The Windows 10 logo.

1 of the first things you'll demand to larn equally you become more familiar with Control Prompt on Windows 10 is how to alter directories in the operating organisation's file system. There are a few ways you tin do this, and then we'll walk yous through them.

Starting time, type "cmd" in the Windows Search bar to open up Command Prompt, and and so select "Command Prompt" from the search results.

Click "Command Prompt" in the Windows 10 search results.

With Command Prompt opened, you lot're set to alter directories.

Change Directories Using the Drag-and-Drop Method

If the folder you lot want to open up in Command Prompt is on your desktop or already open in File Explorer, you tin can speedily change to that directory. Blazoncd followed by a space, elevate and drop the binder into the window, and so printing Enter.

The directory you switched to volition be reflected in the command line.

Modify Directories Within Command Prompt

Information technology's not ever user-friendly to open File Explorer and drag and drop. That's why it's cool that you can likewise type a command to alter directories right in Control Prompt.

RELATED: 10 Useful Windows Commands Yous Should Know

Say, for example, yous're in your user binder, and there's a "Documents" directory in the next file path. You tin type the post-obit command in Command Prompt to switch to that directory:

cd Documents

Note that this only works if you lot're in the firsthand file structure. In our case, that would be (user binder) > Documents. In our electric current directory, we wouldn't be able to employ this method to jump to a directory nested ii levels downwardly.

So, let's say we're currently in the user folder and desire to go to the "How-To Geek" folder, which is nested in "Documents." If we try to jump straight to "How-To Geek" without first going to "Documents," we get the error shown in the image below.

"The System Cannot Find the Path Specified" error message in Command Prompt.

Let's have things one directory at a time, for at present. Every bit we mentioned previously, we're currently in our user binder. We blazoncd Documents in Command Prompt to visit "Documents."

The "cd Documents" command in Command Prompt.

We're now in the "Documents" binder. To move down another level, we typecd on the command line followed by the name of that directory.

The "cd How-To Geek" command in Command Prompt.

At present, let's say we're dorsum in our user folder and want to skip that actress footstep and jump two directories downward. In our case, this would exist our "How-To Geek" folder. Nosotros type the following control:

cd Documents\How-To Geek

This allows us to move ii directory levels with one command.

The "cd Documents\How-To Geek" command in Command Prompt.

If y'all ever go to the incorrect directory and want to turn back, type the following command:

cd . .

This allows you to move upwards a level.

The "cd . . " command in Command Prompt.

A Navigation Tip

If you lot want to be a bit more efficient with your directory changes, typecd on the command line, followed by the outset few messages of the directory you want. Then, press Tab to autocomplete the directory name.

Alternatively, you lot tin type cd, followed by the first letter of the directory, and so press Tab multiple times until the correct directory appears.

Run into Directory Contents

If you're ever lost and non certain where to go adjacent, you can view the contents of your current directory by typing dir on the command line.

The "dir" command and a directory's contents in Command Prompt.

This will give you a hint as to which directory to navigate to adjacent.

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