If you want a quick way to launch programs, documents, settings, utilities, and other resources on your Windows machine, look no further than the Run dialog.

You don't need to learn anything complex to use this built-in feature. Memorizing a few useful commands will do. And you'll find the best of these Run dialog commands (commonly called Run commands) in our cheat sheet below.

To use a particular command, summon the Run dialog with the shortcut Win + R, type in the command for a particular Windows item, and hit Enter to launch that item.

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download Essential Run Commands for Windows.

Essential Run Commands for Windows

Shortcut

Action

Common Windows Tools

explorer

Windows Explorer

c:

Open C: Drive

regedit

Registry Editor

services.msc

Windows Services (local)

taskmgr

Task Manager

msconfig

System Configuration Utility

mstsc

Remote Desktop (Microsoft Terminal Services Client)

logoff

Log Off Windows (without confirmation!)

shutdown

Shuts Down Windows (Save all your work first)

cmd

Command Prompt

notepad

Notepad

osk

On Screen keyboard

mailto:

Open Default Mail Application

Website address

Open entered URL in default browser

Other Windows Tools & Utilities

calc

Calculator

chkdsk

Check Disk

charmap

Character Map

cleanmgr

Clean Manager - Disk Cleanup Utility

clipbrd

Clipboard Viewer (not available after Windows XP)

cmd

Command Prompt

comp

Compare Files

colorcpl

Color Management

cttune

ClearType Text tuner

dxdiag

Direct X Troubleshooter

eudcedit

Private Characters Editor

fonts

Fonts

fsquirt

Bluetooth Transfer Wizard

ftp

MS-DOS FTP

iexplore

Internet Explorer

joy.cpl

Game Controllers

label

Volume Serial Number for C:

magnify

Windows Magnifier

microsoft-edge://

Edge

migwiz

Migration Wizard - Files and Settings Transfer Tool

mip

Math Input Panel

mrt

Malicious Software Removal Tool

msiexec

Windows Installer Details

msinfo32

System Information

mspaint

Paint

narrator

Narrator

powershell

Powershell

shrpubw

Create a shared folder Wizard

sigverif

File Signature Verification Tool

sndvol

Volume Control

snippingtool

Snipping Tools

stikynot

Sticky Notes

utilman

Narrator Settings

verifier

Driver Verifier Utility

was

Contacts

wf.msc

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

wfs

Windows Fax and Scan

wiaacmgr

Scanner

winver

Windows Version (Check your Windows version)

wmplayer

Windows Media Player

write

WordPad

xpsrchvw

XPS Viewer

winword

Word

Word /safe

Word Safe Mode

Control Panel Commands

appwiz.cpl

Application Wizard (Program and Features)

control

Control Panel

control admintools

Administrative Tools

control color

Personalization - Color and Appearance

control desktop

Display Properties (Personalization)

control folders

Folders Properties

control keyboard

Keyboard Properties

control mouse

Mouse Properties

control netconnections

Network Properties

control printers

Printers Folders

control schedtasks

Scheduled Tasks

control update

Windows Update

control userpasswords

Manager current User Account

control userpasswords2

Manager all User Accounts

desk.cpl

Display - Screen Resolution

devmgmt.msc

Device Manager

firewall.cpl

Windows Firewall

inetcpl.cpl

Internet Properties (Internet Control Panel)

intl.cpl

Regional Settings (International)

mmsys.cpl

Sound Properties (Multimedia System Settings)

ncpa.cpl

Network Properties

netplwiz

To create User Account

powercfg.cpl

Power Configuration

sysdm.cpl

System Properties

timedate.cpl

Date and Time Properties

utilman

Ease of Access Utility Manager

wscui.cpl

Security Center (Windows Security Center UI)

Windows Administrative Tools

compmgmt.msc

Computer Management including System Tools, Storage, Services and Applications

defrag

Defrag Command

dcomcnfg

Component Services (Detailed Component Configuration)

devmgmt.msc

Device Management

diskmgmt.msc

Disk Partition Manager

diskpart

Diskpart Command

eventvwr.msc

Event Viewer

fsmgmt.msc

Shared Folders (File Sharing Management)

gpedit.msc

Group Policy Editor

lusrmgr.msc

Local User and Groups

perfmon.msc

Performance Monitor

rekeywiz

File Encryption

System File Checker Utility

sfc /scannow

System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately)

sfc /scanonce

System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot)

sfc /scanboot

System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot)

sfc /revert

System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Settings)

sfc /purgecache

System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache)

sfc /cachesize=x

System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to Size x)

Common Environment Variables

%AllUsersProfile%

Program Data

%ProgramFiles%

Program Files

%SystemDrive%

System Drive

%SystemRoot%

System Root

%Temp%

Temporary Folder

%UserProfile%

User Profile

%WinDir%

Windows Directory

A Powerful, Underrated Windows Feature

Run commands are time saving and easy to use, and also a satisfying way to access Windows items using only the keyboard.

Don't worry if you can't remember certain useful commands you need. You can replace them with custom command names that are more memorable. We'll show you how to do that in our Run Dialog primer.

And speaking of useful commands, it's now time to discover some of the best Windows CMD commands.