Stupid Geek Tricks: Open a Command Prompt From the Desktop Right-Click Menu

If you don't already have a quick launch icon or a hotkey set to open a command prompt, there's really quick trick that you can do on any Windows Vista computer to open up a command prompt without having to navigate the menu.

Just hold down the Shift key and right-click on the desktop…

And then you can choose "Open Command Window Here" from the menu. The great thing about this is that the current path is the desktop, which is convenient for manipulating files on the desktop.

Of course you can always right-click on any folder icon in the system while holding down the shift key:

Or inside any folder:

The great thing about this trick is that it works when you are working on somebody else's computer… it also would be an easy way to open a command prompt when using a CrossLoop session to remotely fix a computer.

The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. This article was written on 06/4/08 and tagged with: Windows Vista, Vista Tips & Tweaks

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Comments (9)

1. June 4, 2008 7:14 am
   Edgar

   BTW, there is a powertoy for XP as well.

2. June 4, 2008 7:52 am
   Michael

   The trick doesn't work on my pc (windows XP Pro SP2). Too bad, I love me some command line action. Guess I will have to stick with my quicklaunch icon.

3. June 4, 2008 2:23 pm
   Don

   In Vista, this doesn't work on folders in the left pane of Windows Explorer.
   In XP (with the powertoy) it does.

4. June 4, 2008 6:19 pm
   Spencer

   Great tip! Never seen this before.

5. June 4, 2008 6:24 pm
   Mike Turco

   Pretty cool. It'd be nice if you could "run as administrator"

6. June 4, 2008 8:51 pm
   Blue

   very nice!

7. June 5, 2008 9:31 am
   Dirk

   Guess Micheal didn't notice "quick trick that you can do on any Windows Vista computer" in the first paragraph..

   Michael do a search for "Windows XP powertoy" and download cmd here (or command here, I forgot the exact name)

8. June 5, 2008 9:32 am
   Vaibhav

   I am still on XP and although I know there is some tweak which enables this in XP as well, but I don't have it.

   I simply do WinKey+R, type c, and press enter (I have WinKey+R mapped to SlickRun).

   :)

9. June 5, 2008 10:00 am
   Randy

   You can also add a registry key (or two) so that you don't have to hold the shift key… also add the option for an Elevated Command Prompt which can also be handy…

   http://www.randyrants.com/2007.....eleva.html