How To Get Back Open Command Prompt Here in Windows 10/11Windows 10 Creators Update removes the Open Command Prompt Here context menu in favour of PowerShell. Here's how to get it back.
Microsoft has decided that the trusty old command prompt is outdated and will be phasing it out. They are now making PowerShell the de facto command shell in Windows 10.
Windows 10 Creators Update removes the "Open Command Prompt Here" context menu entry and replaces it with "Open PowerShell Window Here".
Microsoft continues to phase out Command Prompt in favour of PowerShell. In a recent Windows Update, PowerShell replaces the Command Prompt (aka, "cmd.exe") in the Win + X menu, in File Explorer's File menu, and in the context menu that appears when you Shift + Right Click the whitespace in File Explorer.
Typing "cmd" or "powershell" in File Explorer's address bar will remain a quick way to launch the command shell at that location.
For those who prefer to use Command Prompt, you can opt out of the Win + X change by opening Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turning "Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the Start button or press Win + X" to "Off".
You need to make a quick registry change to get Command Prompt back to the File menu for File Explorer or in the extended context menu (Shift + Right-click). Although not difficult, the process is quite involved.
Get Back Open Command Prompt Here Context Menu
We need to change the system registry to get the Open Command Prompt Here context menu.
- Open Regedit from the Start Menu.
- Navigate to
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd. - This key is protected from changes. To enable editing, you need to:
- Right-click on the cmd folder and select Permissions.
- Click the Advanced button.
- Next to the Owner label is a link that says "Change". Click on it.
- In the Select User or Group window, enter the name of your Windows user account in the "Enter the object name to select" text box and click "Check Names".
- If there are no errors, click OK to make the changes.
- Back on the Permissions window, select the "Allow" checkbox next to "Full Control", then click OK back to Regedit.
- Right click on the key
HideBasedOnVelocityIdand select "Rename". Rename it to something like_HideBasedOnVelocityId. - Changes take immediate effect, so head to Windows Explorer and shift-right click to see "Open Command Prompt Here" returned.
Why Did Microsoft Remove "Open Command Prompt Here" Context Menu?
Here is what Microsoft has to say about the change Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14971 for PC
To bring the best command line experiences to the forefront for all power users, PowerShell is now the defacto command shell from File Explorer.
Do you agree with Microsoft? Has the old DOS command prompt retired? Is PowerShell great as a day-to-day alternative? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
