Opening and closing the Command Prompt in Windows is straightforward. Here’s a guide to the different ways you can open the Command Prompt, including as an administrator, and how to close it when you’re done.

1. Opening the Command Prompt

There are several methods to open the Command Prompt on a Windows computer. Here are the most common ones:

Method 1: Using the Start Menu

• Step 1: Click on the Start menu or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
• Step 2: Type "cmd" or "Command Prompt" in the search bar.
• Step 3: Click on Command Prompt from the search results.

Method 2: Using the Run Dialog Box

• Step 1: Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Step 2: Type "cmd" and press Enter or click OK.

Method 3: Opening Command Prompt as Administrator

• Some tasks require elevated permissions, known as "administrator privileges." To open the Command Prompt as an administrator:
• Step 1: Open the Start menu, type "cmd" or "Command Prompt."
• Step 2: Right-click on Command Prompt in the search results.
• Step 3: Select Run as administrator.
• Step 4: If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow.

Opening the Command Prompt as an administrator gives you elevated privileges, enabling commands that can make system-level changes.

Method 4: From File Explorer

• Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where you want the Command Prompt to open.
• Step 2: Click on the File menu at the top of the window.
• Step 3: Select Open Windows PowerShell and then Open Command Prompt (if available in older versions), or type "cmd" in the address bar and press Enter.

2. Closing the Command Prompt

Once you’ve finished using the Command Prompt, there are multiple ways to close it:

Method 1: Typing exit

• Simply type exit at the command prompt and press Enter.
• This will immediately close the Command Prompt window.

Method 2: Clicking the Close Button

• Click the X button at the top-right corner of the Command Prompt window.
• This is the standard way to close most Windows applications and will immediately terminate the session.

Method 3: Using Shortcut Keys

• Press Alt + F4 to close the Command Prompt window. This keyboard shortcut is a universal method in Windows for closing the active window.

Summary of Opening and Closing the Command Prompt

The Command Prompt can be opened in several ways depending on your preference and the specific task you need to perform, including as an administrator for system-level commands. Closing the Command Prompt is equally easy, using either the exit command, the close button, or keyboard shortcuts.