How to Run an EXE File at the Windows Command Prompt

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Do you need to open a program on Windows without clicking its icon or menu item? Running programs from the Windows Command Prompt, or CMD, is easy, thanks to the "start" command. This wikiHow article will teach you how to launch executable (exe) files in Windows from the command line using Command Prompt .

Steps

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":349,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":553,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Find the file path of the folder containing your exe program. Open the folder containing your program in a File Explorer window, and copy or note the file path from the address bar at the top of the window.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your desktop to open your Start menu. [1]
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Command Prompt should show up at the top of the search results.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open a new Command Prompt window. [2]
    • For example, if you're trying to run Mozilla Firefox , the exe file you want to run may be located in a folder called Mozilla Firefox in Program Files on your C drive.
    • In this case, your file path is C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox .
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Replace [filepath] with the actual path to folder that contains the EXE program you want to run. [3]
    • For example, if you're trying to run Mozilla Firefox, your command here may look like cd C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox .
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will navigate you into the selected file path in Command Prompt. [4]
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":540,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Replace [filename.exe] with your program's name. This should exactly match your exe program's file name in the folder. [5]
    • For example, if you're running Mozilla Firefox, the program file should be named firefox.exe by default.
    • In this case, your command will look like start firefox.exe .
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Run-Exe-from-Cmd-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will run the selected program on your computer.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I make a exe file safe?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Be sure to scan the exe file with your antivirus program first—sometimes, the program can open up that package and see malicious things that are inside. Still, you should only ever open an exe file when you know exactly what it is, as these files can be very dangerous.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 8
  • Question
    How can I run the exe as an executable if I know the file extension is not exe? For example, if the file is compiled on Linux and transferred to Windows, how would I run the file without an extension?
    Community Answer
    Edit the file's name (press F2 or right click and rename), then add an .exe to run the file as executable in Windows.
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  • Question
    How can you open an exe file on raspbian using a command prompt?
    Community Answer
    Raspbian is a version of Linux, not Windows. Only Windows can run exe files, you'll need to get a Linux version of the program you're trying to use.
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      • An alternative way to open Command Prompt would be using Windows' Run feature. You can open the Run window by pressing ⊞ Win + R on your keyboard, type cmd here, and click the Run button to open Command Prompt.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/how-to-open-the-command-prompt-in-windows-10/
      2. ↑ https://grok.lsu.edu/article.aspx?articleid=13578
      3. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/cd
      4. ↑ https://www.digitalcitizen.life/command-prompt-how-use-basic-commands/
      5. ↑ https://www.digitalcitizen.life/command-prompt-how-use-basic-commands/

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