Windows
Useful Run Commands Every Windows Admin Should Know

Useful Run Commands Every Windows Admin Should Know

As a Windows system administrator, you’re always looking for ways to increase your efficiency and productivity. One way to do this is by using run commands, which allow you to quickly access various tools and utilities without having to navigate through menus or click on multiple options. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the most useful run commands every Windows admin should know. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, these commands will help you save time and streamline your workflow. So let’s dive in and explore the power of run commands!

Note: press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run command dialog box and enter any of the commands below to access the respective tool.

useful run commands every Windows admin should know
Figure 1: Run command window

Most Used Run Commands

compmgmt.msc

The “compmgmt.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Computer Management console, which is a centralized tool for managing various system components and settings.

The Computer Management console includes a variety of management tools, including:

  1. Disk Management: This tool allows you to view and manage the storage devices connected to your system, including hard drives, USB drives, and other storage devices. You can create, delete, and format partitions, assign drive letters, and perform other disk-related tasks.
  2. Device Manager: This tool allows you to view and manage the devices installed on your system, including hardware components such as printers, monitors, and network adapters. You can update drivers, disable or enable devices, and troubleshoot device issues.
  3. Event Viewer: This tool allows you to view the system events and notifications that have been logged on your system, as explained in the previous answer.
  4. Local Users and Groups: This tool allows you to manage user accounts and groups on your system, including creating new user accounts, changing passwords, and setting group policies.
  5. Performance Monitor: This tool allows you to monitor the performance of your system, including CPU usage, memory usage, and disk usage.

In summary, the “compmgmt.msc” command is a powerful tool for managing various aspects of your Windows system, and it can be particularly useful for IT professionals and system administrators who need to manage complex networks and systems.

Figure 2: Computer Management window

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diskmgmt.msc

The “diskmgmt.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Disk Management console, which is a utility for managing the storage devices connected to your system.

From the Disk Management console, you can perform a variety of disk-related tasks, including:

  1. Create new partitions: You can create new partitions on your hard drive to organize your data and install multiple operating systems.
  2. Format partitions: You can format partitions with different file systems such as NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT, based on your requirements.
  3. Assign drive letters: You can assign or change drive letters for storage devices that do not have one, which can be helpful to access them easily.
  4. Shrink or extend partitions: You can resize the partitions to shrink or extend its size as per your requirements.
  5. Initialize new disks: You can initialize new disks that are not yet initialized in the system.
  6. Change the partition layout: You can delete or merge partitions to change the partition layout.

The Disk Management console is a powerful tool for managing your storage devices and optimizing your system’s storage space. However, it’s important to exercise caution when making changes to your disk partitions, as data loss or system instability can occur if you make any mistakes.

Overall, the “diskmgmt.msc” command is a valuable tool for users who need to manage their disk space and perform disk-related tasks on their Windows system.

Figure 3: Disk Management window

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devmgmt.msc

The “devmgmt.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Device Manager, which is a utility for managing the devices that are connected to your system.

The Device Manager is a powerful tool for managing your system’s hardware devices and drivers. From the Device Manager, you can perform a variety of device-related tasks, including:

  1. Updating device drivers: You can update device drivers for individual hardware components to ensure that they’re functioning properly and are up to date.
  2. Enabling or disabling devices: You can enable or disable hardware devices that are not in use or are causing conflicts with other devices.
  3. Uninstalling devices: You can uninstall hardware devices that are no longer needed or are causing issues with your system.
  4. Managing hardware resources: You can manage hardware resources such as IRQs and I/O addresses to prevent conflicts between devices.
  5. Viewing device properties: You can view detailed information about individual hardware devices, including their status, driver information, and hardware IDs.

The Device Manager is a valuable tool for troubleshooting and managing your system’s hardware devices. It can be particularly useful for IT professionals and system administrators who need to manage complex networks and systems with multiple devices.

Overall, the “devmgmt.msc” command is a useful tool for managing your system’s hardware devices and drivers, and it can be an essential tool for maintaining system stability and performance.

Figure 4: Device Manager window

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eventvwr.msc

The “eventvwr.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Event Viewer, which is a tool that logs system events and notifications, including errors, warnings, and informational messages.

The Event Viewer is a powerful tool for troubleshooting and diagnosing problems with your system. By reviewing the events that have been logged, you can identify the root cause of issues and take appropriate action to resolve them. For example, if you’re experiencing system crashes, you can use the Event Viewer to review the “System” logs to identify any errors or warnings that may be related to the issue.

The Event Viewer is also useful for monitoring system performance, as it provides a detailed record of system events and resource usage. By reviewing the logs, you can identify performance bottlenecks and optimize system settings to improve overall performance.

Overall, the “eventvwr.msc” command is a valuable tool for advanced users who want to monitor and troubleshoot system events, and it can be particularly useful for IT professionals and system administrators who need to manage complex networks and systems.

Figure 5: Event Viewer window

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lusrmgr.msc

The “lusrmgr.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Local Users and Groups Manager, which is a utility for managing local user accounts and groups on your system.

From the Local Users and Groups Manager, you can perform a variety of user and group-related tasks, including:

  1. Creating user accounts: You can create new user accounts on your system, each with their own login credentials and access permissions.
  2. Managing user properties: You can modify the properties of user accounts, including their login name, password, and group memberships.
  3. Creating and managing groups: You can create new groups and add users to them, allowing you to manage permissions and access for multiple users at once.
  4. Managing group properties: You can modify the properties of groups, including their name, description, and group memberships.
  5. Delegating administrative tasks: You can delegate administrative tasks to specific users or groups, giving them permission to manage certain aspects of your system.

The Local Users and Groups Manager is a valuable tool for managing user accounts and groups on your system, and it can be particularly useful for IT professionals and system administrators who need to manage user accounts across multiple machines.

Overall, the “lusrmgr.msc” command is a useful tool for managing local user accounts and groups on your system, and it can be an essential tool for maintaining system security and user access control.

Figure 6: Local Users and Groups window

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perfmon

The “perfmon” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Performance Monitor, which is a utility for monitoring and analyzing system performance.

From the Performance Monitor, you can monitor a variety of system performance metrics, including:

  1. CPU usage: You can monitor the amount of CPU resources that are being used by individual processes and by the system as a whole.
  2. Memory usage: You can monitor the amount of memory that is being used by individual processes and by the system as a whole.
  3. Disk usage: You can monitor the amount of disk activity that is occurring, including read and write operations and disk queue lengths.
  4. Network usage: You can monitor network activity, including incoming and outgoing network traffic and network adapter performance.
  5. System counters: You can monitor a variety of system performance counters, including thread and handle counts, process and service performance, and system uptime.

In addition to monitoring system performance metrics, the Performance Monitor also allows you to create custom data collectors and view historical performance data, allowing you to analyze system performance over time.

The Performance Monitor is a powerful tool for monitoring and analyzing system performance, and it can be particularly useful for IT professionals and system administrators who need to identify and troubleshoot system performance issues.

Overall, the “perfmon” command is a valuable tool for monitoring and analyzing system performance, and it can be an essential tool for maintaining system stability and performance.

Figure 7: Performance Monitor window

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services.msc

The “services.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to manage and configure the services that run in the background of the system. Services are programs that run in the background, and they are responsible for performing various tasks that are necessary for the smooth operation of the system.

From the “Services” window, you can view the status of each service, start or stop a service, change the startup type of a service (i.e., whether it starts automatically with Windows or manually), and configure other settings related to a service.

Using the “services.msc” command can be useful for troubleshooting problems related to specific services, as well as for optimizing the performance of your system by disabling unnecessary services that may be consuming system resources. However, it’s important to exercise caution when making changes to system services, as disabling the wrong service can cause unexpected problems.

Figure 8: Windows Services window

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gpedit.msc

The “gpedit.msc” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the Local Group Policy Editor, which is a utility for managing local group policies on your system.

From the Local Group Policy Editor, you can perform a variety of system configuration and security-related tasks, including:

  1. Configuring system security: You can configure a variety of security-related settings on your system, including password policies, user account control settings, and audit policies.
  2. Configuring system settings: You can configure a variety of system settings, including network settings, system update settings, and power management settings.
  3. Configuring application settings: You can configure a variety of application-related settings, including settings for Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and Windows Search.
  4. Configuring administrative templates: You can configure administrative templates, which are preconfigured settings for common administrative tasks.
  5. Creating custom policies: You can create custom policies for specific applications or tasks, allowing you to fine-tune your system configuration to meet your needs.

The Local Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool for managing system policies and settings, and it can be particularly useful for IT professionals and system administrators who need to manage multiple machines in an enterprise environment.

Overall, the “gpedit.msc” command is a valuable tool for managing local group policies on your system, and it can be an essential tool for maintaining system security and configuration.

Figure 9: Local Group Policy Editor window

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netstat

The “netstat” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to display network-related information and statistics, including active connections, network interface statistics, and network protocol statistics.

By default, the “netstat” command will display a list of all active TCP connections on your system, including the local address and port, the remote address and port, and the status of the connection. You can also use a variety of command-line options to customize the output of the “netstat” command, including:

  1. -a: Displays all active connections, including both TCP and UDP connections.
  2. -n: Displays network addresses and port numbers in numerical form, rather than resolving them to hostnames.
  3. -o: Displays the process ID associated with each connection.
  4. -b: Displays the executable file associated with each connection.

In addition to displaying active connections, the “netstat” command can also be used to display a variety of other network-related statistics, including:

  1. Network interface statistics: You can use the “-e” option to display statistics for each network interface on your system, including the number of packets sent and received, and the number of errors encountered.
  2. Network protocol statistics: You can use the “-s” option to display statistics for each network protocol on your system, including TCP, UDP, and IP.

Overall, the “netstat” command is a useful tool for troubleshooting network connectivity issues and monitoring network activity on your system. By displaying detailed network-related statistics and information, the “netstat” command can help you identify and diagnose network-related problems, allowing you to maintain system stability and performance.

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tasklist

The “tasklist” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to display a list of all running processes on your system. It provides detailed information about each process, including its name, process ID (PID), memory usage, and other related data.

By default, the “tasklist” command will display a list of all running processes on your system, including their process ID, memory usage, and other information. You can also use a variety of command-line options to customize the output of the “tasklist” command, including:

  1. /v: Displays additional information about each process, including its command line, working set size, and user name.
  2. /svc: Displays information about the services associated with each process.
  3. /fi: Filters the output of the “tasklist” command based on a specified set of criteria, such as the process name, process ID, or memory usage.

The “tasklist” command can be a useful tool for troubleshooting and managing your system. By providing detailed information about each running process, it can help you identify and diagnose issues related to system performance, memory usage, and security. For example, you can use the “tasklist” command to identify processes that are consuming excessive amounts of memory or CPU resources, or to check for the presence of suspicious or malicious processes running on your system.

Figure 10: tasklist command window

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resmon

The “resmon” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to monitor and analyze system resources, including CPU usage, memory usage, disk activity, and network activity. It provides detailed information about system performance in real-time, allowing you to identify and diagnose performance issues and optimize system performance.

Once you have opened the “Resource Monitor” window, you can use the various tabs to monitor and analyze system resources, including:

  1. Overview: Displays a summary of system resource usage, including CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
  2. CPU: Displays detailed information about CPU usage, including the processes and services consuming the most CPU resources.
  3. Memory: Displays detailed information about memory usage, including the processes and services consuming the most memory.
  4. Disk: Displays detailed information about disk activity, including the processes and services generating the most disk I/O.
  5. Network: Displays detailed information about network activity, including the processes and services generating the most network traffic.

The “resmon” command can be a powerful tool for optimizing system performance and diagnosing performance issues. By providing real-time information about system resource usage, it can help you identify and resolve issues related to system performance, disk activity, memory usage, and network activity, allowing you to maintain system stability and performance.

Figure 11: Resource Monitor window

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sysdm.cpl

The “sysdm.cpl” command is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the System Properties dialog box. This dialog box provides information about your system, including the version of Windows you are running, the amount of memory installed on your system, and other related information.

Once you have opened the System Properties dialog box, you can use the various tabs to view and modify system properties, including:

  1. General: Displays basic information about your system, including the version of Windows you are running and the amount of memory installed on your system.
  2. Computer Name: Displays the name of your computer and allows you to change it if desired.
  3. Hardware: Displays information about the hardware installed on your system, including device drivers and system settings.
  4. Advanced: Displays advanced system settings, including performance and user profile settings.

The “sysdm.cpl” command can be a useful tool for managing and configuring your system. By providing detailed information about system properties, it can help you troubleshoot and diagnose issues related to system performance, hardware, and user settings, allowing you to optimize and customize your system to meet your specific needs.

Figure 12: System Properties window

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appwiz.cpl

The “appwiz.cpl” command (application wizard) is a tool used in the Windows operating system to access the “Programs and Features” control panel. This control panel provides a list of all installed programs on your computer and allows you to uninstall, change, or repair them.

Once you have opened the “Programs and Features” control panel, you can use it to manage the installed programs on your computer. The control panel provides a list of all installed programs, as well as options to uninstall, change, or repair them.

Some common tasks you can perform using the “Programs and Features” control panel include:

  1. Uninstalling programs: Select a program from the list and click on the “Uninstall” button to remove it from your computer.
  2. Changing or repairing programs: Some programs provide an option to change or repair them. Click on the program in the list and then click on the “Change” or “Repair” button to modify the program’s settings or repair any issues.
  3. Viewing installed updates: Click on the “View installed updates” link in the left pane to view a list of all installed updates on your computer.
  4. Turning Windows features on or off: Click on the “Turn Windows features on or off” link in the left pane to view and modify the Windows features installed on your computer.

The “appwiz.cpl” command can be a useful tool for managing and maintaining your installed programs on your computer. By providing a centralized location to manage all of your installed programs, it can help you keep your system clean and optimized, while also allowing you to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to specific programs or updates.

Figure 13: Program and Features window

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More Run Commands

Task NameRun Command
About Windowswinver
Add a Devicedevicepairingwizard
Add Hardware Wizardhdwwiz
Advanced User Accountsnetplwiz
Authorization Managerazman.msc
Backup and Restoresdclt
Bluetooth File Transferfsquirt
Calculatorcalc
Certificatescertmgr.msc
Change Computer Performance Settingssystempropertiesperformance
Change Data Execution Prevention Settingssystempropertiesdataexecutionprevention
Change Printer Settingsprintui
Character Mapcharmap
ClearType Tunercttune
Color Managementcolorcpl
Command Promptcmd
Component Servicescomexp.msc
Component Servicesdcomcnfg
Computer Managementcompmgmt.msc
Computer Managementcompmgmtlauncher
Connect to a Network Projectornetproj
Connect to a Projectordisplayswitch
Control Panelcontrol
Create A Shared Folder Wizardshrpubw
Create a System Repair Discrecdisc
Credential Backup and Restore Wizardcredwiz
Data Execution Preventionsystempropertiesdataexecutionprevention
Default Locationlocationnotifications
Device Managerdevmgmt
Device Pairing Wizarddevicepairingwizard
Diagnostics Troubleshooting Wizardmsdt
Digitizer Calibration Tooltabcal
DirectX Diagnostic Tooldxdiag
Disk Cleanupcleanmgr
Disk Defragmenterdfrgui
Disk Managementdiskmgmt
Displaydpiscaling
Display Color Calibrationdccw
Display Switchdisplayswitch
DPAPI Key Migration Wizarddpapimig
Driver Verifier Managerverifier
Ease of Access Centerutilman
Encrypting File System Wizardrekeywiz
Event Viewereventvwr
Fax Cover Page Editorfxscover
File Signature Verificationsigverif
Getting Startedgettingstarted
IExpress Wizardiexpress
Import to Windows Contactswabmig*
iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tooliscsicpl
iSCSI Initiator Propertiesiscsicpl
Language Pack Installerlpksetup
Local Group Policy Editorgpedit
Local Security Policysecpol
Local Users and Groupslusrmgr
Location Activitylocationnotifications
Magnifiermagnify
Malicious Software Removal Toolmrt
Manage Your File Encryption Certificatesrekeywiz
Math Input Panelmip*
Microsoft Management Consolemmc
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Toolmsdt
NAP Client Configurationnapclcfg
Narratornarrator
New Scan Wizardwiaacmgr
Notepadnotepad
ODBC Data Source Administratorodbcad32
ODBC Driver Configurationodbcconf
On-Screen Keyboardosk
Paintmspaint
Performance Monitorperfmon
Performance Optionssystempropertiesperformance
Phone Dialerdialer
Presentation Settingspresentationsettings
Print Managementprintmanagement
Printer Migrationprintbrmui
Printer User Interfaceprintui
Private Character Editoreudcedit
Problem Steps Recorderpsr
Protected Content Migrationdpapimig
Registry Editorregedit
Remote Access Phonebookrasphone
Remote Desktop Connectionmstsc
Resource Monitorresmon
Resultant Set of Policyrsop.msc
Securing the Windows Account Databasesyskey
Servicesservices.msc
Set Program Access and Computer Defaultscomputerdefaults
Share Creation Wizardshrpubw
Shared Foldersfsmgmt
Snipping Toolsnippingtool
Sound Recordersoundrecorder
SQL Server Client Network Utilitycliconfg
Sticky Notesstikynot
Stored User Names and Passwordscredwiz
Sync Centermobsync
System Configurationmsconfig
System Configuration Editorsysedit (32-bit version of Windows only.)
System Informationmsinfo32
System Properties (Advanced Tab)systempropertiesadvanced
System Properties (Computer Name Tab)systempropertiescomputername
System Properties (Hardware Tab)systempropertieshardware
System Properties (Remote Tab)systempropertiesremote
System Properties (System Protection Tab)systempropertiesprotection
System Restorerstrui
Tablet PC Input Paneltabtip*
Task Managertaskmgr
Task Schedulertaskschd
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Managementtpm.msc
User Account Control Settingsuseraccountcontrolsettings
Utility Managerutilman
Version Reporter Appletwinver
Volume Mixersndvol
Windows Activation Clientslui
Windows Anytime Upgrade Resultswindowsanytimeupgraderesults
Windows Contactswab*
Windows Disc Image Burning Toolisoburn
Windows DVD Makerdvdmaker*
Windows Easy Transfermigwiz*
Windows Explorerexplorer
Windows Fax and Scanwfs
Windows Featuresoptionalfeatures
Windows Firewall with Advanced Securitywf.msc
Windows Help and Supportwinhlp32
Windows Journaljournal*
Windows Media Playerwmplayer*
Windows Memory Diagnostic Schedulermdsched
Windows Mobility Centermblctr
Windows Picture Acquisition Wizardwiaacmgr
Windows PowerShellpowershell*
Windows PowerShell ISEpowershell_ise*
Windows Remote Assistancemsra
Windows Repair Discrecdisc
Windows Script Hostwscript
Windows Updatewuapp
Windows Update Standalone Installerwusa
WMI Managementwmimgmt
WMI Testerwbemtest
WordPadwrite
XPS Viewerxpsrchvw
Access Screen Resolution pagedesk.cpl
Access Mouse propertiesmain.cpl
Access Windows Action Centerwscui.cpl
Access Network Adaptersncpa.cpl
Access Power Optionpowercfg.cpl
Access the Programs and Features Windowappwiz.cpl
Access the System Propertiessysdm.cpl
Access the Windows Firewallfirewall.cpl
*You cannot run these commands from a command
prompt or the search box.
Table 1: Complete list of Run commands

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