List of commands by purpose - DOS/Command Prompt Reference

Introduces commands that can be used in MS-DOS Prompt, Command Prompt, or batch files based on their purposes.

For command list in alphabetical order, please see the top page of ‘DOS/Command Prompt Reference’.

To operate (copy/move/delete etc.) a file

There are the following commands for file operations.

‘<’ (input redirection)	Reads the content from a file when the command prompts for input.
‘>’ (output redirection)	Writes the output generated by the command execution to a file.
‘>>’ (append redirection)	Appends the output generated by the command execution to the end of the file.
Attrib	Changes the attributes of one or more files.
Comp	[Windows XP? or later] Compares two or more files and outputs the differences on the screen.
Copy	Copies one or more files.
Del, Erase	Deletes one or more files.
Expand	[MS-DOS 5.0 or later/Windows XP? or later] Extracts compressed files in LZ77 format or CAB format (XP and later).
Fc	Compares two files or one-to-many files and outputs the differences on the screen.
Icacls	[Windows Vista or later] Displays or modifies the Access Control List (ACL) of a file.
Mklink	[Windows Vista or later] Creates symbolic links or hard links.
More command	Outputs the contents of a text file, dividing them to fit one screen at a time.
Move	Moves one or more files.
Openfiles	[Windows XP or later] You can check and disconnect remotely opened files.
Print	Prints the contents of a text file using the specified device.
Recover	[MS-DOS 5.0 or earlier?/Windows NT series?/2000, XP or later] Attempts to recover files from the disk.
Ren, Rename	Renames a file or directory.
Replace	Replaces specific files within the target directory with another file.
Robocopy	Copies files based on specified conditions. It supports filtering by file date and attributes, and also accommodates options specified in log files or command files (job files).
Takeown	[Windows Vista or later] Sets the owner of a file or directory to the current user.
Type	Outputs the contents of a text file.
Xcopy	Copies one or more files. It can also copy entire directories.

To list files / To execute a command for each files

To display a list of files in a directory or execute the same command on files within a directory, you primarily use the following commands.

Dir	Displays a list of files in the directory.
For	Executes a command on all files/directories that match the specified conditions.
Forfiles	[Windows Vista? or later] Executes a command on all files/directories that match the specified conditions.
Tree	Displays a tree-like structure of subdirectories and files within a directory.

To change the working directory / To copy/move/delete the directory

There are the following commands for directory operations.

‘<drive-letter>:’	Changes (moves) the operating drive. (You can execute it directly, such as ‘C:’).
Cd, Chdir	Changes the current working directory.
Deltree	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Deletes a directory, even if it is not empty.
Icacls	[Windows Vista or later] Displays or modifies the Access Control List (ACL) of a directory.
If	You can check the existence of a directory. ([MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] You can perform existence checking using NUL.)
Md, Mkdir	Creates a directory.
Mklink	[Windows Vista or later] Creates a symbolic link / hard link / junction point.
Move	Moves one or more files/directories.
Pushd	[Windows NT series] Changes the current working directory. This change can be reversed using Popd.
Ren, Rename	Renames a file or directory.
Rd, Rmdir	Deletes a directory. [Windows NT series/XP or later only] Deletes even if it is not empty.
Robocopy	[Windows Vista or later] Copies files within a directory. To copy entire directories, several options need to be specified, allowing for detailed control.
Subst	Creates a virtual drive with the specified directory as the root directory.
Xcopy	Copies one or more files. It can also copy entire directories.

To show/operate the drive or the volume

There are the following commands for drive and volume operations.

‘<drive-letter>:’	Changes (moves) the operating drive. (You can execute it directly, such as ‘C:’).
Chkdsk	Checks for errors on the specified drive.
Diskcomp	[MS-DOS, and Windows NT series up to Windows 8.1] Compares two floppy disks.
Diskcopy	[MS-DOS, and Windows NT series up to Windows 8.1] Copies the floppy disk to the another disk.
Format	Initializes (formats) the specified disk drive.
Fdisk	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Launches the disk management utility.
Label	Displays or changes the volume label and serial number of a disk.
Mountvol	[Windows NT series] Displays the currently mounted volumes on the system and performs mounting or dismounting operations.
Recover	[MS-DOS 5.0 or earlier?/Windows NT series?/2000, XP or later] Attempts to recover files from the disk.
Scandisk	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Checks for errors on the specified drive.
Subst	Creates a virtual drive with the specified directory as the root directory.
Vol	Displays the volume label and serial number of a disk.

To use texts/strings

There are the following commands for processing text (strings) in the prompt.

‘<’ (input redirection)	Reads the content from a file when the command prompts for input.
‘>’ (output redirection)	Writes the output generated by the command execution to a file.
‘>>’ (append redirection)	Appends the output generated by the command execution to the end of the file.
% (percent)	Expands environment variables and uses their content as text.
! (exclamation mark)	[Windows NT series] [Extensions] Uses delayed environment variable expansion to expand environment variables and uses their content as text.
^ (caret)	[Windows NT series] It is used when you want to use special characters such as redirection symbols as ordinary characters.
Clip	[Windows Vista or later] Copies the input the Clip program receives to the clipboard.
Echo	Displays (outputs) text.
Find	Searches for a specified string in a file and outputs the lines where it is found, among other information.
Findstr	Searches for a specified string in a file and outputs the lines where it is found, among other information. It allows for more detailed search options compared to Find.
For	[Windows NT series] [Extensions] Parses and separates text from arguments, file contents, or command output using the ‘/F’ option.
If	文字列の比較を行うことができます。
Set	[Windows NT series] [Extensions] The ‘/A’ option is used for numerical calculations. Additionally, the ‘/P’ option sets input from the prompt into environment variables.
Sort	Sorts the input text and outputs it.

To configure the prompt

There are the following commands for making configuration changes to the screen or environment in the prompt or batch program sessions.

‘<drive-letter>:’	Changes (moves) the operating drive. (You can execute it directly, such as ‘C:’).
Adddrv	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Loads and makes a device available for use in the current session.
Cls	Clears the display on the screen.
Cd, Chdir	Changes the current working directory.
Chcp	Switches the code page (language setting, character encoding).
Color	[Windows NT series] Sets the colors on the screen.
Deldrv	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Releases the device loaded in the current session.
Doskey	Changes or extends the input method on the prompt.
Echo	Toggles the echo functionality (switching the display of ‘C:\>’ and similar prompts) by specifying ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’.
Exit	Exits the Command Interpreter (prompt).
Help	Displays the help for various commands.
Mode	Configures settings for parallel ports, screen, etc., used in DOS/command prompt, including parameters such as baud rate and code page.
Path	Displays or modifies the PATH environment variable.
Popd	[Windows NT series] Reverts the changes made to the current working directory using the ‘pushd’ command.
Prompt	Modifies the prompt display.
Pushd	[Windows NT series] Changes the current working directory. This change can be reversed using Popd.
Set	Displays or modifies environment variables.
Setver	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Manages version tables for MS-DOS programs.
Title	[Windows NT series] Changes the title of the prompt window.

To display/configure the system settings/state

There are the following commands to display or modify system-wide settings and the system's status.

Assoc	[Windows NT series?/XP or later] Displays or modifies file extension associations.
Break	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Modifies whether interrupting with Ctrl+C is allowed during file operations.
Date	Changes the system date.
Ftype	[Windows NT series?/XP or later] Displays or modifies the file types used for file associations.
Hostname	[Windows NT series?] Displays the hostname of the local computer.
Lh, Loadhigh	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Loads and executes a resident program into upper memory.
Mem	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Displays the current status of memory usage, including conventional memory and upper memory.
Mountvol	[Windows NT series] Displays currently mounted volumes on the system and performs mounting or unmounting operations.
Reg	[Windows NT series/XP or later] Performs registry operations via the command line.
Runas	[Windows 2000 or later] Runs a program as a different user.
Setx	[Windows Vista or later] Adds or modifies values in user-specific or system-wide environment variable settings.
Shutdown	[Windows XP or later] Performs actions such as shutting down or restarting the system.
Sys	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me] Transfers (copies) necessary files to the system drive.
Systeminfo	[Windows NT series] Displays information about the computer.
Tasklist	[Windows XP Professional/Vista or later] Displays a list of programs running on the computer along with their information.
Taskkill	[Windows XP Professional/Vista or later] Terminates a program running on the computer.
Time	Changes the system time.
Tskill	[Windows XP or later] Terminates a program running on the computer.
Tzutil	[Windows Vista? or later] Displays or modifies the time zone settings.
Ver	Displays the version of MS-DOS/Windows.
Verify	Displays or sets whether file verification (checking if files are correctly written) is enabled.
Whoami	[Windows Vista or later] Outputs information such as the username, group name, and permissions based on the current session.

To control the batch program

To execute programs or change the execution order in a batch file or similar environment, use the following commands.

‘<exec-file>’	Executes a command or program (directly run ‘cmd.exe’, for example).
\| (pipe)	Redirects the output of one command as the input for another command.
@ (at mark)	Suppresses displaying commands on the screen even when Echo is ON.
: (colon)	Defines a label.
% (percent)	Expands environment variables and uses their content as text.
! (exclamation mark)	[Windows NT series] [Extensions] Uses delayed environment variable expansion to expand environment variables and uses their content as text.
& (ampersand)	[Windows NT series] Executes two commands in sequence on a single line.
\|\| (logical OR)	[Windows NT series] Executes the command specified on the left of ‘\|\|’, and if it fails, executes the command specified on the right.
&& (logical AND)	[Windows NT series] Execute the command specified on the left of ‘&&’, and if it succeeds, execute the command specified on the right.
‘( )’ (parentheses characters)	[Windows NT series] Groups commands together, commonly used with ‘For’ or ‘If’ statements.
Choice	[MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/Me, Windows Vista or later] Displays options and prompt the user for a choice.
Call	Executes a batch program without terminating the calling batch program. [Windows NT series] [Extensions] Temporarily transfers control to another part within the same batch program, similar to a function call.
Cmd	[Windows NT series] Launches the command interpreter (the Command Prompt).
Command	Launch the command interpreter (the MS-DOS Prompt).
Echo	Displays (outputs) text. Or toggles the echo functionality (switching the display of ‘C:\>’ and similar prompts) by specifying ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’.
Endlocal	[Windows NT series] Ends the localization of environment variables.
Exit	Exits the command interpreter (prompt). If no options are specified, it will exit not only batch programs but also the prompt.[Windows NT series] [Extensions] ‘Call’で呼び出したラベル内での処理を終了します。
Goto	Jumps to the specified label.
If	Performs a conditional test, and if the condition is true, executes the specified command.
Pause	Pauses execution and waits for user input.
Rem	Ignores the text following on the same line. It is used for commenting.
Set	Displays or modifies environment variables.
Setlocal	[Windows NT series] Localizes environment variables. [Extensions] Sets the ON/OFF status of Extensions or the delayed environment variable expansion feature.
Shift	Shifts the contents of batch program parameters (arguments).
Start command	[Windows 95/98/Me/NT/XP or later] Executes a program or open a file. It can also specify whether to wait for termination, even for GUI programs.
Timeout	[Windows Vista or later] Sets up a waiting state with a timeout for input.