How to Find and Open Files Using Command Prompt

As soon as you’ve acquired how to navigate directories on Windows 10, the following move is understanding how to uncover and open data files making use of the Command Prompt. It is just as simple as navigating by and opening a file in File Explorer. Here’s how it’s performed.

To start with, open the Command Prompt on your Laptop by typing “cmd” in the Home windows Look for bar and then deciding on “Command Prompt” from the search outcomes.

With the Command Prompt opened, you’re prepared to find and open up your file.

Discover Files Employing Command Prompt

Maybe you currently know the file route to the item you want to open–maybe not. If not, you do not have to have to lookup by means of File Explorer just to arrive again to the Command Prompt later on. You can use this command rather:

dir "search term*" /s

Just change “search term” with, of system, the true look for term. So, if we needed to identify our file known as “Example File,” we’d use this command:

dir "case in point file*" /s

Command Prompt will now research and come across all instances of the look for expression you entered. It will (1) exhibit you the file route, and (2) give you the file name and extension.

Now that we have observed our file, let us open up it.

Similar: How to Use File Explorer Without a Mouse on Home windows 10

Open up Information Employing Command Prompt

To open up the file, you need to have to navigate to the listing in the Command Prompt that is made up of the file you would like to open up. In this instance, we have produced an “Example” folder in our “Documents” folder, so we’ll head there.

In Command Prompt, use the Adjust Directories command ( cd ) to navigate through your folders. Since we’re at present at the best degree of the computer’s file method, we’ll require to go to “Documents” initial and then “Example.” So, we’ll use this command:

cd DocumentsExample

Be aware that you ought to navigate to the instant file construction. In this scenario, we can not skip “Documents” and jump straight to “Example.”

After you have inputted your command, press the Enter vital. You are going to now be in that folder.

It’s now time to open the file in just that folder. Our file is named “Example File.”

To open up the file, enter the file name and extension in quotations. In this circumstance:

“example file.docx”

The file will now open up.

To make points a little bit more quickly, you can really navigate to the appropriate folder and open up the file in a solitary command. Assuming we are back at the top rated level, we would run this command:

“DocumentsExampleexample file.docx”

The only difference is you never insert the cd command and the full route is in quotations.