This wikiHow teaches you how to run programs on a Windows computer through the Command Prompt application. You can only run programs installed in Windows-made folders (e.g. the desktop), although you can also add programs folders to the Command Prompt list so that they can be run through those applications.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Opening Basic Programs
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen, or find and press the Windows logo key on your computer keyboard.
If you're using Windows 8, place your cursor in the upper-right corner of the screen and click the magnifying glass icon in the pop-out window
Step 2. Type command prompt into the “Start” menu
After that, the computer will search for the Command Prompt program.
Step 3. Click “Command Prompt”
This option is indicated by the black box that appears at the top of the “Start” window. After that, the Command Prompt program will be opened.
If you are using a computer with limited authorization, you may not be able to open the Command Prompt program
Step 4. Type start in the Command Prompt
Make sure you put a space after the word start.
Step 5. Type the name of the program into the Command Prompt
The name entered must be the name of the file system, not the name of the shortcut (e.g. the system name for the Command Prompt program is “ cmd ). Some fairly common program system names include:
- File Explorer - explorer
- Notepad - notepad
- Character Map - charmap
- Paint - mspaint
- Command Prompt (new window) - cmd
- Windows Media Player - wmplayer
- Task Manager - taskmgr
Step 6. Press Enter key
After the command entered resembles the program_name start pattern, press the Enter key to "run" the program command. The program will be opened a few seconds after the command is entered.
If the selected program does not run, it is possible that the program was installed in a folder that is not found in the Command Prompt search location. However, you can add the program folder to the Command Prompt location to resolve this issue
Method 2 of 2: Opening Certain Programs
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen. You can also press the Windows key on your computer keyboard.
Step 2. Open the File Explorer program
Click the folder icon in the lower-left corner of the “Start” window.
Step 3. Open the folder containing the program you want to run
Navigate to the folder containing the program you want to open by clicking on any folder required to access it.
- When the icon for the program you want to run via Command Prompt appears in the middle of the File Explorer window, you're in the right folder.
- If you don't know the location of the program, many programs are usually placed in the "Program Files" folder on the hard disk. You can also search for it using the search bar at the top of the window.
Step 4. Select the program folder location/address
Click the right side of the address bar at the top of the File Explorer window. After that, you can see a blue box marking the contents of the address bar.
Step 5. Copy the program location address
Press Ctrl and C keys at the same time.
Step 6. Click This PC
This folder is on the left side of the File Explorer window.
Step 7. Click This PC again
After that, select any folder that is in the “ This PC will be cancelled. Now, you can open the folder properties window This PC ”.
Step 8. Click Computer
It's in the top-left corner of the page. After that, the toolbar will be displayed.
Step 9. Click Properties
This icon resembles a white box with a red check mark. Once clicked, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 10. Click on Advanced system settings
This link is in the upper-left corner of the window. After that, another pop-up window will open.
Step 11. Click the Advanced tab
It's a tab at the top of the window.
Step 12. Click Environment Variables…
It's at the bottom of the window. After that, a new window will be displayed.
Step 13. Click Path
This option is displayed in the " System variables " window, at the bottom of the page.
Step 14. Click Edit…
This option is at the bottom of the page.
Step 15. Click New
It's in the upper-right corner of the “Edit” page.
Step 16. Paste the program location address
Press Ctrl and V simultaneously to paste the address in the “Path” window.
Step 17. Click OK
After that, the program address will be saved.
Step 18. Open the Command Prompt program
Step 19. Open the program location address
Type cd into the Command Prompt window, enter a space, press the Ctrl+V key combination to enter the program address, and press Enter.
Step 20. Type start in the Command Prompt window
Make sure you put a space after the word start.
Step 21. Enter the program name
Type in the name of the program as it appears in the folder, then press Enter. After that, the program will run.
