When your Windows PC refuses to boot normally, it’s not just frustrating—it can be downright panic-inducing. After all, no one wants to deal with the re-installation process. Thankfully, the Command Prompt in Windows Recovery Mode can be your single tool to fix a lot of problems. Whether you’re facing a stubborn malware infection, a botched update, a corrupted file system, or a registry mishap, the Command Prompt tool in Recovery Mode lets you do all this and more.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of booting to Command Prompt in Windows Recovery Mode using simple, easy-to-follow steps. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, these instructions will help you open the command line tool inside the Windows recovery environment. Let’s get started.
Before You Start
Before following the steps below, ensure you have a bootable Windows installation drive ready. This is crucial for accessing the Windows Recovery Environment.
If you don’t have a bootable drive:
- For Windows 10: Create one by following my easy guide on creating a Windows 10 installation media.
- For Windows 11: Use my step-by-step instructions to create a Windows 11 bootable USB.
These guides make the process straightforward, even for beginners.
Steps to Open Command Prompt in Windows Recovery Mode
- Plug the bootable Windows USB drive into an empty USB port.
- Boot your PC from the Windows installation media.
- Click “Next” on the Windows Setup screen.
- Select “Repair your computer” in the bottom-left corner.
- Choose “Troubleshoot” from the options presented.
- Click on “Advanced options.”
- Select “Command Prompt.”
- The Command Prompt will open in Windows Recovery Mode.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
The first thing you need to do is plug in the Windows installation USB drive into an empty USB port, start your computer, and boot into it.
Important note: If you are unable to boot into the USB drive, make sure it has top priority in the boot order. To know how to do it, consult your motherboard or laptop manual.
Once you see the installation screen, click the “Next” button to continue. Next, click the “Repair your computer” link. Typically, you’ll see it in the bottom left corner of the window.
Now, click the “Troubleshoot” option.
In the next screen, click the “Advanced Options” option.
In the “Advanced Options” page, click on the “Command Prompt” option.
As soon as you click the Command Prompt option, Windows will open the command line window inside the recovery mode. From here, you can execute the necessary commands to repair and restore your system. For example, check for disk errors, repair boot records, etc. Depending on your use case, the commands and processes will be different.
Troubleshooting Steps
Unable to boot into Windows USB bootable drive
If you’re unable to boot from the USB drive, ensure it has top priority in the boot order. To change this:
- Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (often by pressing F2, F12, or Del during startup).
- Look for a “Boot” or “Boot Order” section.
- Move the USB drive to the top of the boot priority list.
- Save changes and exit.
Once done, reboot the computer and it should boot into the Windows installation media.
Wrapping Up — Opening Command Prompt in Windows Recovery Mode
As you can launching or booting to Command Prompt in the Windows recovery environment is pretty easy. All you need to a bootable USB drive and you are good to go. Keep in mind that if you are able to boot normally, you can also open the Advanced Startup screen using your Settings app. If you are unable to boot then use the bootable drive to first boot into the installation screen and then launch the Advanced Startup as shown above. From there, you can launch the Command Prompt window.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
I hope that helps. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.
