Open a Command Prompt in Explorer (Windows Vista)
There is an easy (but tricky) way to open a command prompt window for a specific folder you are browsing in Windows Explorer in Windows Vista:
- Press and hold the Shift key, then right-click on a folder in Windows Explorer.
- The Explorer context menu will appear. Click on the menu item Open Command Window Here.
This will open a command prompt window for the selected folder:
Note that this does NOT work if you shift+right-click in the tree view on the left side of the Explorer window! Also note that this works only in Windows Vista and later, and not in Windows XP or before without special software.


