How to open Command Prompt when Windows doesn’t boot (3 ways)

There’s nothing worse than a Windows system that refuses to boot when you really need it. Maybe it’s stuck in a loop, perhaps it crashes outright, or maybe it just hangs. Whatever the case, there’s a good chance you’ll need the Command Prompt to troubleshoot and fix things. Yet… if Windows won’t load, how do you even get to it? Can you still open CMD during Windows installation? What if you want to boot directly to Command Prompt “from BIOS”? And what should you do if Shift + F10 doesn’t work? These are the questions I’ve had to answer for myself more than once. So, I tested several methods on both my desktop PC and laptop, just to make sure everything still works in 2025, including on modern UEFI firmware and with the latest Windows 11 installation media. Based on those tests, here’s what you need to know: 1. How to open CMD during Windows setup using Shift + F10 The easiest and fastest way to open Command Prompt when Windows won’t boot is using the Shift + F10 keyboard shortcut during the installation process. This works even if there’s no version of Windows currently installed on your PC. Here’s what you need to do: First, create a bootable Windows setup USB stick and plug it into your computer, whether it’s a desktop PC or a laptop. It doesn’t matter if the installation media is for Windows 11 or Windows 10: either one works. Then, use that USB drive to boot your computer. Boot your PC using some Windows installation media (USB, DVD, etc.) Wait until your computer boots from the USB drive and loads the Windows setup. You should see something like the screenshot below: Wait for the Windows Setup to load To open CMD in Windows Setup, simultaneously press these keys when the installation wizard shows up: Shift + F10[/DC-CODE] The keyboard shortcut opens Command Prompt before boot. Press Shift + F10 to open CMD at boot This method is great because it’s quick and doesn’t require clicking through menus. However, not all Windows laptops behave the same way. On a test laptop I used, the shortcut didn’t work at first. I had to press these keys instead: Shift + Fn + F10[/DC-CODE] It makes sense, as many laptops have function keys disabled by default in their BIOS/UEFI. Press Shift + Fn + F10 to open CMD at boot Either way, you should now see the Command Prompt window, before you even reach the Install now screen. 🙂 Press Shift + F10 on the keyboard to open Command Prompt on boot Having said that, if neither Shift + F10 nor Shift + Fn + F10 works or you’re more comfortable clicking through menus, there’s another reliable way to open the Command Prompt during Windows installation. This next method takes a bit longer, but it’s just as effective: 2. How to boot to Command Prompt using the repair tools in the Windows setup environment For this to work, you must first start your computer and boot from your Windows USB installation drive. To do that, you have to plug your USB stick into your device, power it on, and open the boot menu (on most computers, that’s F12 or Esc, but it can also be Del or F8, depending on the manufacturer). If you require more detailed instructions, check out this guide: How to boot from a USB drive (4 methods). Then, in the UEFI/BIOS boot menu, choose the drive where you have the Windows 11 or Windows 10 setup files as the boot device. Wait for the Windows Setup to load, select the language and keyboard when prompted, and then press Next. Select language, time and currency format, then press Next When asked to select a setup option, choose Repair my PC, then press Next. Choosing Repair my PC Now, select your keyboard layout from the list. Choose the keyboard layout Next, you are asked to choose an option to continue. Select Troubleshoot. The Troubleshoot option You see several advanced options, but only the Command Prompt option is of interest: click or tap it to get to CMD at boot. Open Command Prompt before booting Windows The Command Prompt (cmd.exe) is loaded, and you can use it to repair your non-working Windows system or do anything else you wish. CMD open before startup This method is especially useful when Shift + F10 fails or when you prefer the graphical interface over keyboard shortcuts. And in case you’re wondering: yes, this works even if your computer doesn’t have Windows installed. As long as the setup media loads, you can access CMD this way. Now, you know how to open CMD while installing Windows in two different ways. Next, let’s see how to get to Command Prompt “from BIOS” using a Windows repair drive: 3. How to boot to Command Prompt using a Windows recovery drive Maybe you’ve created a Windows recovery drive in the past, just in case something ever went wrong. If you did, this is the time to use it. Insert the recovery USB into your computer, power it on, and open the boot menu (on most systems, that’s F12 or Esc, but sometimes it can also be Del or F8, depending on the manufacturer). Choose the USB as your boot device and let it load. When the recovery drive loads, it first asks you to choose the keyboard layout. Select the one you prefer. Choose a keyboard layout Then, you can choose one of several options. Select Troubleshoot. Choose the Troubleshoot option Now, to boot to Command Prompt, click or tap Command Prompt in the list of Advanced options. Launch Command Prompt before boot The Command Prompt is immediately loaded, and you can start using it for whatever you need. I’ve managed to boot to Command Prompt at Windows startup. What’s next? Now that you’ve managed to open Command Prompt, whether during setup or from a recovery drive, you have access to a wide range of tools that can help bring your system back to life. You can use: chkdsk to scan for file system errors diskpart to inspect and manage partitions bootrec /fixmbr to repair a damaged Master Boot Record bootrec /rebuildbcd to rebuild the Boot Configuration Data bcdboot to create a fresh bootloader Using diskpart after opening Command Prompt at boot If your system won’t boot because the boot sector is damaged, or you’ve cloned a drive and it won’t start properly, these tools can help fix the problem. For step-by-step instructions, you can check out our other guide: Repair the EFI Bootloader or the MBR (Master Boot Record) for Windows. Why did you need to boot to Command Prompt? I know some users avoid the Command Prompt because it looks intimidating. Still, when Windows breaks and nothing else works, CMD is often the one tool that can still save you. It works without a graphical interface, doesn’t care if File Explorer’s broken, and gives you unrestricted access to your system when you need it most. If you’re dealing with a system that won’t boot after a failed update or you’re trying to recover data from a corrupted partition, knowing how to boot to Command Prompt from BIOS, Windows Setup, or a recovery drive comes in handy. On that note, if you know other ways to start the Command Prompt when Windows refuses to load correctly, don’t hesitate to share them using the comments below.