Restoring 'OpenCmd' instead of 'PowerShell' in Windows 10 File Explorer

Restoring "Open Cmd" Instead of "Open PowerShell" in Windows 10 File Explorer

Windows 10 introduced a new feature where right-clicking on a folder or drive in File Explorer would open a PowerShell window instead of the Command Prompt. While PowerShell is a powerful tool, some users may prefer to use the Command Prompt for certain tasks. This article will guide you through the process of restoring the "Open Cmd" option in Windows 10 File Explorer.

Key Concepts

• File Explorer context menu
• PowerShell
• Command Prompt
• Registry editing

Changing the Default Context Menu Option

To change the default context menu option from PowerShell to Command Prompt, you will need to edit the Windows Registry. Follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key:
   HKEY\_CLASSES\_ROOT\Directory\shell

   If the cmd key does not exist, you will need to create it by right-clicking on the shell key, selecting New > Key, and naming it cmd.

4. Right-click on the cmd key and select New > Key. Name the new key command.
5. In the command key, double-click on the (Default) value and change the value data to:
   cmd.exe /k pushd "%V"

   This will open a Command Prompt window and change the current directory to the selected folder or drive.

6. Click OK to save the changes.
7. Close the Registry Editor.

Testing the Changes

To test the changes, open File Explorer and right-click on a folder or drive. You should now see the "Open Cmd" option in the context menu. Clicking on it will open a Command Prompt window in the selected folder or drive.

• Editing the Windows Registry can change the default context menu option from PowerShell to Command Prompt in Windows 10 File Explorer.
• The cmd key and the command subkey need to be created or modified in the HKEY\_CLASSES\_ROOT\Directory\shell key.
• The (Default) value in the command key should be set to cmd.exe /k pushd "%V" to open a Command Prompt window and change the current directory to the selected folder or drive.

References

• Type: Article

  Title: How to Replace PowerShell with Command Prompt in the Right-Click Menu

  Author: Brad Chacos

  Publication: PCWorld

  Date: October 14, 2016

  URL: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3128021/how-to-replace-powershell-with-command-prompt-in-the-right-click-menu.html

• Type: Article

  Title: How to Replace PowerShell with Command Prompt in Windows 10

  Author: Matt Smith

  Publication: How-To Geek

  Date: July 28, 2020

  URL: https://www.howtogeek.com/449612/how-to-replace-powershell-with-command-prompt-in-windows-10/