Windows Run commands are super handy to know, especially when dealing with computer users over the phone. Trying to talk them through an issue can be difficult enough without worrying about what version of Windows they are running or whether or not they have moved the shortcut to their control panel and all sorts. With the big list compilation below you can access most of Windows important features with simple ‘Start > Run > type in xxx’ instructions to users.
All you need to do is click on ‘Start’ and select ‘Run’, or hold the ‘Windows Key’ down and press ‘R’ and enter the commands listed below.
Enough small talk, I am sure you know what you are looking for so check out my top 100 handy Windows Run Commands.
| Access | Run Command |
| Accessibility Controls | access.cpl |
| Accessibility Wizard | accwiz |
| Add Hardware Wizard | hdwwiz.cpl |
| Add/Remove Programs | appwiz.cpl |
| Administrative Tools | control admintools |
| Automatic Updates | wuaucpl.cpl |
| Calculator | calc |
| Certificate Manager | certmgr.msc |
| Character Map | charmap |
| Check Disk Utility | chkdsk |
| Command Prompt | cmd |
| Component Services | dcomcnfg |
| Computer Management | compmgmt.msc |
| Control Panel | control |
| Date and Time Properties | timedate.cpl |
| DDE Shares | ddeshare |
| Device Manager | devmgmt.msc |
| Direct X Diagnostic | dxdiag |
| Disk Cleanup | cleanmgr |
| Disk Defragmenter | dfrg.msc |
| Disk Management | diskmgmt.msc |
| Disk Partition Manager | diskpart |
| Display Properties | desk.cpl |
| Driver Verification Utility | verifier |
| Event Viewer | eventvwr.msc |
| Files and Settings Tranfser Utility (Migration Wizard) | migwiz |
| File Signature Verification | sigverif |
| Firefox (if installed) | firefox |
| Folder Options | control folders |
| Fonts | control fonts |
| Fonts Folder | fonts |
| Game Controllers | joy.cpl |
| Group Policy Editor | gpedit.msc |
| Help and Support | helpctr |
| Hyperterminal | hypertrm |
| Internet Connection Wizard | icwconn1 |
| Internet Explorer | iexplore |
| Internet Properties | inetcpl.cpl |
| Internet Setup Wizard | inetwiz |
| Keyboard Properties | control keyboard |
| Local Security Settings | secpol.msc |
| Local Users and Groups | lusrmgr.msc |
| Log Off | logoff |
| Malicious Software Removal Utility | mrt |
| Microsoft Access | msaccess |
| Microsoft Excel | excel |
| Microsoft Frontpage | frontpg |
| Microsoft Movie Maker | moviemk |
| Microsoft Paint | mspaint |
| Microsoft Powerpoint | powerpnt |
| Microsoft Word | winword |
| Microsoft Syncronization Tool | mobsync |
| Mouse Properties | control mouse, main.cpl |
| Network Connections | control netconnections, ncpa.cpl |
| Network Setup Wizard | netsetup.cpl |
| Notepad | notepad |
| On Screen Keyboard | osk |
| Outlook Express | msimn |
| Password Properties | password.cpl |
| Performance Monitor | perfmon.cpl, perfmon |
| Phone and Modem Options | telephon.cpl |
| Phone Dialer | dialer |
| Power Configuration | powercfg.cpl |
| Printers and Faxes | control printers |
| Printers Folder | printers |
| Regional Settings | intl.cpl |
| Registry Editor | regedit, regedit32 |
| Remote Desktop | mstsc |
| Removable Storage | ntmsmgr.msc |
| Removable Storage Operator Requests | mtmsoprq.msc |
| Scanners and Cameras | sticpl.cpl |
| Scheduled Tasks | control schedtasks |
| Security Center | wscui.cpl |
| Services | services.msc |
| Shared Folders | fsmgmt.msc |
| Shut down | shutdown |
| Sound and Audio | mmsys.cpl |
| SQL Client Configuration | cliconfig |
| System Configuration Editor | sysedit |
| System Configuration Utility | msconfig |
| System File Checker (Scan immediately) | sfc /scannow |
| System File Checker (Scan on next boot) | sfc /scanonce |
| System File Checker (Scan on every boot) | sfc /scanboot |
| System File Checker (Revert scan setting to default) | sfc /revert |
| System File Checker (Purge Cache File) | sfc /purgecache |
| System File Checker (Set cache size to x) | sfc /cachesize=x |
| System Information | msinfo32 |
| System Properties | sysdm.cpl |
| Task Manager | taskmgr |
| Telnet | telnet |
| User Account Management | nusrmgr.cpl |
| Utility Manager | utilman |
| Windows Explorer | explorer |
| Windows Firewall | firewall.cpl |
| Windows Magnifier | magnify |
| Windows Management Infrastructure | wmimgmt.msc |
| Windows Media Player | wmplayer |
| Windows Messenger | msmsgs |
| Windows System Security Tool | syskey |
| Wordpad | write |
Do you know of anymore? Let me know in the comments.
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Thanks for the appwiz.cpl and the desk.cpl command man. I didn’t see sndvol for the volume mixer though.