How to Run explorer.exe from CMD
Running explorer.exe from the Command Prompt (CMD) can be a useful trick for Windows users, especially when dealing with certain system issues or when you need to access the file explorer in a non-standard way. Explorer.exe is the executable file that starts the Windows File Explorer, which is the default file manager in Windows. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to run explorer.exe from CMD.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
The first step is to open the Command Prompt. There are several ways to do this:
– Press `Win + R`, type `cmd`, and press Enter.
– Right-click on the Start button, select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
– Press `Win + X` and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows Terminal (Admin)” from the menu that appears.
Step 2: Navigate to the Directory
Before you can run explorer.exe, you need to navigate to the directory where the file is located. You can use the `cd` command to change directories. For example, if explorer.exe is located in the C:\Windows directory, you would type:
“`
cd C:\Windows
“`
Press Enter after typing the command.
Step 3: Run explorer.exe
Once you are in the correct directory, you can run explorer.exe by simply typing its name and pressing Enter:
“`
explorer.exe
“`
This will launch the Windows File Explorer.
Step 4: Accessing explorer.exe from Other Directories
If explorer.exe is located in a different directory, you need to navigate to that directory first using the `cd` command. For example, if explorer.exe is in the D:\Program Files directory, you would type:
“`
cd D:\Program Files
“`
Then, run explorer.exe as before:
“`
explorer.exe
“`
Step 5: Running explorer.exe with Additional Parameters
You can also run explorer.exe with additional parameters to customize its behavior. For example, you can open a specific folder by specifying its path as a parameter. Here’s an example of opening the C:\Users directory:
“`
explorer.exe C:\Users
“`
Conclusion
Running explorer.exe from CMD is a straightforward process that can be useful in various situations. Whether you need to access the file explorer when the graphical user interface is not working or you want to automate certain tasks, knowing how to run explorer.exe from the command line can be a valuable skill.
