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How to run commands on Windows

Overview​

Running commands in Windows allows you to do system changes, customize environment, or fix problems by restoring the system to its default state. This guide shows you the correct way to run Windows commands.

Before you start
  • Never run commands from untrusted websites - they can damage your computer.  PrivacyLearn.com and privacy.sexy are safe to use - all commands are tested, documented, and reviewed. Visit about page for details.
  • Some changes cannot be undone (like deleting files).  Irreversible changes are clearly marked in our documentation - always read the guide before running any command.

Steps​

  • ≈ 4 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 10 instructions
  1. 1

    Copy

    Copy the code you wish to apply.

    To restore changes, copy revert code instead.

  2. 2

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as administrator.

    1. Click on Start menu
      Windows 11 Start button location. Windows 11 taskbar showing the centered Start button location. The Start button is located in the center of the Windows 11 taskbar, indicated by a red arrow pointing to the Windows logo icon.
    2. Type: cmd
      Typing cmd in Windows 11 Start menu search. Windows 11 Start menu search interface with cmd command entered. Windows 11 Start menu open with search box showing "cmd" typed in, with Command Prompt appearing as the top result.
    3. Right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
      Running Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 11. Windows 11 Command Prompt context menu showing Run as administrator option. Context menu for Command Prompt showing several options with "Run as administrator" highlighted by a red arrow.
    4. Click on Yes to allow the app to make changes.
      Windows 11 User Account Control prompt. UAC security prompt for elevating Command Prompt permissions. User Account Control dialog asking for permission to allow Command Prompt to make changes to the device, with Yes and No buttons visible.
    See step-by-step animation
    Opening Command Prompt in Windows 11. Animated guide for accessing administrator Command Prompt. Step-by-step animation showing the process of opening Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 11, from clicking Start to confirming UAC prompt.
  3. 3

    Paste

    Right click on Command Prompt to paste it.

  4. 4

    Run

    Press Enter to apply remaining code.

  5. 5

    Restart

    Optionally, restart (reboot) your PC.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

    1. Click on Start menu

    2. Select the Power button

    3. Select Restart

    Windows 11 restart option. Power menu showing restart command in Windows 11. Windows 11 power options menu with the Restart option highlighted in red.

Best Practices​

Document

Keep track of system modifications to help with troubleshooting and recovery.
  • Keep a log of commands you run
  • Document any custom modifications

Storing history of commands you run allows you to remember your changes to troubleshoot any potential issues or revert changes you've made.

Windows Command Prompt does not store any history.

PrivacyLearn.com includes revert commands for each change - bookmark the revert page for quick access.

privacy.sexy application stores scripts you run automatically.

Back up

Consider backing up important data before running commands.
  • Back up of your personal files
  • Save a copy of healthy system state

Windows offers multiple out-of-the-box backup methods.

You can back up system state using:

These services have privacy implications

  • System Restore Point: Quick snapshot of system files and registry - good for testing command batches
  • Registry Backup: Export specific registry keys you'll modify - fastest option for registry-only changes

Additionally, you can back up data using Windows services:

  • Windows Backup: Full backup including personal files - recommended before major system changes
  • OneDrive: Check if your files are synced to OneDrive before running cleanup commands - many privacy commands affect OneDrive functionality

Verify

You may trust, but still verify.
  • Read the documentation before execution
  • Understand what functionality you might lose

Always verify command sources. Good questions to ask:

  • Who shares these commands?
  • How are they tested?
  • Is there community feedback you can read?

Also verify the commands themselves. Impacts can include loss of functionality, for example breaking some parts of:

  • Microsoft Store
  • Gaming (especially Xbox features)
  • Remote connections

Each command on this website includes detailed impact descriptions from real user experiences.

Use copy-paste instead of manual typing to avoid errors.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Administrator Rights​

Why do I need to run commands as administrator?

Administrator access is required to make system-level privacy changes that regular user accounts can't modify. These include:

  • System settings that affect privacy
  • Security-related configurations
  • Core Windows features

Every command is documented and reversible, so you can always see what changes are being made.

Restoring Changes​

How can I undo changes if something goes wrong?

Most changes can be safely reversed with Undo protection button:

  • Return to the relevant guide
  • Copy the restore code instead of the regular code
  • Follow the same steps to apply it

Some cleanup actions that delete files cannot be undone. These are clearly marked in our documentation.

System Restart​

Do I need to restart my computer after every command?

Not always. Changes fall into two categories:

  • Immediate changes that take effect right away
  • System-level changes that require a restart

Our guides clearly indicate when a restart is needed. You can typically apply multiple commands before restarting.

Command Safety​

Is it safe to copy and paste commands from websites?

No. You should be cautious about running commands from the internet. However, PrivacyLearn ensures safety through:

  • Community review and testing
  • Clear documentation of all changes
  • Open-source verification
  • Reversible commands

Check our about page more details on comprehensive and independent verification.

Always review command explanations before applying them, especially for advanced settings.

Troubleshooting​

Each issue's severity and resolution time may vary. Consider backing up your system before attempting major changes.

Access Denied​

How do I fix Access Denied errors in Windows?
Symptoms:
  • Access is denied error message
  • Permission-related error codes about file/registry modification
Solutions:
  1. Run Command Prompt as administrator
  2. Check Account Privileges
    1. Verify your account is in Administrators group
    2. Use whoami /groups to check current privileges
    3. You may be missing this privilege on work/school computers, in that case contact system administrator to request access.
  3. Handle Settings Locking
    1. Temporarily disable Tamper Protection
    2. Check third-party security software settings
  4. Use Safe Mode
    1. Boot into Safe Mode
    2. Run commands

Unrecognized Commands​

What should I do when Windows does not recognize a command?
Symptoms:
  • "'Command' is not recognized as an internal or external command" error message
  • "'Command' command cannot be found." error message
Solutions:
  1. Verify Environment Variables
    1. Open System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables
    2. Check if required paths are in PATH variable
  2. Verify presence of essential utilities:
    1. Use where command to locate utilities.
    2. Run sfc /scannow which will reinstall the utilities.
Community Reports:

Administrator Access Issues​

How do I fix administrator access issues in Windows?
Symptoms:
  • "Run as administrator" option is grayed out
  • UAC prompts not appearing or requests credentials
  • Administrative commands failing with access errors
Solutions:
  1. If you're on a work or school computer:
    1. Check organization policy restrictions
    2. Contact IT department if on managed device
  2. Enable administrator privileges:
    1. Go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Change your account type.
    2. Make sure Administrator is selected

Antivirus Interference​

How do I resolve antivirus software blocking my commands?
Symptoms:
  • Access errors from command execution
  • Security software warnings or alerts
  • Command blocked errors in Command Prompt
Solutions:
  1. Temporarily disable Defender real-time protection
  2. Flag the blocked action as false negative
  3. Use privacy.sexy application that can automatically detect antivirus interference
Community Reports:

Ineffective Commands​

Why are my Windows commands not making any changes?
Symptoms:
  • Commands complete but have no effect
  • System state unchanged after commands
  • No error messages displayed
  • Unexpected behavior after command execution
Solutions:
  1. Review command execution logs to understand if the action was skipped for some reason
  2. Read the command documentation, some effects may not be directly visible
  3. Restart your PC, some commands require restart to take effect
  4. Update Windows to latest version to resolve potential compatibility issues
  5. Submit a bug report if issue continues

Slow Command Execution​

What should I do when Windows commands are running slowly?
Symptoms:
  • Commands seem to hang
  • No visible progress indicators
  • System appears unresponsive
Solutions:
  1. Be patient with long-running commands
    • Simple commands typically take 1-5 minutes
    • Complex operations may take several hours

    Monitor Task Manager to verify the command is still active

  2. If you must stop a command:
    1. Press Ctrl+C to terminate the command
    2. Document what was running when interrupted
    3. Consider running recovery steps if issues occur

    Interrupting commands may leave the system in an inconsistent state

Command Length Limits​

How do I handle Windows command line length limitations?
Symptoms:
  • System rejecting execution with errors such as "Input line is too long"
  • Commands truncated during execution or after pasting
  • Partial command execution
Solutions:
  1. Verify command integrity before execution. Ensure the command you enter is the same as the command provided by the source.
  2. Ensure commands are shorter than 8191 characters.
    • Windows command line limit is 8191 characters
    • All commands in PrivacyLearn is tested to not exceed this limit.
  3. Split long commands into multiple lines.

Recovery Steps​

  • ≈ 4 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt, Windows Settings, System Restore
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 8 instructions
Running commands can have unwanted effects or you may simply change your mind., Follow these recovery procedures to restore your system to its previous state.
  1. 1

    Revert

    Use built-in revert commands if available.

    Whenever possible PrivacyLearn.com guides explain how to revert.

    If you're unsure about what commands you've run, you can revert a parent category (wider action) will also revert all included commands.

  2. 2

    Restore

    Apply a restore point.
    1. Open System Properties ➜ System Protection
    2. Select System Restore
    3. Choose appropriate restore point
    4. Follow wizard instructions
  3. 3

    Get Help

    If the command was provided by PrivacyLearn.com, ask for help in Discussions forum.
  4. 4

    Clean Installation

    Proceed with a clean installation if all previous recovery steps have failed.
    1. Back up your personal files.
    2. Download Windows installation media
    3. Perform a clean Windows installation

About the Author​

Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
  • Certified security professional
  • 7+ years experience securing banks
  • Open-source developer since 2005
  • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

Public review by large community​

  • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
  • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually review and update our documentation to ensure accuracy and relevance. All changes follow our rigorous editorial standards with complete transparency. Each update includes detailed records ofwho made the changes, what was modified,why updates were needed, and when they were implemented.

Our Change Process