Microsoft DOS and Windows Command Line

Windows DOS command prompt window

Short for Microsoft Disk operating system, MS-DOS is a non-graphical command line operating system created for IBM compatible computers that was first introduced by Microsoft in August 1981 and was last updated in 1994 when MS-DOS 6.22 was released. Although the MS-DOS operating system is not often used today, the command shell more commonly known as the Windows command line is still used and recommended. Continue reading >>
Tip: If you're new to MS-DOS or the Windows command line we suggest reading how to use the Windows command line (DOS).
All MS-DOS commands
MS-DOS applications
MS-DOS error messages and codes
MS-DOS History
MS-DOS and Windows command line tips
MS-DOS Top 10 commands
MS-DOS questions and answers
Batch Files

MS-DOS Command List

Tip: See the complete overview for a brief description on each of the below commands.
Tip: Browse by type: Internal commands, External commands, and Recovery console commands.
A ansi.sys | append | arp | assign | assoc | at | atmadm | attrib
B backup | batch | bcdedit | bootcfg | bootsect | break
C cacls | call | cd | chcp | chdir | chkdsk | chkntfs | choice | cipher | cls | cmd | color | command | comp | compact | control | convert | copy | ctty
D date | debug | defrag | del | delete | deltree | dir | disable | diskcomp | diskcopy | diskpart | doskey | dosshell | drivparm
E echo | edit | edlin | emm386 | enable | endlocal | erase | exit | expand | extract
F fasthelp | fc | fdisk | find | findstr | fixboot | fixmbr | for | forfiles | format | ftp | fType
G goto | gpupdate | graftabl
H help | himem.sys | hostname
I icacls | if | ifshlp.sys | ipconfig
J None
K keyb
L label | lh | listsvc | loadfix | loadhigh | lock | logoff | logon
M map | md | mem | mkdir | mklink | mode | more | move | msav | msbackup | msd | mscdex | mwbackup
N nbtstat | net | netsh | netstat | nlsfunc | nslookup
O None
P path | pathping | pause | ping | popd | power | print | prompt | pushd
Q qbasic
R rd | reg | ren | rename | rmdir | robocopy | route | runas
S scandisk | scanreg | set | setlocal | setver | sfc | share | shift | shutdown | smartdrv | sort | start | subst | switches | sys | systeminfo | systemroot
T taskkill | tasklist | telnet | time | title | tracert | tree | tskill | type
U undelete | unformat | unlock
V ver | verify | vol
W wmic
X xcopy
Y None
Z None