Windows is a GUI-focused operating system and does not require users to use the terminal for trivial settings changes and troubleshooting. However, when things get really complicated or you need to quickly reach a deeply nested setting, using an appropriate command is a wise choice. My use of the Terminal has increased as I have gained experience with Windows, and there are some commands I wish I had known earlier.
These commands save me the effort of searching for the option in a deeply nested five-page menu that Microsoft deemed unnecessary to keep in the forefront. I use some of these commands when Windows 11 is finicky and requires direct troubleshooting and not the totally useless Get Help app.
stop /r /o /f /t 0
Quickly access Windows recovery options
Windows has many troubleshooting tools that appear on a single page called Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). However, accessing the page is somewhat complicated. The first option is to hold down the Shift key while selecting the restart option from the Start menu to boot into the page. But it’s a bit clumsy.
The second option is to press the power button and then press it again to stop booting. Doing this three times puts the computer into automatic repair mode, which allows you to access the WinRE page. But it’s aggressive because it’s a last resort solution when your PC won’t boot at all. THE stop /r /o /f /t 0 The command can help you get started quickly on the WinRE page without any of the shenanigans mentioned above.
You just need to type the command and press Enterand your PC boots to the WinRE page within a minute. Shutdown is a power control command; using the /r flag restarts the system, and /o boots to the recovery page.
Since your PC may have applications running in the foreground or background, the /f the force of the flags closes everything, while the /t 0 flag tells it to perform the action immediately, because zero means no delay.
Stop downloading software from websites: Windows has a built-in package manager
Make it easier for yourself
netsh wlan show wlanreport
All about wireless networks
Wi-Fi outages are the worst and they hurt my productivity. All the tools I use are online, and if you notice random disconnections or slow network speeds, you start digging. THE netsh wlan show wlanreport The command generates a diagnostic report on your wireless network card.
I used it to notice fault patterns and discover active virtual and real wireless adapters on my PC. The generated report is so comprehensive that you will no longer have to worry about using other WLAN-related commands.
The command structure is also standard, using the netsh CLI tool to select WLAN adapters and view their details. Finally, the wlan report part generates an HTML report and saves it in the program’s files directory. You will see the exact path in the terminal once the command is finished executing.
Robocopy
Automating folder backup
Robocopy is a lesser used tool because the GUI option is convenient in most cases. Why use a CLI tool when GUI options and shortcut commands work well? The reason is the simple performance difference between copying large folders containing thousands of subdirectories and individual files.
I ran my tests with the tool and there was a clear difference in the total time required to copy the same folder using the GUI and Robocopy options. It works faster because it doesn’t count all files or process GUI elements like File Explorer before starting a copy job. It ignores all these things and focuses on the snapshot operation.
Besides performance, the customizable approach with many flags and the ability to specify restart attempts (if you don’t use the default one), retain metadata, are some additional reasons to use the tool. You can use multithreaded mode to start copying multiple files at once to speed up the process. The command will look like this:
robocopy “source-folder” “target-folder” /E /DCOPY:DAT /V /LOG:”C:Log.txt”
THE /E the flag tells him to copy everything subdirectories, including empty ones, while the /DCOPY:DAT the flag tells it to retain metadata, timestamps andfolder structure. I use it to create daily automated backups of specific folders on my PC to an external SSD. This is possible via the task scheduler and the /V /LOG The flags help generate a log file of the entire session.
Troubleshooting becomes easy when you force the tool to keep log files. I use the /MT (multithreaded) only when I need to move game files or transfer a huge media or program folder.
winget upgrade –all –accept-package-agreements –accept-source-agreements –silent
Update packages without hassle
Winget is a native package manager that can do wonders for CLI package management. But why bother with a CLI tool for update operations? Because the Microsoft Store can only mass update Store apps, not all software installed on your system.
A glance at Programs and Features The page will show you the reality. Windows is only great because there are many apps available and when you install a third-party app or tool, it doesn’t update the same way a store app does.
Run the Winget upgrade – all The command can help your PC find all available packages and update them one by one. The command is easy to remember, but you may wonder what the other flags are for.
I use the –accept-package-agreements flag to automatically accept all EULA agreement prompts that require a simple yes or no entry. THE –accept-source-agreements flag accepts the terms and conditions of the repository, and the — silent flag initiates an automatic, pop-up-free installation for packages supporting the feature.
By doing this I can avoid most UAC and terminal prompts and let updates run in the background. I can’t think of a more convenient way to update most software installed on a Windows PC. However, some software may not be updated because it is not part of the Winget repository, but this is only a very small part of the whole.
Don’t ignore terminal commands
I use the commands mentioned above a lot because they are a useful tool in my daily routine. Running multiple Windows VMs requires troubleshooting, and quick access to WinRE or a wireless network report saves me a lot of hassle. Robocopy is a seriously underrated old CLI tool, while Winget is a new but useful way to update my software list.