While most Windows users probably never come into contact with the Windows command line unless they run into some kind of issue and receive advise to run commands to repair it, it is still useful to know at least some of the available commands.

Windows devices come without command line reference which means that you have to find other ways to get to know commands and how to use them on the operating system.

While you can type "help" on the command prompt to get a list of popular commands, the list that is returned to you when you run help is limited and incomplete.

Help does not list useful commands such as cipher, mountvol, or reg among many others.

Windows Command Line reference

Microsoft published a command line reference document in April 2018 for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and the server products Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, and Windows Server 2016.

While Windows 7 is not mentioned explicitly, most of the commands work on devices running that version of Windows as well.

The PDF document, which you can download from here, has a size of 4.7 Megabytes and 948 pages. The first few pages list a table of contents which includes all commands described in the document. All entries link to pages of the document which means that you can click on a command to jump to its description and reference right away.

If you select bcdedit for instance, you get information about the functionality of the command, syntax and parameter details, links to resources on Microsoft websites, and additional notes (for instance if a command requires elevation or Registry information if data is stored in the Registry).

Examples are provided for some of the commands but not for all of them. These are useful as they are not listed when you use the /? command to display a commands help text on the command line.

Each parameter is explained in detail; the information is the same that you get when you run the command with the /? to display its help test on the command line.

The description, notes and link to documentation on the Microsoft website is useful, but links are not provided for all commands.

Closing Words

Microsoft's Windows Command Line reference is a big document that lists more than 250 different commands on 948 pages. While that is a massive list of commands, undocumented commands are not included in the paper.

Still, the document is quite useful; not only for Windows admins who like a reference in paper format but also for home users who would like a command line reference.

Since it is provided as a PDF document, it is possible to search the document to find commands or information quickly.