How to run commands on Windows 10

How to run commands on Windows 10

Among the various utility programs that can make life very easy for Windows operating system users is the Run Command. However, this program functions more or less like a single-line command-line interface with a Graphical User Interface for the users. It can hence be viewed as a GUI version of the command prompt environment. In GNOME which is a UNIX-like derivative interface, the Run command is used to run applications via terminal commands. The Multics shell as seen in this operating system includes a run command to run a command in an isolated environment. The DEC TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 Command Processor included a RUN command for running executable programs.

Now onto an environment that we are much more familiar with the Windows operating system known as Windows 10. The Run command window here allows you to launch programs, open files and folders, and access internet resources. This is the case in other versions of Windows such as the latest version, Windows 11, and other versions; Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and the like.

You can execute a command on the Windows Run by typing a path, a quick command, or an environment variable into the provided input box, and then click OK or press Enter. While the tool exists in all versions of the Windows operating system including the modern ones, the Run shortcut is not as easy to find as it is on older versions. Many users still do not know how to access this program, and hence, they are often seen making research on the internet on the subject matter. This is why we have come up with this post. If you are looking to find how to easily access the Windows Run command on Windows 10 and Windows 11, this post is meant for you.

How to open the Windows Run command on Windows 10 and 11

There are several ways you can open the Windows Run command. They are given below.

How to open the Windows Run command using the shortcut keys for Run

Without a doubt, the quickest way to launch the Run command window is to use the standard keyboard shortcut: Windows + R. Simply hold down the Windows key and press the R key on the keyboard. One of the advantages of this method is that it is very easy to remember. On top of being very easy to remember, this method works in all versions of Windows, from the outdated versions such as Windows Vista and Windows 7 to the newer versions such as Windows 10 and Windows 11. Upon using the shortcut mentioned above, the Run window is immediately displayed in the lower-left corner of the desktop.

How to open the Windows Run command window directly from the Start Menu

The Start Menu provides a reliable way to access various standalone applications and Windows programs on your Windows operating system-powered computer. Among these programs that are accessible through the Windows Start Menu is the Run Command. To access this program from the Start Menu on Windows 10, follow the steps below.

• Click or tap on the Windows logo located at the lower left corner of the taskbar. Alternatively, press the Windows key on your keyboard.
• Then, scroll down the applications list till you get to the Windows System. Click on the folder and the list of Windows-related programs will be shown.
• Now select the Run program and this will launch it.

Opening the Run Command on Windows 11 via the Windows Start Menu requires a little different approach. Foremost, click or tap the Windows icon on the taskbar to open the Start Menu, or press the Windows key on your keyboard for the same result. Then, click or tap All apps, scroll down to Windows Tools, and click on this shortcut. This will open the Windows Tools window from where you can see different shortcuts available. Scroll until you find Run, and then double-click or double-tap on it.

How to open the Windows Run command using Search

The Search tool is always a great one to query for files and folders’ locations even when you do not know where you had saved them. More than that, it is a cool tool to leverage to find and open just about anything in Windows.

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On your Windows 10 system, just type the word Run inside the Search bar located at the bottom left corner of the taskbar, right beside the Windows logo. Then press Enter or select the Run program that you can see at the top of the search results.

On Windows 11, you can achieve this by clicking or tapping the Search icon on the taskbar and typing the word run. Then, go on to select the Run program from the search results.

How to open Windows Run from the WinX quick access menu

Another way to launch the Windows Run program is using the WinX access menu; a hidden menu called WinX or the Power User/Quick Access menu that comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11. This hidden access menu has within it a shortcut for the Run command window. To open the Windows Run program from this menu, follow the steps given below:

• Start by right-clicking the Windows logo on the taskbar bottom left side of the taskbar. An alternative way of doing this is to press and hold the said logo using the touchscreen functionality if your system does have this feature.
• From the menu that pops up, choose Run.

As a fan of keyboard shortcuts, you can achieve the same result by pressing Windows + X, followed by R. Come to think of it, that might be a lot slower than just simply pressing Windows + R. However, it does not hurt to know that this also works.

How to open the Windows Run from the command line prompt

For some reason, you may want to launch the Windows Run program through the command line. As well, you may just be curious to know if opening this program from the command line is possible. Regardless of why you would want to know it, here is how that can be done.

To launch the Windows Run through the command line, you need to open the command line terminal by pressing the Windows to start key and searching the keyword cmd. This will open up the command prompt. Upon opening, type the command below and hit the Enter key.

• explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

The above command will open up the Windows Run program upon clicking the Enter key on your keyboard. It is however important to note that this method does not work in PowerShell. Using it there opens File Explorer instead of the Run window.

How to open Windows Run from PowerShell

The command given earlier only opens the Windows Run program when it is executed in the Windows Terminal environment. However, that does not mean that the Windows Run cannot be opened through PowerShell as well. It just requires a different command.

Get started by launching the PowerShell program from the Windows start menu. You can also start searching for PowerShell from the All Programs section and as the program launches, type the command below to open the Windows Run program.

• (New-Object -ComObject “Shell.Application”).FileRun()

Press the enter key on your keyboard and the expected result will appear afterward.

How to open the Windows Run command from File Explorer

File Explorer is an inbuilt program that allows us to browse files and folders on the Windows operating system. This program comes with all versions of this operating system including the modern ones. This program’s utilities go beyond just opening and browsing files and documents. You can as well open the Run command from the address bar seen at the top of the File Explorer window. Simply copy and paste the command below into it, and then press Enter:

• explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

The above command will bring up the run command window in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

Using the Run command window

The Windows Run command program has been introduced by Microsoft alongside the time of Windows 95, and it has since been part of the integrated programs on Windows operating systems ever since. While there are some other alternatives, many users still use the Windows Run command pretty often, but many don’t realize its potential and usefulness yet. However, the fact still remains that its number of users has reduced over the years and you can only hope that Microsoft does not retire it completely in a later Windows 11 update. Regardless, it is still a great tool and for some reasons, many would always prefer it to the alternatives.

Departing Thoughts

Up till now, the Windows Run command box provides the fastest way to launch programs, and open folders, and documents, among many other utilities. While there are other programs providing the same utilities, the Windows Run command has its distinctness. Do you use an alternative program in place of the Windows Run? Comment and share your experience with them.