Win commands + R (Run) for Windows 10 that is useful to know

Most users are familiar with some of the commands. Win + R (a combination of pressing the Windows emblem key and R on the keyboard) or the dialog “Run”, but generally just a basic set of such commonly used commands. But there are quite a few more commands of this type, and you can use them not only if your system is fully operational, which can be very useful.

In this material you will find the Win commands + R most interesting for Windows 10 (will also work for older versions of the system), that with great probability may be useful one day, and the first part of the instructions on how you can apply the Run window commands outside the system desktop. You may also find it helpful: Windows hotkeys 10, utilities built into Windows system.

About applying the run commands.

In the articles on the topic of Win commands + R, can see reasonable considerations on the subject: because I need it? After all, in Windows 10 can i use taskbar search or other ways to execute what i need: in the context menu of the Start button, on the control panel or other locations.

Yes, this is true, but there are equally reasonable arguments for using the Run commands:

1. Some items are faster to execute exactly through Win + Respecially on Windows 10. An example is the network connections window and it is not the only element of this type.
2. These commands can be executed even in case the system hangs.. Suppose all you see after system startup is a black screen with mouse pointer, but the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Supr (o Ctrl + Shift + Esc) works to start Task Manager. Well: in Task Manager (In the view “detailed”) we can choose the menu “Archive” – “Start a new task” and use any of the commands in question.
3. Individual commands. (those with an .exe extension, namely, run Windows system utilities) we can run and use outside the operating system. For instance, if we boot from a Windows boot pendrive 10, we press Shift + F10 (Shift + Fn + F10 on some laptops) a command line will open, the same command line can be opened in recovery environment, and there you can use some of the commands, for instance, to start the registry editor or restore the system.

I hope I have managed to convince some of the readers, now let's go directly to the commands.

A list of Win commands + R for Windows 10 that is useful to know

Before starting, keep in mind: some of the commands have the extension .msc (computer console elements), some have the extension .cpl (control panel elements) and some have the extension .exe (system utilities built into Windows).

And a reminder: to open the Run dialog, you must hold down the Win key (with Windows logo) and press the R key, and enter the command in the window that opens. The second easy way for Windows 10 is to right-click the Start button and select “Run” in the context menu.

Execution commands to run system utilities and some built-in programs

Let's start with the commands that allow you to quickly run the .exe utilities built into Windows 10 (they are also present in previous versions of the system), specifying an extension in the command is usually optional.

explorer.exe

At first sight, this command doesn't seem useful: just open the window “Explorer”, but that's on a properly working system. If you are in a situation of “black screen and mouse pointer”, the same command will likely work differently: start desktop, the taskbar and other familiar Windows items.

msconfig.exe

With msconfig we can run the System Configuration window, useful in many ways.

With this window, we can:

• Enable Safe Mode with Different Settings or Windows Clean Boot 10.
• Remove unnecessary operating systems from the start menu.
• Run the Windows built-in diagnostic utilities on the Service tab.
• Change advanced boot parameters (be careful here: change the number of CPU cores, max memory and other parameters is not something the average user should experiment with. It has no benefit, it is likely to be harmful).

control.exe

The command opens the Windows control panel, nothing special. But, with the same command we can also execute individual elements of the control panel, for instance

msinfo32.exe

Using the command msinfo32 the system information window will open.

In the window, can obtain information about the hardware and software components of your computer: find out the motherboard model, MAC address, the amount of RAM, the number of processor cores, Windows version 10 and the bits.

cleanmgr.exe

The command starts the utility “Disk Cleanup” built into Windows, designed to remove unnecessary temporary files and, after clicking “Clean system files”, unused system files, which can be gigabytes in size. .

There is also a way to run the utility with additional features, besides this: Windows Disk Cleanup in Advanced Mode.

mstsc.exe

Win + R – mstsc.exe Launch the window “Connect to remote desktop”, whose purpose, I suppose, is clear in the name.

For more details on the remote desktop type, see How to use Microsoft Remote Desktop (RDP).

sdclt.exe

The command opens Windows backup and recovery options 10 with the ability to create a system recovery disc, configure file history and create a system backup.

mmc.exe

mmc.exe Launch the Administration Console (MMC), a tool for running Microsoft and third-party plug-ins designed primarily for system administrators to manage and monitor the status and hardware and software components of a system.

resmon.exe.

Using the command resmon.exe. You can open the built-in utility “Resource monitor”, which can be useful to analyze system performance and resource consumption. More information: Using Windows Resource Monitor.

regedit.exe.

One of the most mentioned commands, regedit.exe., start Windows Registry Editor, which can be used to adjust system behavior in various ways: Most operating system tuning and optimization utilities involve changes to the system registry for most functions. Here is a quick tutorial on how to use the Registry Editor.

perfmon.exe

Perfmon.exe Opens the System Monitor utility with tools to monitor system performance. It also implements a system stability monitor.

mrt.exe

This command starts the “Microsoft Windows Malware Removal Tool” built-in, that many people do not know what they have in their system (not to be confused with Windows Defender).

The utility is updated monthly and can serve as a basic detection tool when threats are suspected on a computer.. But nevertheless, third-party malware removal tools may be more effective.

And some more commands from the same section that can also be requested:

• winver.exe – A window with version information, revision and compilation of installed Windows.
• calc.exe – run the built-in calculator.
• charmap.exe – run the character table utility.
• osk.exe. – running the on-screen keyboard.
• taskmgr.exe – to open Windows Task Manager.
• dxdiag.exe – A DirectX diagnostic utility that displays information about the system, the parameters and capabilities of your computer's audio and graphics components.
• shutdown.exe – to delete, restart and other tasks, for instance, the command off / O / r / t 0 Perform a reboot in the recovery environment. Used with parameters. You can read about one of the application options in the article Computer shutdown timer.

Commands for launching control panel and control console items

The following set of commands allows you to quickly run the items available in the control panel, as well as individual controls, As the “device administrator” or the “local group policy editor”.

1. compmgmt.msc. – This command will open a window containing the elements (system utilities) to manage the computer. You can run them all individually, but for some people this may be more convenient.
2. devmgmt.msc. – Device administrator.
3. diskmgmt.msc – Windows disk management. Can be used to partition disks and for other disk management purposes.
4. eventvwr.msc. – Windows Event Viewer. It allows to analyze the behavior of the system in case of failures, the causes of errors.
5. services.msc – The command services.msc opens the window “Services”, where you can see the current status of Windows services, start or stop them and change their startup type. Unfortunately, in the latest versions of Windows 10, changing parameters of various system services on the specified interface is no longer available.
6. gpedit.msc – Local Group Policy Editor. Not available in Windows 10 Home.
7. ncpa.cpl. – A list of Windows network connections with the ability to view their status and settings. It is useful if your Windows Internet connection 10 does not work and in many other situations.
8. appwiz.cpl. – Software installation and removal interface.
9. lusrmgr.msc – Local user and group management.
10. powercfg.cpl – Setting up the power supply of your laptop or PC.
11. firewall.cpl – Windows firewall settings.
12. sysdm.cpl – System configuration window, with options to configure swap file, restore points (system protection), performance settings and environment variables.
13. mmsys.cpl. – Windows recording and playback devices.
14. taskschd.msc. – Windows Task Scheduler 10.

Commands to quickly open Windows system folders 10

With the Run dialog, can quickly open some commonly used operating system folders. Commands are in quotes, but it is not necessary to enter them, for instance, only one point is entered in the second command:

1. Open the root of the system drive (C 🙂 – ““
2. Open current user's folder (C: Username) – “.“
3. Open the folder “Users” – “..“
4. Open the temporary files folder – “% temp%.“
5. Open the AppDataRoaming folder of the current user – “% application data%.“
6. Open the AppDataLocal folder of the current user – “% localappdata%.“
7. Open folder C: NWindows – “% systemroot%“
8. Open folder C: NProgramaData – “% program data%.“

All the commands described in this article are pretty standard, but they can help you quickly open the items you need frequently. The list does not include all available commands, but only those that are most likely to be required by a novice user, and that also work equally in Windows 10 as in previous versions of the system.

Surely you will also have something to add to the list, I will be happy to comment.

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