Windows cmd show file — Ваш верный помощник с OS Windows

Last Updated :
06 Mar, 2025

Struggling to find or organize files buried in folders on your Windows PC? While File Explorer offers a visual way to browse, the Command Prompt (CMD) provides a faster, more powerful method to list, sort, and manage files, especially when dealing with large directories or automating tasks.

In this quick guide on how to list all files in a directory using CMD in Windows, you will explore how to use simple CMD commands like dir to instantly display every file and subfolder in any directory. We’ll break down the syntax, explain how to filter results (by name, date, or type), and share tricks to export lists for backups.

Prerequisites to Access Directory in Win

Windows PC (11, 10, 8 or 7)

Administrator Rights

Familiar with Command Prompt actions (or knowing how to open it, i.e. Win + R & type CMD)

What Command Can Be Used to List Files

The «dir» command is fundamental in the Windows Command Prompt, which is used to list the contents of a directory. Here’s a bit more detail on how it works.

1. Basic Usage

When you type dir and press Enter in the Command Prompt, it lists all the files and directories in the current directory.
By default, it displays the file name, size, and modification date and time.

2. Options

/A: This option displays files with specified attributes. For example, /A: H displays hidden files.
/B: Uses a bare format with no heading information or summary. It simply lists the names of files and directories.
/O: Specifies the order in which files are sorted. For instance, /O: N sorts files by name.
/S: Displays files in the specified directory and all subdirectories.
/P: Pauses after each screenful of information.
/W: Uses wide list format, displaying as many as five file names in each row.

3. Example Usage

dir /A: Lists all files including hidden files in the current directory.
dir /B: Displays a bare list of files and directories without any additional information.
dir /O:N: Sorts files by name.
dir /S: Lists files in the specified directory and all subdirectories.

How to List All Files in a Directory

Now, we will be discussing 4 basic steps to list all files in a directory using the Command Prompt. Let’s check them out:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

First things first, let’s open the Command Prompt. You can do this by searching for «Command Prompt» in the Start menu or by pressing the Win + R keys, typing «cmd» in the «Run» dialog, and hitting Enter.

Open Command Prompt

Step 2: Navigate to the Directory

Once you have the Command Prompt open, you need to navigate to the directory whose files you want to list. To do this, use the cd command followed by the path of the directory. For example, if you want to list files in a directory named «Documents» located in your user folder, you would type:

cd Documents

Press Enter after typing the command to change the directory.

Step 3: List Files

Now that you’re in the desired directory, it’s time to list all the files it contains. To do this, simply type the «dir» command and press Enter. This command displays a list of files and directories in the current directory.

List Files

Step 4: Additional Options (Optional)

If you want to customize the way files are listed, you can use various options with the dir command. Here are some common options:

/A: Displays files with specified attributes.

/B: Uses bare format (no heading information or summary).

/O: Specifies the order in which files are sorted.

/S: Displays files in specified directory and all subdirectories.

For example, if you want to list all files including hidden files in bare format, you would type:

dir /A /B

Use Cases for Listing Files in CMD

IT Audits: Export a list of all .exe files in a directory for compliance checks.
Scripting Backups: Automate file logging with a batch script.
Troubleshooting: Identify missing or corrupted files in large folders.

CMD vs PowerShell: Which One to Use

Task	CMD Command	PowerShell Equivalent
List files	`dir`	`Get-ChildItem`
Filter by date	`dir /od`	`Get-ChildItem \| Sort LastWriteTime`
Export to text file	`dir > output.txt`	`Get-ChildItem > output.txt`

Conclusion

Mastering the dir command in CMD lets you efficiently manage files, automate tasks and troubleshoot Windows system within a few steps. By following the outline steps, you can use the Command Prompt to organize your workspace or troubleshooting, without replying on graphical interfaces. Whether you’re an IT expert, a developer (for scripting batch jobs) or a casual user organizing personal documents, the ability to list files in a directory using CMD is a must-know job that everyone should know.

Also Read

CMD | Dir command

How to Delete a File or Folder Using CMD?

Search Files Faster on Windows 10 using Command Prompt

Источник

To display a list of files in the current directory using the Command Prompt (cmd), you can use the `dir` command, which shows all the files and folders along with their details.

Here’s the command:

dir

Understanding CMD Basics

What is CMD?

The Command Prompt, commonly referred to as CMD, is a command-line interpreter available in most Windows operating systems. It allows users to execute commands to perform various system tasks, from file manipulation to system configurations. Understanding CMD is essential for those who prefer efficiency and want to unlock the full potential of their Windows environment.

Why Use CMD to List Files?

Using CMD to list files offers several advantages over traditional graphical file explorers:

Efficiency: Listing files using commands can be faster for users familiar with the syntax.
Automation: Commands can be scripted to automate tasks and save time.
Remote Access: CMD can be accessed remotely, allowing file management without a GUI.

Mastering Forfiles Cmd for Efficient File Management

Getting Started with CMD

Opening Command Prompt

There are various methods to open the Command Prompt in Windows:

Search for «cmd» in the Start Menu.
Use the Run dialog by pressing `Windows + R`, typing `cmd`, and hitting Enter.
Right-click on the Start Menu and select Windows Terminal or Command Prompt.

Navigating Directories in CMD

Before listing files, it’s important to know how to navigate directories. The `cd` command can be used to change directories:

cd C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents

To view the contents of the directory, use the `dir` command.

List Files Cmd Windows: A Simple Guide

Listing Files in CMD

Show Files in Directory CMD

To list files in the current directory, use the `dir` command. This command lists all files and folders within the directory.

dir

Running this command gives you a simple overview of all items in your current working directory, including the file sizes and last modified dates.

List Files in a Folder CMD

To list files from a specific folder, provide the complete path in the `dir` command. For example, to see the files in your Documents folder:

dir C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents

This specific command will display all files and subfolders located in the `Documents` folder.

cmd list files in directory

Using wildcards can be incredibly useful for filtering results. For example, if you only want to list text files, you can use the following command:

dir *.txt

In this instance, the `*` wildcard represents any filename, while `.txt` limits the output to files with a `.txt` extension.

List Files CMD

You can customize how the files are displayed using options for sorting and formatting. Some useful options include:

Sort by Name:

dir /O:N

Sort by Size:

dir /O:S

Sort by Date:

dir /O:D

These commands help you organize the output based on your needs and make it easier to find specific files.

Delete Files Cmd: A Quick Guide to File Removal

Advanced Tips for Listing Files

How to List Files in CMD with Filters

By utilizing various flags, you can filter the types of files displayed. For example, to list only hidden files, use:

dir /A:H

The `/A` flag along with `H` indicates that you want to see files with the hidden attribute. Similar attributes like `S` for system files can also be used.

CMD Show Files in Directory with Additional Information

For a more detailed view of the files, you can use additional flags. For example, to see the owner of the files, their creation date, and include subdirectories, use:

dir /Q /T:C /S

In this command:

`/Q` shows the owner of the file.
`/T:C` shows the creation date of the file.
`/S` lists files in the current directory and all of its subdirectories.

This level of detail can assist significantly when managing file permissions or tracking file activity.

Check FSMO Roles in Cmd: A Quick Guide

Customizing Your Listing

Creating Custom Text File Output

If you want to save the list of files to a text file for later reference, you can redirect the output like this:

dir > filelist.txt

This command captures the output of the `dir` command and writes it to a file named `filelist.txt` in the current directory.

Formatting Output with PowerShell

While CMD is powerful, sometimes PowerShell provides more flexibility. You can employ the `Get-ChildItem` command in PowerShell for enhanced output formatting:

Get-ChildItem -Path C:\YourDirectory | Format-Table

This command lists files in the specified directory and formats them in a table, making it easier to read and interpret.

Define Cmd: A Quick Guide to Command Line Mastery

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common Errors in CMD

When working in the Command Prompt, you may encounter several common errors, such as «File Not Found». This typically indicates that the directory or file you’re trying to access does not exist. Double-check your file paths for accuracy.

Permissions Issues

If you see an «Access Denied» message, it may be due to insufficient permissions. Ensure you are running CMD as an administrator, especially if you are trying to access system files or modify directory contents.

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Conclusion

Mastering the command to show files in CMD can significantly enhance your efficiency when managing files on Windows. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, the tips and commands outlined here can help you navigate and manipulate your files with confidence. Don’t hesitate to experiment and explore the various capabilities of CMD! This powerful tool offers unmatched flexibility when dealing with files, making it a valuable addition to your skillset. Happy command lining!

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CMD List Files: How to List Files in Command Prompt Windows 10/11

By Ariel | Follow |
Last Updated November 28, 2024

What command can be used to list files in a directory? How to list files in Command Prompt Windows 10/11? A great many people are confused about these questions. In this post, MiniTool explains the Command Prompt list files topic in detail and introduces an alternative to CMD list files.

CMD (Command Prompt) is a powerful Windows built-in tool that can be used to do many works such as CMD copy files, CMD list drives, CMD WiFi password, and more. However, a lot of users don’t how to list files in Command Prompt. Here’s a true example from the StackOverflow forum:

I tried searching for a command that could list all the files in a directory as well as subfolders using a command prompt command. I have read the help for the «dir» command but couldn’t find what I was looking for. Please help me with what command could get this.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15214486/command-to-list-all-files-in-a-folder-as-well-as-sub-folders-in-windows

Although there are already many discussions and posts about the Command Prompt list files, most of them lack clear steps and screenshots, which makes people difficult to understand the “CMD list files” operation. Thus, we want to write a complete guide to explain it. Let’s keep reading.

What Command Can Be Used to List Files

To list directory CMD smoothly, you need to know what command can be used to list files in a directory Windows first. The answer is to use the DIR command. This command can be used to show all files and subfolders in the current directory. In addition, it displays the file name, size, and last modification date of each file like File Explorer.

The DIR command is available in CMD for almost all Windows systems, including Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP. Here are the most commonly used command lines about the CMD list directory/files:

D: List all directories in the current path
R: Show read-only files
H: Show hidden files
A: Archive files
S: List system files
I: Not content indexed files
L: Reparse points
-: Add a minus in front of any of the file attribute to let the DIR command not show that kind of file.

How to List Files in Command Prompt Windows 10/11

How to list files in CMD Windows 10/11? The answer depends on what files you want to list. Here we summarize several common examples of the Windows Command Prompt list files.

Step 1. First of all, you need to navigate to the directory in which you want to list files in File Explorer.

Step 2. Click on the address bar and type cmd in the file path and hit Enter, which will open the Command Prompt window.

Tips:

Also, you can locate the directory first in File Explorer, and then press the Win + R keys to open the Run box, type cmd in it, and hit Enter to open the Command Prompt window.

type cmd in the address bar of File Explorer

Step 3. In the pop-up window, you can list file CMD according to your needs. For example:

Example 1. CMD List all directories and folders under the current path.

dir

Example 2. CMD List folders of the current directory only.

dir /ad

Example 3. CMD list files only under the directory.

dir /a-d

Example 4. CMD list files and folders under a specific directory (e.g. C:Usersdefaultuser1)

cd C:Usersdefaultuser1

dir

Example 5. CMD list all system files under the directory.

dir /s

Example 6. CMD list all read-only non-achieve files.

dir /a:r-a

Example 7. CMD list all files with the file extension .doc.

Tips:

You can replace the doc with other file extensions such as exe, png, xml, etc.

dir *.doc

Example 8. CMD list all files with the file extension .doc and .jpg.

dir *.doc *.jpg

CMD list files with doc and jpg extension

Of course, there are many other dir commands to list file CMD on Windows 10/11 and we can’t explain all in this post. If you want to know more information about Windows CMD list files, you can search for corresponding commands online on Google.

Better Alternative to Command Prompt List Files

Although you can list files in a directory CMD, many professional commands might be unfamiliar to you. How to list all files/folders under a directory more easily? MiniTool Partition Wizard is a better alternative to Windows Command Prompt list files.

Its Space Analyzer feature can show all files/folders under a specific path in the file name, size, last change, extension, percentage of drive, etc. In addition, it tells you what files are taking up your disk space and helps you free up disk space.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

list files using MiniTool Partition Wizard

About The Author

Position: Columnist

Ariel has been working as a highly professional computer-relevant technology editor at MiniTool for many years. She has a strong passion for researching all knowledge related to the computer’s disk, partition, and Windows OS. Up till now, she has finished thousands of articles covering a broad range of topics and helped lots of users fix various problems. She focuses on the fields of disk management, OS backup, and PDF editing and provides her readers with insightful and informative content.

Источник

Whenever you want to search and make a list of all files on a specific folder, you used the windows explorer interface to do that. But today in this article we will show other easy ways to that. We will list files using the cmd tool. Command-line provides a simple way to list all the files of a certain type– for example, all your PDF files using the “dir” command. This command will be old news to many but it remains one of the most useful for average PC users. At the end of the post, you will have all switches in order t play with them based on your needs,

How to List all the files in a folder using CMD

Searching on windows the “cmd” name an open as administrator
Navigate to your path where you need to list the file by type cd and the path:

cd c:\Test\

Click Enter
Execute the following command

dir

Enter “dir” to list the files and folders contained in the folder.

How to List all the files in a folder and subfolder using CMD

If you want to list the files in all the subfolders as well as the main folder, enter:

dir /s

The lists can be quite long and we will create a file containing the list in order to be very easy. You can rename multiple files at once using CMD.

How to list specific file using wildcards

The dir command can also be used to search for specific files and directories by using wildcards. For example, to list files or directories that begin with the letter “B” you could type:

dir b*

To list only the items starting with the B letter.

How to Display Based on File Attributes

You can add “/A” followed by a letter code after the DIR command to display files with a specific attribute. These letter codes include:

D: Displays all directories in the current path
R: Displays read-only files
H: Displays hidden files
A: Files that are ready for archiving
S: System files
I: Not content indexed files
L: Reparse points

How to create a text file listing of the files

Open the command line in the folder of interest. Example:

cd c:\Test\

Execute the following command:
```
dir > listoffiles.txt
```
The command will create a list with the files and folders contained in the folder.
If you want to list the files in all the subfolders as well as the main folder, enter the following command

dir /s >listmyfiles.txt

The file “listoffiles.txt” will be created automatically in the working folder.

Give the full pathname to create the file elsewhere. For example:

dir >D:\listmyfiles.txt

Could be used to place the list on an external drive D:

How to create a text file listing only certain types of files

You may want a list of certain types of files such as pdf files. The dir command allows the use of the wildcard symbol *, which adds very useful functionality. Here are some examples.

How to create a list of all the PDF files in a folder and its subfolders:

The command is:

dir /s *.pdf >listpdf.txt

The command will create a list of PDF files only.

A simpler format:

The commands as written will make lists that include information about files such as size and date of creation. A simpler list containing only file names (with full path) can be obtained with the switch “/b”. An example would be:

dir /s/b *.pdf >listpdf.txt

You can also change extension of multiply files using the command line.

How to display only files without folder names

Adding /a-d to the command removes the names of the directories, so all we have are the file names.

dir /a-d /b >..\listmyfiles.txt

How to Display Results in Columns

You can use the /D switch to display results in two columns instead of one. When you display results this way, the Command Prompt does not show extra file information (file size and so on)—just the names of the files and directories.

dir /D

How to Display Results in Lowercase

The /L switch displays all names of files and folders as lowercase.

dir /L

Display Results Sorted by Time

Using the /T switch along with a letter code lets you sort results by the different time stamps associated with files and folders. These letter codes include:

A:The time the item was last accessed.
C:The time the item was created.
W:The time the item was last written to. This is the default option used.

So, for example, to sort results by the time items were created, you could use the following command:

dir /TC

All Switches Key

Below are all switches where you can use to create a complex list:

Syntax DIR [pathname(s)] [display_format] [file_attributes] [sorted] [time] [options]

Key

[pathname] The drive, folder, and/or files to display, this can include wildcards:
- * – Match any characters
- ? – Match any ONE character
[display_format]
- /P Pause after each screen of data.
- /W Wide List format, sorted horizontally.
- /D Wide List format, sorted by vertical column.
[file_attributes] /A[:]attribute
- /A:D Folder /A:-D NOT Folder
- /A:R Read-only /A:-R NOT Read-only
- /A:H Hidden /A:-H NOT Hidden
- /A:A Archive /A:-A NOT Archive
- /A:S System file /A:-S NOT System file
- /A:I Not content indexed Files /A:-I NOT content indexed
- /A:L Reparse Point /A:-L NOT Reparse Point (symbolic link)
- /A:X No scrub file /A:-X Scrub file (Windows 8+)
- /A:V Integrity /A:-V NOT Integrity (Windows 8+)
- /A Show all files

Several attributes can be combined e.g. /A:HD-R

[sorted] Sorted by /O[:]sortorder
- /O:N Name /O:-N Name
- /O:S file Size /O:-S file Size
- /O:E file Extension /O:-E file Extension
- /O:D Date & time /O:-D Date & time
- /O:G Group folders first /O:-G Group folders last

several attributes can be combined e.g. /O:GEN

[time] /T: the time field to display & use for sorting
- /T:C Creation
- /T:A Last Access
- /T:W Last Written (default)

[options]
- /S include all subfolders.
- /R Display alternate data streams.
- /B Bare format (no heading, file sizes, or summary).
- /L use Lowercase.
- /Q Display the owner of the file.
- /N long list format where filenames are on the far right.
- /X As for
- /N but with the short filenames included.
- /C Include thousand separator in file sizes.
- /-C Don’t include a thousand separators in file sizes.
- /4 Display four-digit years. In most recent builds of Windows, this switch has no effect.

The number of digits shown is determined by the ShortDate format set in the Control Panel.

Conclusion:

This is all about the methods of how to list files in cmd. Not only but also playing with to get a certain result like export them on a text file or listing only certain types of files.

Источник

The dir command is used to list files and folders in the Windows command prompt (CMD).

dir

The dir command without a path will display a list of files and folders in the current working directory.

DIR Command - List Files in Windows Command Prompt

You can provide a path to see the listing for a different directory:

dir C:\Windows

By default, the dir command does not show hidden files and folders. To include hidden files, run the dir command as follows:

dir /a

You can use the /B switch to show the file names only without heading information or summary.

dir /b C:\Windows

The /s option lists all files in a specified directory and all subdirectories.

dir /s

List Files Using Patterns

The dir command supports wildcard character (*) that you can use to describe a pattern to match.

For example, the following command lists all files that begin with the letter A:

dir a*

Here is another example that lists all files that have a .doc extension:

dir /b *.doc

Displays files with specified attributes

The /A switch is used to list files and folders with specified attributes. For example, the letter H represents the hidden attribute.

dir /a:h

The following table describes each of the values that you can use for Attributes.

D	Folders.
H	Hidden files and Folders.
S	System files.
L	Reparse Points.
R	Read-only files.
A	Files ready for archiving.
I	Not content indexed files.
O	Offline files.
—	Prefix meaning not (See examples).

Examples

List Files and folders in C:\Windows\System32 directory:

dir C:\Windows\System32

Obtain a listing of all files in C:\Windows\System32 that ends with the .txt extension:

dir C:\Windows\System32\*.txt

Search for files with .dll extension in C:\Windows\System32 and all subdirectories:

dir /s C:\Windows\System32\*.dll

Returns the listing for the parent directory of the current working directory:

dir ..

List all files and folders, including hidden files:

dir /a

Show hidden files only:

dir /a:h

List only folders:

dir /a:d

Don’t list folders:

dir /a:-d

Show only hidden folders:

dir /a:dh

List read only files:

dir /a:r

Sort the result by name:

dir /o:n

This will sort the result set by size:

dir /o:s

Sort the result set by size (largest first):

dir /o:-s

Sort the result by date:

dir /o:d

Includes the name of the owner for each file:

dir /q

Show creation time:

dir /t:c

Show last access time:

dir /t:a

Show the last written time:

dir /t:w

Run the dir /? command to see a list of all the available command-line options.

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