Windows command glossary

SSH Command in Windows with examples

Q: How do I open a window as Administrator?

Click Start, type cmd or powershell, right-click the result and choose Run as administrator. Some commands (changing services, firewall rules, disks) only work there.

Q: How do I copy files to a Linux server from Windows?

Use scp file.zip user@host:/path/ or sftp user@host in PowerShell, or drag and drop in SSH Command's file panes, which also show the progress and ask before overwriting.

Q: Are Linux commands available on Windows?

Some are: ssh, scp, sftp, curl and tar ship with Windows 10 and 11. For a full Linux shell use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), or log in to a Linux server with SSH.

A plain-English glossary of the commands you use in Windows Command Prompt and PowerShell, including the built-in OpenSSH client. Every command has a short explanation and copy-ready examples.

90 commands
11 categories
237 copy-ready examples

Type these in Command Prompt (CMD) or PowerShell. Lines marked PowerShell only work in PowerShell.

New: the ssh command explained — syntax, options, keys, tunnels and error fixes →

Most used Windows commands

If you only learn a few, learn these. Click a command name for every example and option in its category.

cd / Set-LocationFiles and folders

Change folder

cd C:\Users\Alice\DocumentsCMD
Go to a folder
cd ..CMD
Go up one level

dir / Get-ChildItemFiles and folders

List files and folders

dirCMD
List the current folder
dir /aCMD
Include hidden files

pwd / Get-LocationFiles and folders

Show the current folder

cdCMD
In CMD, typing cd alone prints the current folder
Get-LocationPowerShell
Print the current folder (alias: pwd)

mkdir / New-ItemFiles and folders

Create a folder

mkdir ReportsCMD
Create a folder
mkdir Reports\2026\OctoberCMD
CMD creates the whole chain automatically

rmdir / Remove-ItemFiles and folders

Delete a folder

rmdir EmptyFolderCMD
Remove an empty folder
rmdir /s /q OldBuildCMD
Remove a folder and everything in it without asking

copy / xcopy / robocopyFiles and folders

Copy files

copy report.docx D:\Backup\CMD
Copy a file
xcopy Photos D:\Backup\Photos /E /ICMD
Copy a folder with sub-folders

move / renFiles and folders

Move or rename

move report.docx D:\Archive\CMD
Move a file
ren notes.txt notes-old.txtCMD
Rename a file

type / Get-ContentFiles and folders

Show a file

type notes.txtCMD
Print the file
more notes.txtCMD
Print one page at a time (Space for next page)

findstr / Select-StringSearch and filter

Search for text in files

findstr /i "error" app.logCMD
Case-insensitive search
findstr /s /n "TODO" *.csCMD
Search sub-folders and show line numbers

where / Get-CommandSearch and filter

Find a program

where pythonCMD
Prints each place the program is found
Get-Command pythonPowerShell
Same in PowerShell

icaclsPermissions and administrator

View and change permissions

icacls C:\DataCMD
Show who may do what
icacls C:\Data /grant Alice:(OI)(CI)MCMD
Give Alice Modify rights to the folder and everything in it

whoamiPermissions and administrator

Who am I?

whoamiCMD
Show DOMAIN\user
whoami /groupsCMD
The groups you belong to

tasklist / Get-ProcessProcesses and services

List running programs

tasklistCMD
Every process
tasklist | findstr chromeCMD
Find one program

taskkill / Stop-ProcessProcesses and services

Stop a program

taskkill /PID 1234CMD
Stop by process number
taskkill /IM notepad.exe /FCMD
Force-stop by name

sc / Get-ServiceProcesses and services

Manage services

sc queryCMD
List services
sc query SpoolerCMD
One service

schtasksProcesses and services

Scheduled tasks

schtasks /queryCMD
List tasks
schtasks /create /tn "Backup" /tr "C:\scripts\backup.bat" /sc daily /st 02:00CMD
Run every day at 02:00

systeminfoSystem information

Full system report

systeminfoCMD
OS version, memory, hotfixes and network cards
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS"CMD
Only the OS lines

ipconfigNetworking

Network addresses

ipconfigCMD
Addresses and gateway
ipconfig /allCMD
Everything including MAC address and DNS servers

pingNetworking

Test if a host answers

ping example.comCMD
Four packets
ping -n 10 example.comCMD
Ten packets

netstatNetworking

Connections and ports

netstat -anoCMD
All connections with the owning process number
netstat -ano | findstr :443CMD
Who uses port 443

Test-NetConnectionNetworking

Test a port

Test-NetConnection example.com -Port 443PowerShell
Is the port reachable?
Test-NetConnection 203.0.113.10 -Port 22PowerShell
Check that SSH is reachable

sshSSH and file transfer

ssh deploy@203.0.113.10CMD
Log in as deploy
ssh -p 2222 deploy@example.comCMD
Different port

ssh-keygenSSH and file transfer

Make a key pair

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "me@example.com"CMD
Create a key; it is saved in C:\Users\you\.ssh
ssh-keygen -lf %USERPROFILE%\.ssh\id_ed25519.pubCMD
Show the fingerprint

scpSSH and file transfer

Copy files over SSH

scp report.pdf deploy@example.com:/home/deploy/CMD
Upload
scp deploy@example.com:/var/log/app.log .CMD
Download

tarArchives and compression

Pack and unpack tar files

tar -czvf backup.tar.gz DataCMD
Create a compressed archive (tar ships with Windows 10 and 11)
tar -xzvf backup.tar.gzCMD
Extract it

Compress-Archive / Expand-ArchiveArchives and compression

Zip files

Compress-Archive -Path Data -DestinationPath data.zipPowerShell
Create a zip
Expand-Archive data.zip -DestinationPath C:\RestorePowerShell
Unzip into a folder

wingetInstalling software

Windows Package Manager

winget search vscodeCMD
Search
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCodeCMD
Install

echoShell basics and scripting

Print text

echo HelloCMD
Print a line
echo %USERNAME%CMD
Print a variable in CMD

help / Get-HelpShell basics and scripting

Read the help

helpCMD
List built-in commands
dir /?CMD
Help for one command

Browse Windows commands by category

Files and folders

Move around, create, copy, rename and delete files and folders in Command Prompt (CMD) and PowerShell.

cddirpwdmkdirrmdircopymove+6

13 commands →

Search and filter

Find files and text, and shape output.

findstrwherefindsortfcWhere-ObjectMeasure-Object

7 commands →

Permissions and administrator

Control who may use a file, and run things as the administrator.

icaclstakeownwhoamirunasnet usergpresult

6 commands →

Processes and services

See what is running, stop what is stuck and manage services.

tasklisttaskkillstartscschtasksshutdownGet-CimInstance+1

8 commands →

Disk and storage

Check free space, find big folders and check disks.

fsutilchkdskdiskpartformatcleanmgrFind big foldersGet-Volume

7 commands →

System information

Find out which Windows and which machine you are on.

systeminfoverhostnamedatesetdriverqueryGet-ComputerInfo+2

9 commands →

Networking

Check addresses, DNS, ports and connectivity.

ipconfigpingtracertnslookupnetstatTest-NetConnectioncurl+4

11 commands →

SSH and file transfer

Windows 10 and 11 include the OpenSSH client, so these commands work in CMD and PowerShell, just like on Linux.

sshssh-keygenInstall the key on a serverssh-agentscpsftpssh tunnels+3

10 commands →

Archives and compression

Pack and unpack files.

tarCompress-Archiveexpandcertutil

4 commands →

Installing software

Install and update programs with winget and other tools.

wingetchocoPSWindowsUpdatesfcmsiexec

5 commands →

Shell basics and scripting

Small commands that make the window faster, and the first steps of scripts.

echohelpclsdoskeyredirects and pipesBatch filesPowerShell scripts+3

10 commands →

Run these commands with SSH Command

SSH Command is a desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux that puts a real terminal, SFTP file panes, a sudo switch and a searchable Linux command finder in one window. Type what you want to do, and send the command to your server with one click.

Download free Linux commands with examples SFTP & FTP client

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows have an SSH command?

Yes. Windows 10 and 11 include the OpenSSH client. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and type ssh user@host. If it says the command is not found, add OpenSSH Client under Settings → Apps → Optional features.

What is the difference between CMD and PowerShell?

Command Prompt (CMD) is the classic text window with short commands like dir and copy. PowerShell is newer and more powerful: its commands are named like Get-ChildItem and pass objects, not just text. Many CMD commands also work inside PowerShell.

How do I open a window as Administrator?

Click Start, type cmd or powershell, right-click the result and choose Run as administrator. Some commands (changing services, firewall rules, disks) only work there.

How do I copy files to a Linux server from Windows?

Use scp file.zip user@host:/path/ or sftp user@host in PowerShell, or drag and drop in SSH Command's file panes, which also show the progress and ask before overwriting.

Are Linux commands available on Windows?

Some are: ssh, scp, sftp, curl and tar ship with Windows 10 and 11. For a full Linux shell use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), or log in to a Linux server with SSH.