages |
| certmgr.msc | current user certificate management |
| shrpubw | share creation wizard |
| credwiz | archiving and restoring usernames and passwords |
| dpapimig | protected content protection |
| lusrmgr.msc | managing local users and groups |
| iexpress | wizard for creating self-extracting archives |
| mrt | launching the Malicious Software Removal Tool |
| sigverif | file signature verification |
| rekeywiz | file encryption certificate management (Encrypting File System – EFS) |
| secpol.msc | local security policy |
| eudcedit | character editor |
| control fonts | view, delete, show or hide fonts |
| fonts | open font folder |
| tpm.msc | Trusted Platform Module (TRM) management on the local computer |
| intl.cpl | select region and language |
| mstsc | remote desktop connection |
| msra | Windows Remote Assistance |
| useraccountcontrolsettings | setting notifications about changes in computer settings |
| winter | Windows operating system version information |
| wscui.cpl | view recent messages and solve problems |
| computer defaults | selection of default applications |
| slui | Windows activation |
| optional features | enable or disable Windows features |
| wscript | Windows Script Host settings |
| wusa | standalone update installer |
| cliconfig | SQL Server network client program |
Setup, check equipment, device and network
To configure devices, computer hardware, network, you need to access the device or system settings.
Finally, check out the commands for configuring, checking computer hardware, setting up devices, and networking.
| Team | Action to take |
|---|---|
| hdwwiz | hardware installation wizard |
| dxdiag | running DirectX diagnostics with DxDiag |
| verifier | Driver Check Manager |
| mdsched | checking RAM for errors using Windows tools |
| chkdsk | Checking the disk for errors using Windows |
| systempropertiesadvanced | advanced system settings |
| system properties performance | performance management |
| systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention | prevent data execution in performance settings |
| inetcpl.cpl | configuring Internet settings |
| ncpa.cpl | configuring network connection settings |
| control net connections | network connection settings |
| control keyboard | keyboard setting |
| control mouse | setting the parameters of the manipulator “mouse” |
| main.cpl | mouse options |
| control printers | device and printer management |
| printui | printer user interface |
| color cpl | printer color management |
| timedate.cpl | setting date and time settings |
| mmsys.cpl | sound setting |
| sndvol | volume mixer |
| desk.cpl | screen setting, display resolution setting |
| dpiscaling | display settings |
| dccw | screen color calibration |
| displayswitch | display projection setting |
| joy.cpl | setting up game devices |
| irprops.cpl | setting infrared communication parameters |
| powercfg.cpl | power settings management |
| device pairing wizard | adding a new device |
| fsquirt | Bluetooth file transfer |
| msdt | helpdesk diagnostic tool |
| tabletpc.cpl | pen and tablet settings |
| fxscover | fax cover page editor |
If I missed something, you can add new commands for the Run menu in the comments to this article. I did not include some commands in the tables due to the fact that they did not work for me in the Windows 10 operating system.
Article Conclusions
To launch system tools and applications, the Run commands are used on the PC, with the help of which the user gets quick access to system tools. The article presents a large number of commands to perform the necessary actions in the Windows operating system.