What Do VirtualBox and VMWare Do?

VMWare and VirtualBox are machine virtualization solutions, also known as hypervisors. They let you run a full virtual computer with its own operating system in a virtualized machine on another computer.

But why would you want to do that?

For the desktop user, say you use Windows, but you’d also like to use Linux, macOS, or even iOS and Android. Yet you don’t have computers for all of them. That’s where you’ll use a desktop virtualization solution.

You could even run a previous version of Windows inside a VM on your Windows 11 system if you have older apps that just don’t run well with newer systems.

In a business, server virtualization saves on hardware and operational costs. Imagine having just a few physical computers yet being able to have many servers and workstations hosted on them.

What Are the Types of Hypervisors?

There’s more to hypervisors than just allowing you to run a virtual computer inside a physical computer. How they do it is important, and each type has different requirements and satisfies different needs. There are two types of hypervisors; Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 hypervisors are sometimes called bare-metal hypervisors, meaning they don’t need to run inside a regular operating system like Hyper-V in Windows. They are the operating system. Without all the features of a standard operating system, they’ll leave more resources for their guest VMs. This makes them ideal for large data centers or medium to large businesses. The VMWare company has Type 1 hypervisors such as ESXi (Elastic Sky X Integrated) and VSphere.

Type 2 hypervisors run within a regular operating system as though they’re just another program. To do that, Type 2 hypervisors must access hardware resources through the host OS. Because of that, Type 2 hypervisors aren’t as efficient as Type 1 for hosting large amounts of guest VMs. Type 2 hypervisors are better suited for individuals and small to medium businesses.

VirtualBox is a Type 2 hypervisor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. VMWare also offers VMWare Fusion for macOS and VMWare Workstation for Windows and Linux.

Comparing VirtualBox and VMWare Type 2 Hypervisors

In this article, we’re focusing on Type 2 hypervisors since that’s what most home or small business users will be running. And we will compare the two offerings in the same environment—running Linux on Microsoft Windows 11.

Specifically, we’ll compare VMWare Workstation Player to Oracle’s VirtualBox. VMWare Workstation Player is the free version for personal use, and VirtualBox is free for the general public and open-source. If you like VMWare Workstation Player and want more features, try the affordable VMWare Workstation Pro for commercial use.

VMWare Player and VirtualBox Functionality Comparison

The following table shows the key features offered by VMWare Player and VirtualBox.

VirtualBox, VMWare, and Snapshots

Perhaps the most significant difference is that VirtualBox supports VM snapshots while VMWare Player doesn’t. Making a snapshot in the VMWare Player requires finding the VM’s files, then copying and pasting them to another location. To roll back to that point in time, the snapshot is added as a new VM.

VirtualBox has several ways to take a snapshot. It can be done from within the guest window or the VirtualBox manager. Snapshots can be named, and VirtualBox organizes them chronologically. Rolling back to a previous time simply requires selecting the desired snapshot, selecting Restore, then starting the VM. VirtualBox is the clear winner regarding snapshots.

Which is Easier to Use, VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation Player?

Downloading and installing either VirtualBox or VMWare is as simple as any other software. Each has installers that walk you through the process. The differences appear when installing a guest OS.

VirtualBox requires making some manual choices about resources like memory, drive space, and the number of processor cores, whereas VMWare Player compares your host computer’s resources to those required by the guest OS and automatically assigns resources, making it user-friendly. After the guest OS is installed, you can adjust the resources assigned in both hypervisors.

The time to install the hypervisors and Linux Ubuntu on Windows shows VMWare is about 30% quicker. VirtualBox took 25 minutes, while VMWare Player took 17 minutes.

Which Runs Better, VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation Player?

Both hypervisors are Type 2, running on top of Windows, so don’t expect a significant performance difference. Using PassMark PerformanceTest, VMWare Player showed a CPU Mark of 4935 versus VirtualBox’s 3465. That was the biggest difference. The rest of the markers were close, yet it felt like VMWare was faster. Of course, host machines vary, and so will your experience.

Which is Better, VMWare Workstation Player or VirtualBox?

We don’t know exactly what you’re looking for in a hypervisor. VMWare Workstation Player and VirtualBox do virtually the same thing with minor differences, so there’s no clear winner. It all depends on the use cases.

VMWare Workstation Player is best if you just need to get a virtual machine running quickly. If you need to use apps in a different OS or you’re evaluating a variety of operating systems, you’re in that group.

If you want to lean into the finer points of managing a hypervisor and its guests, VirtualBox is for you. The ease of creating snapshots and restoring them tips the scales. Another point for VirtualBox is that you can install macOS in VirtualBox with some direction. VirtualBox may be better for people learning DevOps, system administrators, or cybersecurity professionals testing different OSes.

Which one will you use, or do you already have a favorite? Do you have any tips or tricks to share? Please let us know in the comments.

Why Should You Find Your Version of Ubuntu?

You know you’ve got Ubuntu. Why does the version matter?

• Like the different versions of Windows, some things will work in some versions of Ubuntu, and some will work only in others. You need to know what version you have to install the proper drivers for your hardware and apps that will work best on your version.
• It also helps you identify what updates your Ubuntu operating system needs.
• Some versions of Ubuntu are best used as servers, and some are best for desktop environments.
• When asking someone for help with Ubuntu, they’ll want to know what version you have.

What Are the Versions of Ubuntu?

Windows and macOS are straightforward when it comes to versions. Many PCs are either Windows 11 or Windows 10. MacOS’ most recent versions are Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina.

Ubuntu version numbers are based on the year and month of release. Ubuntu releases also come with code names made of two alliterative words. It’s an adjective and an animal name, so the result is a name like Bionic Beaver. For example, the latest standard Ubuntu release is 21.10 Impish Indri. (An indri is a large species of lemur.)

If that wasn’t confusing enough, there are two current versions at any time. There are the interim release and long-term service (LTS) versions. Support for the interim Ubuntu release is 9-months from release. The LTS version is used where the stability of the instance is critical. It gets five years of standard support and can have another five years under the Extended Security Maintenance (ESM). ESM is free for personal use and is a paid subscription for enterprises.

Canonical Ltd. builds Ubuntu on the open-source Linux kernel, so the Linux kernel version can be important to know. A current Linux kernel version number may look like 5.15. The first number is the major release version, and the remaining numbers are the minor release.

Put them all together, and you could get an Ubuntu version like 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish, Linux kernel 5.15.

How to Find The Version of Ubuntu in the Windows Linux Subsystem

Yes, you can run Ubuntu within Windows with Microsoft’s Windows Linux Subsystem (WSL).

1. Open Ubuntu for Windows.

2. Upon starting, Ubuntu shares the version and more information in the command line. The version in the example is Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It also shows the Linux kernel used as 5.10.102.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2. Note the WSL2 part. There are two versions of Ubuntu Linux for WSL, 1 and 2, and each has its pros and cons.

Already opened Ubuntu WSL, and that line is gone? Check the section below on finding the Ubuntu version through the command line. They also work in WSL.

How to Find the Version of Ubuntu in the Command Line

If you regularly use terms like “Linux distro” or “bash,” the command line interface is for you.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the command line terminal.
2. Use any of the following commands to check the Ubuntu version. Each command shows varying amounts of information about the version and the system.

lsb_release -d

For the shortest result, use the command lsb_release -d. The lsb_release command reveals the Linux Standard Base (lsb) information for any Linux distribution.

lsb_release -a

Using the -a gives complete information about Ubuntu, including Distributor ID, Description, Release, and Codename. Oddly, Codename doesn’t reveal the full codename, which is Jammy Jellyfish in the version shown below.

hostnamectl

The hostnamectl utility changes or returns information about the host or hostname. Using it without any options only returns the hostname info. Look for the Operating System line to get the Ubuntu version and the Kernel line for the Linux kernel version.

cat /etc/issue

The concatenate (cat) command is usually used to join files together. When used without any options and just the filepath/filename (etc/issue), it displays the contents of the issue file. Ignore the \n \l. It’s not important in this context.

cat /etc/os-release

Just like the command above, this shows the contents of the os-release file. Note the Version line, which shows the entire codename.

uname -r

To see just the Linux core version, use the command uname -r. The uname utility gives information about the system but not about Ubuntu itself.

How to Find the Version of Ubuntu Using Neofetch

Neofetch is a bash app that displays system information creatively with ASCII art.

1. Open the bash terminal and install with the command sudo apt install neofetch. Then enter your password, and it will find the neofetch.

Once the neofetch package has been found, enter Y to begin the installation.

2. When the installation is done, enter the command neofetch.

To install a similar utility called Superfetch (not to be confused with Windows Superfetch), follow the same procedure above, substituting superfetch where you used neofetch. Each returns slightly different information, so pick the one with the information you’ll need most often.

How to Find the Version of Ubuntu Using the GUI

Maybe getting into the terminal and working with bash and the command line is more than you want to do.

1. Select the Show Applications icon and then select Settings.

2. It should open to show the About screen where you can find the OS Name. If not, scroll to the bottom of the Settings window and select About.

Now You Know Your Ubuntu

With ten ways to find the Ubuntu version, many of them providing other system information, you’ll know Ubuntu better. You’ll be able to decide what updates you need, find apps that’ll work on it, and know when it’s time to upgrade to the newest version of Ubuntu.

Some things only work in certain versions of WSL though, and you’re not sure which one you have. So, we’ll show you how to check the WSL version on both Windows 11 and Windows 10, plus a few other tricks.

What’s the Difference Between WSL Versions?

There are only two versions of WSL; WSL 1 and WSL 2. The primary difference is that WSL 2 has the full Linux kernel whereas WSL 1 does not. Think of WSL 1 as WSL lite. If you’re a committed Linux user or serious about learning Linux, use WSL 2. It runs as a complete virtual machine with all the functionality that virtualization brings.WSL 2 will increase file system performance and supports full system call compatibility.

WSL 2 is available only on Windows 11 or Windows 10, Version 1903 Build 19362 or newer. If you’re on Windows 10 and you’ve been keeping it up to date, you’re good. If you’re unsure, we’ve got an article to help you find out what version of Windows you have. Older versions of Windows 10 only have compatibility with WSL 1.

How to Check WSL Version in Windows

If you install WSL in PowerShell or the command line using the wsl.exe –install command, you have the default version of WSL. That means you have the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Linux distro and its version WSL 2.

Suppose you’re not sure you did the default WSL install, or you’ve added several different Linux distributions and you want to know what version they are. In that case, that’s easy to check too.

1. Open the Command Prompt or Powershell and run the command wsl –list –verbose or wsl -l -v.

2. The output shows the distro name as NAME, whether it’s running or stopped under STATE, and the WSL version under VERSION. Note the asterisk. The WSL distro with the asterisk is the default distro for you.

That means if you run WSL without telling it which distro to use, it will run the default. Try it to see the default distro’s command line interface (CLI).

How Can I Change the WSL Version?

Let’s change openSUSE-42 from WSL 1 to WSL 2. The same method works to change any distro from WSL 2 to WSL 1.

1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell and run the following command: wsl –set-version [name] [wsl version number] where name is the distro name and wsl version number is the version you want. In this case, it is wsl –set-version openSUSE-42 2.

It will show the message Conversion in progress, this may take a few minutes… With a fresh install of the distro, it can take as little as 20 seconds. It’s done when you get the message, Conversion complete.

2. To make sure you set the WSL version correctly, run the wsl –list –verbose or wsl -l -v command again.

How Can I Check the WSL Defaults or Last Update?

Before looking at changing the default WSL version or default Linux distro, you should check what the current defaults are. This will also show you the last time WSL was updated.

1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell and run the following command: wsl –status.

You’ll see the defaults, the last time WSL was updated, as well as the kernel version.

How Do I Update WSL?

You checked the last update time for WSL and it’s been a while. You’d like to update it to make sure you have the latest version.

1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator. Do this by finding Command Prompt or PowerShell in the Start menu, then right-click on it and select Run as administrator.

2. Run the command wsl –update. If there’s an update available, it will download and install.

3. Once the update finishes, you can see the updated kernel version at this point. Now run the command wsl –shutdown to make the change take effect.

How Can I Get Automatic Updates for WSL?

Did you check your WSL status and see the message that reads, “…automatic updates cannot occur due to your system settings.”? Here’s how to fix that.

1. Open Windows Settings and go to Windows Update then Advanced options.

2. Switch on Receive updates for other Microsoft products. Now you’ll always have the latest version.

How Can I Change the Default WSL Version?

Perhaps you want to only have WSL 1 for future Linux distro installs. That’s quickly changed. This can also be used to set WSL 2 as the default.

1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell and run the following command: wsl –set-default-version [wsl version number] where wsl version number is the version you want. In this example, it is wsl –set-default-version 1. You’ll see the operation completed successfully when it’s done.

2. Run the wsl –status command to confirm the default WSL version has changed.

How Can I Change the Default Linux Distro?

Maybe you want to run a different Linux distro than Ubuntu when you open the Windows Start menu and select WSL. That’s ok, it’s easy to change.

1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell and run the command wsl –set-default [name], where name is the distro name as shown by the list command. In this example, let’s change it to kali-linux.

2. It only takes a second for the change to happen and the command prompt to show again. Use the wsl –list –verbose or wsl -l -v command to confirm the default distro has changed.

Now when you run WSL from the Start menu, it opens Kali Linux.

Learn More About the WSL Commands

To see the built-in help docs for WSL, use the command wsl –help.

Also, check out our articles on installing WSL and using bash on Windows 11. Come back again and we’ll surely have more WSL-related articles for you.

Why Install Windows Subsystem for Linux?

It seems contradictory to install one operating system (OS) inside another. What’s the point? And why Linux? We can think of six reasons to use Linux in Windows off the top of our heads.

1. Windows Subsystem for Linux is Free and Easy

The most obvious answer is that Linux is free. But what good is something free if it’s hard to use? The good news is that Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is easy, simple, and fast to install or uninstall, so it’s worth trying if you’re just curious about Linux.

2. Windows Subsystem for Linux Doesn’t Require a Virtual Machine

If you don’t want to install a virtual machine (VM) host like Hyper-V, VirtualBox, or VMWare, WSL is the way to go. It takes up less space and resources like CPU and RAM too.

3. Windows Subsystem for Linux Can Use Many Linux Distributions

At the time of writing, 17 Linux distributions (or “distros”) were available in the Microsoft Store. These include different versions and variations of Ubuntu Desktop and Server, Debian, Kali, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, OpenSUSE, and Oracle Linux.

You also can use the following PowerShell command to see all available distros:

wsl –list –online

4. Windows Subsystem for Linux for Career Development

You could learn about Linux and various Linux distros like Ubuntu, Debian GNU/Linux, Kali, and Alpine WSL for work or school. Linux has a significant market share of servers, and more organizations are using Linux for the desktop.

Students can use it for tutorials instead of going to the computer lab. Security researchers can use Kali and other Linux hacking distros and its many included tools. Many web developers, programmers, and artificial intelligence researchers may use Debian or Alpine WSL as their development environment as they have built-in developer tools.

5. Windows Subsystem for Linux for Open Source Apps

Most open-source software (OSS) is developed first for a Linux environment. As a result, OSS is becoming the standard in several industries, like game development, graphic design, and Internet of Things (IoT) embedded systems.

Consider all the open source software, which is often free. Wish you had Photoshop? Consider using GIMP. Want to learn CAD but can’t afford AutoCAD? Try OpenSCAD. Want to take your video editing to the next level, but Adobe Premiere is out of reach? Linux has Openshot.

Even more impressive is that you can run these Linux GUI apps in their windows as if they were Windows apps. There’s no need for a separate virtual machine in Hyper-V, VirtualBox, or a second physical computer. You could use Visual Studio in Windows and do photo edits in GIMP on Linux without disturbing your workflow.

6. Windows Terminal Runs Multiple Distros at Once

If you’re a fan of Windows Terminal and its multi-tab feature, you’ll love that you can run several Linux distros simultaneously, each in its own tab.

Should I use WSL 1 or WSL 2?

There are two versions of WSL: WSL 1 and WSL 2. WSL defaults to version 2. That’s fine for most people. However, if you’re not sure your system can handle a full Linux kernel install, or you will not use things like Docker, then WSL 1 is fine.

The version is easy to update if you change your mind. As an administrator, open PowerShell or the Command line and use the following wsl.exe command:

wsl –set-default-version 2 or wsl –set-default-version 1

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux with PowerShell

You can install WSL with either PowerShell or the command line interface (CLI). If you haven’t learned PowerShell, that’s okay. The wsl.exe commands work in either.

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator and run the cmdlet wsl –install. This installs the WSL 2 version with a full Linux kernel and the Ubuntu distro by default.

If the wsl.exe help text shows, WSL is already installed.

It takes a few minutes to install and then prompts you to reboot Windows.

2. When Windows reboots and you sign in, a bash shell window opens, and the Ubuntu installation continues. It will ask you to Enter new UNIX username and New Password. After you enter these, the installation is complete.

Note: This installs the bash shell for Ubuntu. It’s not the graphical user interface (GUI). There are additional steps and prerequisites to enable that. However, you can now use Linux bash shell commands on your Windows computer.

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux with Control Panel

1. Open the Start menu and select Control Panel.

2. Select Programs and Features.

3. Select Turn Windows features on or off. This requires administrator privilege.

4. Scroll down and select Windows Subsystem for Linux and then select OK.

The installation begins. When it’s done, the Windows needs to reboot your PC message shows. Select Restart now.

After the restart, open Ubuntu on Windows from the Start menu, or in PowerShell or Command Prompt, use the wsl.exe command.

How Do I Uninstall Windows Subsystem for Linux?

To remove WSL, you must uninstall any Linux operating systems first. You can then remove the supporting components in Windows. It’s easiest to do this through Windows settings.

1. Open Windows Settings, go to Apps, then select Apps & features.

2. Search for the Linux distros you installed. Select the vertical three-dot menu and select Uninstall.

3. Search for “windows subsystem,” select the three-dot menu, and then select Uninstall. Do this for Windows Subsystem for Linux WSLg Preview and Windows Subsystem for Linux Update if those are there.

4. Restart Windows, and WSL should be uninstalled.

How Do I Access the Linux File System from Windows?

Unlike using Linux in a virtual machine, it’s easy to access Windows files from Linux and vice versa.

Open File Explorer and select Linux in the navigation pane on the left. When moving files between Windows and Linux, make sure you use a copy, not the original. There are some filetype compatibility issues, and sometimes the file gets corrupted.

How to Fix the Error Message “\\wsl.localhost is not accessible”

You may get this error the first time you open the Linux filesystem through File Explorer.

Windows treats this connection like a physical connection between Windows and Linux computers. So you must tell it the network exists and is accessible. You’ll do this through the Windows Registry. If you’re not comfortable working in the Registry, ask someone who is. A mistake in the Registry can cause Windows to stop working. Always make a backup of the Registry, too.

1. Open the Registry Editor. In the left pane, navigate to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider/HwOrder

2. On the right, double-click the PROVIDERORDER key.

3. Add P9NP (followed by a single comma and no spaces) to the front of the list and then select OK.

4. Back in the NetworkProvider container, open the Order key. Double-click PROVIDERORDER on the right.

5. Add P9NP to the front of the list (one comma, no spaces), select OK, and then close Registry Editor.

You can open the Ubuntu filesystem through Windows File Explorer now. If the error persists, restart Windows, and it should work.

How Do I Access the Windows File System from Linux?

1. In the Linux bash shell, use the command cd ../.. to move to the root. Then use the ls command to list the directories and files. You’ll see that they’re all Windows directories and files.

2. To find your files, use the following command to get to your documents folder, where username is the name of your user directory in Windows:

cd users/username/documents

If you need to access something else, just use cd and ls until you find it. Ensure you only copy files, not move them, due to the risk of corrupting the file.

What Else Can I Do With Windows Subsystem for Linux?

When you enable WSL, you’ve got an entire Linux environment on your Windows computer. Or maybe several Linux environments. Whatever you can think of doing in Linux, you can now do. Take a look at our Linux-related articles and tutorials to get some ideas.

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Command Prompt Console

These are shortcuts that help you control the actual window that you’ll use for your command line dialog.

• Win + X then C: Opens the Command Prompt app. It may not work in Windows 11 if it’s defaulted to Windows Terminal. You can also use Win + R, then type cmd and press Enter.

• Win + C then A: Opens the Command Prompt app with administrator rights. This requires administrator credentials, of course. It may not work in Windows 11 if it’s defaulted to Windows Terminal, then that keyboard combo will open Windows Terminal with administrator rights.

• F11 or Alt + Enter: Use to switch Command Prompt between full screen and windowed mode.

• Ctrl + Shift + Plus (+) and Ctrl + Shift + Minus (–): Increase or decrease the opacity of the Command Prompt. Ctrl + Shift + mouse scroll wheel does the same thing.

• Win + Arrow Keys: Maximize, minimize, and move the Command Prompt around the screen.

• Alt + Mouse Scroll Wheel: Zooms in and out on the Command Prompt, making the text larger or smaller.

• Alt + F4: Quickly closes the Command Prompt.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Cursor and Text Control in the Command Prompt

The keyboard shortcuts to select or manipulate text and move the cursor around without a mouse are much the same as the text keyboard shortcuts in other Windows 10 or 11 apps, like Excel or Word.

• Ctrl + M: Switches the cursor to Mark Mode, which lets you select text with the mouse. To exit Mark Mode, press Esc. To tell if you’re in Mark Mode or not, look at the title bar of the Command Prompt window and the cursor. If it says Mark in the title or the cursor is a solid upright rectangle, you’re in Mark Mode.

• Home or End: Home moves the cursor to the start of the command line while End moves it to the end.

• Shift + Home or Shift + End: Shift + Home selects all text from where the cursor is to the beginning of the command line. If the cursor is already at the beginning, it will select the prompt itself. Shift + End selects all text from the cursor to the end.

• Shift + Right Arrow or Left Arrow: Increase the current selection by a character to the right or left.

• Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow or Left Arrow: Using the Ctrl + Shift key combo with the right and left arrow keys will select the entire word to the right or left of the cursor.

• Up or Down Arrow: In Mark Mode, the up arrow moves the cursor up, and the down arrow moves it down a line per press. When not in Mark Mode, it cycles through recently entered commands.

• Ctrl + Up or Down Arrow: Moves the page up or down one line at a time. This is useful to scroll through a large amount of text slowly.

• Pg Up or Pg Down: When in Mark Mode, the Page Up and Page Down keys will move the cursor a page at a time in their respective directions.

• Shift + Pg Up or Pg Dn: Select text from the cursor to include a whole page up or down.

• Ctrl + A: The first press selects all text in the current line. An immediate second press selects all text in the command prompt window.

• Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Both will copy the text currently selected. If you use Ctrl + C and no text is selected, it will interrupt a running command if there is one.

• Ctrl + Backspace: Just as backspace deletes the character to the left of the cursor, Ctrl + Backspace deletes the entire word to the left of the cursor.

• Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + End: Deletes all text from the cursor to the start or end of the current line, respectively.

• Ctrl + Shift + Home or Ctrl + Shift + End: Selects all text from the cursor to the top or bottom of the Command Prompt. In the image below, the cursor was at the start of the ipconfig /allcompartments, and then Ctrl + Shift + End was pressed, selecting everything to the end of the window.

• Esc: Deletes the entire line or escapes Mark Mode if you’re in it.

• Insert: Changes between insert modes to either insert text or overwrite the text.

• Ctrl + F: Opens the Find dialog to help search through text. You can change the parameters to match the case and search up or down through the command prompt.

Keyboard Shortcuts to Use with Commands

Typing every character or repeatedly typing the same commands is a huge time drain. Fortunately, Microsoft includes many Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts to help enter commands quickly.

• Up or Down Arrows: Up (^) moves you back through the previous commands in the command history, and down (˅) moves you forward.
• Right Arrow: Enters the most recent command letter by letter. If driverquery was the last command executed, pressing the right arrow types d, pressing again types r, etc.

• F2: Copies text up to the first instance of the character typed when the Enter char to copy up to: dialog is open, in the last command executed. For example, if the last command used was ipconfig /all, you enter F2 and type /, ipconfig will appear at the command prompt.

• F3: Recalls the last command from the command history.

• F4: Deletes text up to the first instance of the character typed when the Enter char to delete up to: dialog opens.

• F5:  Works similarly to the up arrow, only going backward in the command history, one command at a time.

• F7: Opens the command history, and you can use the up and down arrows to move through the list. Then press Enter to execute the command that’s highlighted.

• Alt + F7: Clears the command history. Use Alt + F7 and then try just F7, and the command history doesn’t even open because there’s nothing in it.

• F8: Recalls commands from the command history which begin with the text already entered. In this example, F8 would scroll back through any previous ipconfig commands used.

• F9: Re-types a command from the command history based on its number, as shown when using F7. In the example shown above for F7, you’d press F9 to open the Enter command number: dialog and then type 17 to enter diskpart.

• Tab: Cycles through folders under the directory in the current command to autocomplete it with the one you stop on. In the example below, C:\ was typed in, then Tab was pressed once, giving us C:\$Recycle.Bin.

• Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Pastes last text copied to the clipboard. In the image below, you can see that it’ll be ipconfig /all from the Clipboard history window.

You’re in Command of the Windows Command Prompt Now

Maybe you’ve used some command-line features in the past, and you’re handy with the proper syntax. Perhaps you’ve even written some batch files. Now you’ve got the shortcuts to look like a wizard. Not a Microsoft operating system person?

That’s alright—we’ve got Mac shortcuts and even Linux keyboard shortcuts. We even show you how to create keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Office and Windows. What are your favorite shortcut key combos?