With the Creator’s Update, Microsoft removed CMD from the Start menu and instead introduced PowerShell. PowerShell is a more advanced command shell. Microsoft claims PowerShell is better than CMD as it lets users execute the same commands that ran in CMD and more.
Difference Between The Command Prompt And PowerShell
Command Prompt is a command line interpreter for Microsoft Windows. It is used to automate the system related tasks using script and batch files. It is used to issue commands to the system like Copy, Paste and Delete. CMD has built-in commands to execute various tasks that can be executed if run as Administrator.
- PowerShell is a more advanced version of Command Prompt. It is used to run external programs like ping or copy. It is also used to automate various system administration tasks that are not accessible from CMD.exe.
PowerShell is a scripting designed with system administrators in mind and is used to perform administrative tasks on multiple Operating Systems. It invokes a rich set of commands within the automation context that enables administration in Windows. It is a more powerful command line interpreter that interprets both Batch commands and PowerShell commands.
How To Bring Back PowerShell In WinX Menu
If you like using CMD over PowerShell, there are different methods available to bring back PowerShell. Here I’ll list the various methods to replace PowerShell with CMD.
Method 1 (Using Taskbar Properties)
To replace PowerShell with CMD in Windows Menu:
- Right-click on Windows 10 Taskbar and select Properties.
2. The right pane, toggle the button next to Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the Start button or press Win + X to off.
When you exit the settings window, PowerShell will be replaced with CMD.
How To Bring Back PowerShell In Context Menu
You can also use this second method to bring back Powershell in context menu if you have mistakenly lost it.
Method 2 (Using Registry Editor)
The Context Menu shows up when you press Shift + Right Click in a directory. Replacing PowerShell in context menu requires a change in the registry. I’ll show the method to replace PowerShell with CMD in the context menu.
- Note: making changes to the registry can damage your computer if not done correctly. I recommend creating a backup of your registry in case something goes wrong.
- Open Notepad as Administrator by right clicking on the search query.
- Paste the following text in the editor.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmdprompt]
@="@shell32.dll,-8506"
"Extended"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmdprompt\command]
@="cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\cmdprompt]
@="@shell32.dll,-8506"
"Extended"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\cmdprompt\command]
@="cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmdprompt]
@="@shell32.dll,-8506"
"Extended"=""
"NoWorkingDirectory"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmdprompt\command]
@="cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\""
3. Open the Save Click on Save As. Name the file CMDregedit.reg
4. Choose the location where you want to save it. Click on save. Remember the extension should be .reg only.
5. Double click on the .reg file you just created. Click on Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
This will merge the registry file you created with your existing registry. You need to restart the File Explorer from Task Manager. Following this, in the context menu, CMD will appear instead of PowerShell.
Alternatively, you can manually edit registry values. Next, I’ll show you how to use registry editor manually to replace PowerShell with CMD.
Method 3 (Using Registry Editor- Alternate method)
- Open Registry Editor using Run. Press Win + R and type regedit, press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path, or paste it in the address bar of the registry editor:
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
3. Find CMD in the left pane. Right click on the key and select Permissions.
4. Select Advanced.
5. Select the Change button next to Owner on top of Advanced.
6. In the input field, enter your username (or your Microsoft e-mail address). Press Enter.
7. Back in the Permissions window; select Administrators from the top section, Select Full Control from the bottom section. Select Apply
8. Delete the DWORD HideBasedOnVelocityId in the CMD pane.
9. Change the same Permissions for PowerShell Follow the same steps as above.
10. After you change Full Control Permissions, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value entry and name it HideBasedOnVelocityId
11. Double click the entry you just created, and change its hexadecimal value to 639bc8
12. Restart the File Explorer from the Task manager.
Following this, you have replaced PowerShell with CMD in the context menu.
Conclusion
Even though Microsoft claims the PowerShell to be more powerful, there is a nostalgia factor associated with the CMD. Using the methods given above, you now know how to bring back CMD instead of PowerShell in the Context menu and the Windows (WinX) Menu in Windows 10. Did you find any of these methods helpful? Comment below if you replaced the PowerShell with CMD.