If you are a Windows user then probably you are familiar with the run command. If you know the corresponding Run command of a tool or task, then you know the quickest way to access said tool or task.
Press Window + R, then type RUN command, then press enter. Run commands are just like using command prompt in a GUI environment.
List of Run Commands
The following is a list of our favorite Run commands to help you be more productive
1. msinfo32 – If you want to quickly get your system information, then the “msinfo32” command is the way to go. At a glance it will display all the system details including the hardware resources and software environment.
2. compmgmt.msc – The Computer Management app is where you can access almost all the advanced Windows modules like Event Viewer, Shared Folder, System Tools, etc.
3. cleanmgr – This command allows you to open the Windows Disk Cleanup utility. Once opened, simply select the drive your want to clean up and click the “OK” button.
4. eventvwr.msc – Windows Event Viewer is where Windows stores all the monitoring and troubleshooting messages. You can use this command to quickly access the Event Viewer application.
5. control – Every Windows user knows a thing or two about the Windows Control Panel, and using this command you can quickly access the Control Panel with some stumbling around.
6. mmc – Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is an advanced Windows module that is mainly aimed at system administrators and power users, as it sports all the tools required for configuring and monitoring a Windows system.
7. resmon – Whenever you want to check how your system resources are being utilized, simply use this Run command, and it displays everything from your CPU to Dist to Network.
8. control – In an effort to simplify the interface, Windows 10 has placed many of the common configuration settings into an area known as Settings, which can be found as an entry in the Start Menu. While this is fine for many configuration settings, there are times when you have to load the full Windows 10 Control Panel folder
9. msconfig – The Microsoft Configuration app is a holdover from previous versions of the Windows operating system, but it is still useful for Windows 10. Typing “msconfig” will open an app that grants you access to boot variations and allows you to block or stop certain services and applications from starting during the boot sequence.
10. appwiz.cpl – Drilling even further into the realm of the Control Panel, there are times when you would like to uninstall an application. This process is accomplished with the Programs and Features screen, which is a sub-section of the Control Panel. However, you can get there fastest by typing “appwiz.cpl” in the Run command box.
11. resmon – A utility app that most Windows users ignore–but really shouldn’t–is the Windows 10 Resource Monitor. If your PC starts lagging, or the hard drive seems to be spinning up without cause, run the command “resmon,” and troubleshoot the problem.
12. calc, notepad, mspaint – Another good use for the run command is to start basic Microsoft applications that you may not use every day and don’t want on your desktop or taskbar but that you still use from time to time. For example, the Calculator app. Open the Run command box, and type “calc” to start it.
13. main.cpl – One of the first things you may find you need to adjust on a new Windows 10 PC are the mouse settings. A mouse cursor that is too small or moves too slowly across the screen can be frustrating. The fastest way to get to the mouse settings is to open the Run command, and type “main.cpl” into the box.
14. powershell – If the command prompt is too old for you, then you may want to try PowerShell. Just type this command in the Run dialog box, and you will have your PowerShell opened without administrator privileges.
15. netplwiz – The general user accounts option is available through the Control Panel, but if you want to mess with the advanced user account options, then use this command to open the Advanced User Accounts window.
The Windows Run command is one of the best utilities you can find in Windows. Besides the commands shared above that first come to mind, there are many other commands to access different parts of Windows. So if you think that we missed any of your favorite Run commands, do share them in the comments below.
