How to Open the Command Prompt in Windows 11

Despite possessing one of the most advanced graphical user interfaces in the world, Windows 11 still relies heavily on its underlying text-based terminal for advanced troubleshooting, network diagnostics, and system repairs. If you need to run an ipconfig command to fix your internet, or an sfc /scannow command to repair a corrupted hard drive, you must use the Command Prompt.

Because these commands can drastically alter the operating system, Microsoft intentionally hides the Command Prompt from the average user. Furthermore, there is a massive difference between opening a “Standard” prompt and an “Administrator” prompt.

Method 1: The Start Menu Search (The Fastest Way)

This is the most reliable method for opening the Command Prompt on any modern Windows machine.

1. Click the Start Menu (the Windows icon on your taskbar) or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. You do not need to click on a search bar; simply begin typing the letters cmd.
3. The search results will instantly populate, and the “Command Prompt” app (featuring a black square icon) will appear as the best match.
4. Crucial Step: Do not click the icon immediately. Look at the right-hand panel of the search results. Click the option that says Run as administrator.
5. A terrifying User Account Control (UAC) pop-up will appear, darkening the rest of your screen and asking “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” Click Yes.

A black box will appear on your screen. You can confirm you successfully opened it with Administrator privileges by looking at the very top title bar of the window; it should explicitly say “Administrator: Command Prompt.” If it doesn’t say “Administrator,” many complex repair commands will fail with an “Access Denied” error.

Method 2: The Run Dialogue Box (The Old School Method)

If your Start Menu is frozen or the search function is broken, you can bypass the UI entirely using the classic Run box.

1. Press and hold the Windows Key on your keyboard, and press the letter R.
2. A small “Run” box will pop up in the bottom left corner of your screen.
3. Type cmd into the text field.
4. To open it normally, you would press Enter. However, to open it with Administrator privileges, you must press the ultimate keyboard combination: Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
5. The UAC warning screen will appear. Click Yes.

Method 3: The Power User Menu (Windows 11 Changes)

Historically, power users could simply right-click the Start Menu to open a secret list of advanced tools, including the Command Prompt. Microsoft changed this in Windows 11.

1. Right-click the Start Menu icon.
2. Look at the menu. You will likely not see “Command Prompt.” Instead, Microsoft replaced it with Terminal (Admin).
3. Click Terminal (Admin).

Windows Terminal is Microsoft’s brand new, unified command-line app. It supports tabs, multiple profiles, and modern fonts. By default, Terminal usually opens a “PowerShell” tab (which has a blue background). PowerShell is a significantly more powerful, complex scripting language than the legacy Command Prompt.

If a tutorial explicitly tells you to run a command in the old Command Prompt, and you are staring at a blue PowerShell window, look at the top of the Terminal window. Click the small downward-facing arrow next to the new tab button, and select Command Prompt from the drop-down list. A new tab will open with the classic black background.