15 Windows Run Commands Worth Knowing in Windows 11 and Windows 10

Ollie Green
·
5 min read

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Laptop with the screen split in two: different windows displayed side by side for comparison (left shows a document, right shows a calculator and notes).

Tired of searching through Settings when you need to check a driver or find a folder? The Windows Run dialog is worth a look: press Windows + R, enter a command, and press Enter.

Fix #1: Check your Windows version with winver

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run.
  2. Type winver.
  3. Press Enter. The About Windows window should show your version and OS build.
Run dialog containing winver beside the About Windows window showing version and OS build

Windows 10 note: Windows 10 version 22H2 is out of support. These commands generally work there, but Windows 10 PCs no longer receive security updates or Microsoft technical support unless they’re enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU); some LTSC editions follow separate support dates. Move to a supported Windows 11 release if your PC can run it.

Fix #2: Open Calculator with calc

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type calc.
  3. Press Enter. Calculator should open.
Run dialog containing calc with the Windows Calculator app open behind it

Fix #3: Open Notepad with notepad

Need somewhere to paste an error message before restarting? Notepad opens without searching the Start menu.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type notepad.
  3. Press Enter. A blank Notepad window should appear.
Notepad open after entering notepad in the Windows Run dialog

Fix #4: Open your user folder with %UserProfile%

Your user folder holds Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and other personal folders.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type %UserProfile%.
  3. Press Enter. File Explorer should open your user folder.
Run dialog containing %UserProfile% and File Explorer showing the current user's folder

Fix #5: Open the C drive with C:\

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type C:\.
  3. Press Enter. File Explorer should show the root of the C drive.
Run dialog containing C:\ and File Explorer showing the root of the C drive

Fix #6: Find installed apps with ms-settings:appsfeatures

This opens the Installed apps page, where you can find or uninstall a program.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type ms-settings:appsfeatures.
  3. Press Enter. Settings should open to Installed apps.
Windows 11 Settings > Apps > Installed apps after launching ms-settings:appsfeatures

For the legacy Programs and Features window, use appwiz.cpl instead. The Settings page is the better starting point for an ordinary uninstall.

Fix #7: Inspect hardware with devmgmt.msc

If a USB mouse or another device has stopped working, Device Manager shows whether Windows reports a problem with it.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc.
  3. Press Enter. Device Manager should list your hardware by category.
Run dialog containing devmgmt.msc and Device Manager showing its hardware categories

Expand the relevant category and look for a warning icon beside the device.

Fix #8: Check what is slowing your PC with resmon

Resource Monitor shows which processes are using your CPU, memory, disk, and network. It’s a clever shortcut when Task Manager doesn’t show enough detail.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type resmon.
  3. Press Enter. Resource Monitor should open with Overview, CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network tabs.
Run dialog containing resmon and Resource Monitor showing its Overview tab

Fix #9: Adjust mouse settings with main.cpl

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type main.cpl.
  3. Press Enter. Mouse Properties should open.
Run dialog containing main.cpl and Mouse Properties showing the Buttons tab

Use its tabs to change double-click speed, pointers, and wheel behavior. For other mouse options, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.

Fix #10: Check network adapters with ncpa.cpl

Use this when your Ethernet connection disappears or you need to inspect a Wi-Fi adapter. It won’t change any settings on your Wi-Fi router.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type ncpa.cpl.
  3. Press Enter. Network Connections should show your installed adapters.
Run dialog containing ncpa.cpl and Network Connections showing Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters

Fix #11: Open Windows Update with ms-settings:windowsupdate

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type ms-settings:windowsupdate.
  3. Press Enter. Settings should open to Windows Update.
Windows 11 Settings > Windows Update after launching ms-settings:windowsupdate

Select Check for updates if you’re troubleshooting a missing fix or driver.

Fix #12: Open Windows Features with optionalfeatures

The Windows Features dialog controls components such as Hyper-V where your edition supports them.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type optionalfeatures.
  3. Press Enter. The Windows Features dialog should appear.
Run dialog containing optionalfeatures and the Windows Features dialog showing its component list

For the Settings page called Optional features, use ms-settings:optionalfeatures. The two commands open different interfaces.

Fix #13: Inspect services with services.msc

A service is a background Windows process. Services lets you check whether one is running when a troubleshooting step names it.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type services.msc.
  3. Press Enter. The Services window should show service names, status, and startup type.
Run dialog containing services.msc and the Services window showing service names and status

I’d skip changing startup types unless you know which service you’re fixing. Disabling the wrong one can break a Windows feature or app.

Fix #14: Inspect drives with diskmgmt.msc

Disk Management is useful when an external drive doesn’t appear in File Explorer.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type diskmgmt.msc.
  3. Press Enter. Disk Management should show your disks and volumes.
Run dialog containing diskmgmt.msc and Disk Management showing the disk and volume list

Check whether the drive appears and has a drive letter. Don’t format or delete a volume to make it show up; either action can erase data.

Fix #15: Schedule a shutdown with shutdown /s /t 600

This command schedules a shutdown in 600 seconds, or 10 minutes. Save your work first.

  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type shutdown /s /t 600.
  3. Press Enter. Windows should display a shutdown notification.
Run dialog containing shutdown /s /t 600 and the Windows shutdown notification

Changed your mind? Open Run again, enter shutdown /a, and press Enter to cancel the scheduled shutdown.

If a command doesn’t open

Check the spelling first. If Windows + R does nothing, right-click Start and select Run, or search for Run from Start. A tool may also be unavailable in your Windows edition or require administrator permission to make changes.

The command to remember

For everyday hardware troubleshooting, devmgmt.msc is the one I’d bookmark. If several built-in tools refuse to open, check your Windows installation or account restrictions before changing drivers or services.