Command Prompt — or CMD — is one of the oldest yet most powerful tools in Windows. It might look simple, but when used correctly, it gives you deep control over your system. From fixing network problems to checking battery health and unlocking hidden performance features, CMD can make your Windows 11 PC run faster, smoother, and smarter.
In this detailed guide, we’ll go step-by-step through the most useful CMD commands for Windows 11, explain what each one does, why it’s important, and how to use it safely. Whether you’re a beginner or someone who just wants to get more from their system, this article will help you master essential CMD tricks that can save time and prevent frustration.
Let’s start with something that can give your computer an instant performance boost.
1. Enable High Performance Mode
Windows 11, by default, balances energy efficiency with speed. But if you want maximum performance for gaming, video editing, or heavy workloads, you can unlock the High Performance Power Plan using CMD.
Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the Search bar and type cmd.
- Right-click Command Prompt → select Run as Administrator.
- Paste this command and press Enter:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 - You’ll see a confirmation message. Now open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
- Under Show Additional Plans, you’ll now see High Performance. Select it to activate.
This mode forces your CPU and GPU to run at their highest capacity, reducing delays and improving responsiveness.
When to use it: during gaming, video editing, rendering, or virtual machine work.
When to avoid it: on laptops during battery use, as it drains power faster and increases heat.
So far, you’ve just learned how to make Windows deliver peak speed whenever you need it most. Let’s move to another common need — finding your Wi-Fi password.
2. Find Your Saved Wi-Fi Password
We’ve all been there — you connect to Wi-Fi once and forget the password later. The good news? CMD can show you any stored Wi-Fi password on your system within seconds.
Follow these steps:
- Open Command Prompt again.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
netsh wlan show profilesThis shows all saved Wi-Fi networks on your PC. - Now, to reveal the password of a specific network, type:
netsh wlan show profile name="Wi-Fi Name" key=clearReplace Wi-Fi Name with your actual network name (keep the quotes). - Scroll down to Security Settings → Key Content. The text next to it is your password.
This trick is extremely handy if you’ve connected to a network before but can’t remember the password for a new device.
3. Open Resource Monitor
Sometimes your PC feels slow for no apparent reason — fans are running, programs are lagging, but Task Manager doesn’t tell the full story. That’s where Resource Monitor comes in, and CMD can open it instantly.
Type this in Command Prompt:
resmon
Hit Enter, and you’ll see the Resource Monitor window. It gives you detailed insights about:
- CPU usage: which apps are using the processor most.
- Memory tab: how your RAM is being allocated.
- Disk tab: which programs are reading or writing the most data.
- Network tab: which apps are consuming internet bandwidth.
If your system feels sluggish, check here to spot the culprit — maybe a background app is hogging resources.
4. Generate a Detailed Battery Health Report
Let’s move to something every laptop owner should know. You can use CMD to get a complete battery health report in a few seconds — something that even most third-party apps charge for.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type the following command:
powercfg /batteryreport - Press Enter. You’ll get a message like:
Battery life report saved to C:\Users\YourName\battery-report.html - Copy that path, paste it into your browser, and press Enter.
This report shows:
- Battery design capacity vs. current capacity
- Charging and usage history
- Recent battery drain graphs
- Life estimates based on past behavior
If your full charge capacity is much lower than the original design capacity, your battery is degrading and may need replacement soon. Checking this report every few months helps you monitor performance and plan ahead.
5. Check Your Internet Stability and Speed
You don’t always need a speed test website to check your internet connection — CMD can do that too.
Here’s how:
- Open CMD and type this command:
ping google.com - Press Enter. You’ll see results like:
Reply from 142.250.192.78: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=115
Let’s break this down:
- time=3ms → This shows your network latency. The lower, the better. Anything under 50ms is excellent.
- TTL (Time to Live) → Indicates how many network hops your data packet can take before it’s discarded.
- Packets sent/received/lost → Shows connection stability. A 0% loss means your internet is stable.
If you see “Request timed out,” your router or ISP connection may be dropping.
For deeper analysis, you can try:
ping 8.8.8.8 -n 20
This pings Google’s DNS 20 times, revealing fluctuations and packet loss — a simple yet powerful troubleshooting step.
6. Scan and Repair System Files
Over time, corrupted files or registry issues can cause crashes or strange errors. Fortunately, Windows includes built-in repair commands through CMD.
Open CMD as Administrator and run:
sfc /scannow
This scans for missing or corrupted system files and replaces them automatically.
If it finds issues it can’t repair, follow up with:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This command downloads fresh system files from Windows Update and restores damaged components. It might take a while, but it’s a lifesaver when your system behaves oddly.
7. View Your Computer’s IP Configuration
Next, let’s check your network configuration — useful for diagnosing internet issues or setting up port forwarding.
Type this command:
ipconfig /all
This will display your device’s:
- IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
- Default Gateway (your router address)
- DNS servers
- Connection-specific details
You can use these details to troubleshoot network errors, connect manually to a device, or check if your PC is connected to the correct network.
If your IP looks invalid (e.g., starts with 169.x.x.x), that means your system couldn’t obtain a proper address — usually fixed by resetting the network adapter.
To reset it, type:
netsh winsock reset
and restart your computer.
8. Check Disk Health and Errors
A slow or unresponsive system could mean your drive has bad sectors. Luckily, CMD can check and repair them too.
Run this command:
chkdsk C: /f /r
Here’s what it means:
- C: = the drive letter to scan (you can replace it).
- /f = fixes detected errors.
- /r = locates bad sectors and recovers readable data.
If your system drive is in use, CMD will ask if you want to schedule the check for the next reboot. Type Y and restart.
Once complete, your PC will start faster and run more reliably if disk errors were the cause.
9. Monitor Network Activity in Real Time
Want to know which apps are secretly using your internet connection? You can do that too using:
netstat -ab
This lists all active connections and the programs responsible for them. If you notice an unknown app connecting to the internet, it could be a background update or even malware.
For more readable output, try:
netstat -ano
The final column shows process IDs (PIDs), which you can match in Task Manager → Details to identify the exact app.
This is an excellent command for both gamers and privacy-conscious users.
10. View System Information
Finally, if you want to know everything about your PC — hardware, BIOS, OS version, memory, and more — just run:
systeminfo
This single command gives you a summary of your computer’s specifications and system updates. It’s especially useful when diagnosing compatibility issues or checking if your Windows build supports certain features.
You’ll see details like:
- System Manufacturer and Model
- BIOS Version and Date
- OS Build and Install Date
- Total Physical and Virtual Memory
- Network Card Info
You can even export this data for troubleshooting or support purposes using:
systeminfo > C:\info.txt
Now you’ll have a text file with your full system details saved automatically.
So Far, So Good — Let’s Summarize
You’ve just unlocked ten powerful commands that can:
- Improve performance (
powercfg) - Recover Wi-Fi passwords (
netsh wlan show profile) - Analyze system health (
resmon,sfc,chkdsk) - Check battery and network stability (
powercfg /batteryreport,ping) - Monitor what’s really going on behind the scenes (
netstat,systeminfo)
Once you start using these regularly, you’ll notice your PC running smoother — and you’ll feel more confident diagnosing issues without third-party tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it safe to use CMD commands on Windows 11?
Yes, as long as you follow the instructions carefully and avoid deleting or formatting commands. The ones mentioned here are built-in diagnostic tools from Microsoft.
Q: Why can’t I run some commands?
Some commands require Administrator privileges. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator to unlock them.
Q: Can these commands fix slow startup issues?
Yes, commands like sfc /scannow, chkdsk, and enabling High Performance Mode can significantly improve startup and app launch speed.
Q: Will CMD commands damage my hardware?
No — they only manage system configurations and software-level settings.
Final Thoughts
The Command Prompt might look intimidating at first, but once you understand what it can do, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in Windows 11. You don’t need expensive software or endless troubleshooting — most performance and maintenance tasks are just one command away.
So, the next time your PC slows down, your Wi-Fi acts strange, or you want to squeeze every bit of power out of your hardware — remember this list. Open CMD, type a few words, and take control of your computer like a pro.
Disclaimer:
All commands mentioned in this guide are officially supported by Microsoft and safe for use in Windows 10 and 11. Avoid executing unfamiliar commands from unverified sources, as they may alter critical system settings.
#Windows11 #CMDCommands #PCOptimization #TechGuide #NetworkFix #BatteryHealth #SystemRepair #WindowsTips #CMDTricks #PowerUser
