Using the Command Line in Windows 11 to Launch Microsoft Office, Edge, Chrome, and Firefox
In this article, we will explore how to use the command line in Windows 11 to launch various applications such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. We will cover the basics of the command line, how to navigate the file system, and how to create and use aliases to make launching applications even easier.
What is the Command Line?
The command line, also known as the terminal or console, is a text-based interface for interacting with a computer's operating system. It allows users to enter commands and run programs by typing them in, rather than using a graphical user interface (GUI). The command line can be a powerful tool for automating tasks, troubleshooting issues, and launching applications.
Navigating the File System
In order to use the command line effectively, it is important to understand how to navigate the file system. In Windows, the file system is organized into a hierarchical structure of drives, folders, and files. The command line provides several commands for navigating this structure, such as:
cd(change directory) - changes the current working directorydir(directory) - lists the contents of the current working directorymd(make directory) - creates a new directoryrd(remove directory) - deletes a directory
Launching Applications
To launch an application from the command line, you can use the start command followed by the path to the application's executable file. For example, to launch Microsoft Word, you can use the following command:
start "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\WINWORD.EXE"This can be a bit cumbersome to type, so it is common to create aliases for frequently used applications. An alias is a shortcut that allows you to assign a simple name to a command or a series of commands. To create an alias for launching Microsoft Word, you can use the following command:
doskey word=start "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\WINWORD.EXE"Now, you can launch Microsoft Word by simply typing word in the command line.
Launching Microsoft Office Applications
You can use the same approach to launch any Microsoft Office application. For example, to launch Excel, you can use the following command:
start "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE"Or, to create an alias for launching Excel, you can use the following command:
doskey excel=start "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE"Launching Web Browsers
You can also use the command line to launch web browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. The process is similar to launching any other application, but you will need to know the path to the browser's executable file.
For Microsoft Edge, you can use the following command:
start "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe"For Google Chrome, you can use the following command:
start "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"For Mozilla Firefox, you can use the following command:
start "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"In this article, we have covered the basics of using the command line in Windows 11 to launch applications such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. We have discussed the basics of the command line, how to navigate the file system, and how to create and use aliases to make launching applications even easier. With this knowledge, you can now use the command line to launch your favorite applications quickly and easily.