13 ingenious Windows Command prompt hacks
When it comes to hidden and unique features in the Windows operating system, the command prompt might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Often used to sideload the latest version of Android via ADB and Fastboot commands, the command prompt offers more than meets the eye. ManyChromebookscan run Linux-based commands, but these Windows commands might benefit your PC in multiple ways. From converting video files and reading text documents to closing stubborn background services, there are various uses beyond what you might be aware of.
How to open a Windows command prompt
There’s more than one way to open a command prompt inWindows. In the sections below, we cover two common options, allowing you to find the most suitable one for your needs.
No ADB commands required
Launch the universal system command prompt
You’ll likely use this method the most for general purposes when working with the Windowscommand prompt environment. To launch the universal system command prompt, check out the following steps:
Use thePin to StartorPin to taskbaroptions to open the Command Prompt app quickly if you plan to use it often.
Open a command prompt from any folder
Rather than using the universal system command prompt for general purposes, open it in any folder you want. This makes it easier to run commands without knowing the exact file location, keeping things simple.
To launch a Windows Command prompt from any folder, do the following:
Remove a program that won’t uninstall
You might run into a situation where the default uninstaller from a third-party application refuses to work. It could be a simple bug with the uninstaller. However, this doesn’t make removing it any easier. Using a command prompt rather than downloading a third-party uninstaller can be helpful in this case.
To use the command prompt to remove a stubborn program from Windows, do the following:
Convert an MP4 video file to an MP3 audio file
This command can help you extract audio from an MP4 video file with a few simple steps. Whether it’s a music video or a video recording you took with your smartphone camera, converting it to an audio-only format is straightforward. It involves downloading a separate program that converts MP4 files using a command prompt. After installing the program, the audio can be extracted from a video by typing one command.
To extract MP3 audio from an MP4 video file, do this:
Check the local IP address of your computer
You might want to know the IP address your computer uses to connect to your home network. You might even think about setting up a static IP address for Windows, allowing you to create a unique number for your computer. A static IP puts more control in your hands instead of having the router assign a random address.
To view the IP address from a Windows command prompt, check out the following steps:
See which users are currently logged in
A Windows command prompt can be used to view information about the users who are logged in to the computer, which is handy in some situations. you could see the user’s name, email address, and the system permissions they can access on that computer. This allows you to keep track of each logged-in account without digging through extra menus, which is helpful for users with system administration privileges.
To check out these stats, do the following:
Instantly reclaim ownership of any file or folder
Let’s say you remove your internal hard drive from an old laptop and hook it up to your new computer with an external storage dock. When you transfer those files to the new computer by copying and pasting them, you might lose access to their rights as the original owner. Should that happen, use a Windows command prompt to regain control of your files as the rightful owner.
To reclaim ownership over any file on your system, do the following:
Reclaim ownership of an entire folder and its files
When you want to reclaim ownership of a folder and its files using a single command, do the following:
Hide any file you want to keep safe
It’s possible to hide a file quickly and easily using a command prompt, but you’ll need to be careful when you do. It can’t be viewed using theShow hidden itemsfolder option. That means you’ll need to use this command with caution, or you might lose the file if you forget where you put it or what its name was.
To hide any file using the command prompt, check out these steps:
Check which devices are active and connected
If you’re the administrator of your computer and network environment, viewing all active device connections in real time is helpful. Keeping track of the network activity allows you to identify unauthorized connections running without your knowledge. When you find an unknown device hiding on your network in plain sight, deny its access immediately to avoid potential damage. you’re able to also view which network ports are being used, helping you better understand what services those active devices can directly access.
To monitor your local network traffic using a command prompt, do the following:
View the contents of a text file
A feature not mentioned often is that you can open text files in a Windows command prompt. It doesn’t only launch a program. It opens and allows you to view the document from the command window. This little-known feature is helpful if you want to read a long text file using a method you may not have considered. This one is more of a novelty, but it has its uses as a simple text reader that you can use occasionally.
To view a text file through the Windows command prompt, do the following:
Compare two separate text files at once
This unique command involving text files makes it easy to compare two text documents quickly and easily in a command line environment. It can be a helpful trick if you want to avoid opening two files in separate windows. This also means you don’t need a dedicated text application to view them.
To compare two text files, do the following:
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