Windows Power User Shortcuts & Hidden Commands Cheat Sheet

This reference covers the most useful Run dialog commands, Control Panel applets, management consoles, shell shortcuts, keyboard combinations, and PowerShell one-liners for Windows system administration. All commands work from Win + R, Command Prompt, or PowerShell unless noted otherwise.

System Properties commands

These commands open specific tabs in System Properties directly, without navigating through the GUI.

Command	Opens
`sysdm.cpl`	System Properties (main)
`SystemPropertiesAdvanced`	Advanced tab
`SystemPropertiesComputerName`	Computer Name tab
`SystemPropertiesHardware`	Hardware tab
`SystemPropertiesProtection`	System Protection tab
`SystemPropertiesRemote`	Remote settings tab

Control Panel applets

These commands open classic Control Panel tools directly from the Run dialog.

Command	Opens
`appwiz.cpl`	Programs and Features
`ncpa.cpl`	Network Connections
`powercfg.cpl`	Power Options
`inetcpl.cpl`	Internet Properties
`mmsys.cpl`	Sound settings
`timedate.cpl`	Date and Time
`desk.cpl`	Display settings
`main.cpl`	Mouse settings
`firewall.cpl`	Windows Defender Firewall
`wscui.cpl`	Security and Maintenance
`intl.cpl`	Region and Language
`joy.cpl`	Game Controllers

You can also open Control Panel sections directly using control /name Microsoft.<applet>. For example:

control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter

Management console commands (.msc)

These open Microsoft Management Console snap-ins used for system and user administration.

Command	Opens
`services.msc`	Services Manager
`devmgmt.msc`	Device Manager
`diskmgmt.msc`	Disk Management
`compmgmt.msc`	Computer Management
`eventvwr.msc`	Event Viewer
`certmgr.msc`	Certificate Manager
`lusrmgr.msc`	Local Users and Groups
`gpedit.msc`	Group Policy Editor (Pro/Enterprise only)
`perfmon.msc`	Performance Monitor
`secpol.msc`	Local Security Policy (Pro/Enterprise only)

System utilities

Common built-in tools accessible from the Run dialog or Command Prompt.

Command	Opens
`control`	Control Panel
`cmd`	Command Prompt
`powershell`	PowerShell
`msconfig`	System Configuration
`regedit`	Registry Editor
`taskmgr`	Task Manager
`explorer`	File Explorer
`cleanmgr`	Disk Cleanup
`mstsc`	Remote Desktop Connection
`dxdiag`	DirectX Diagnostic Tool
`msinfo32`	System Information
`netplwiz`	User Accounts
`resmon`	Resource Monitor
`winver`	Windows version dialog
`optionalfeatures`	Windows Optional Features
`rstrui`	System Restore
`charmap`	Character Map
`osk`	On-Screen Keyboard
`magnify`	Magnifier
`snippingtool`	Snipping Tool

Shell folder shortcuts

Shell commands let you navigate directly to system and user folders from the Run dialog or from a script.

Command	Opens
`shell:startup`	Current user’s startup folder
`shell:Common Startup`	All users’ startup folder
`shell:AppData`	Application data folder
`shell:Downloads`	Downloads folder
`shell:Desktop`	Desktop folder
`shell:Recent`	Recently opened files
`shell:SendTo`	Send To menu folder
`shell:ProgramFiles`	Program Files directory
`shell:ProgramFilesX86`	Program Files (x86) directory
`shell:System`	System32 folder
`shell:SystemX86`	SysWOW64 folder
`shell:ControlPanelFolder`	Control Panel
`shell:RecycleBinFolder`	Recycle Bin

Keyboard shortcuts for system administration

Shortcut	Action
`Win` + `X`	Power User Menu
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Esc`	Task Manager
`Win` + `Pause/Break`	System Properties
`Win` + `L`	Lock workstation
`Win` + `D`	Show desktop
`Win` + `E`	Open File Explorer
`Win` + `Tab`	Task View
`Win` + `Shift` + `S`	Screenshot selection
`Win` + `P`	Display mode switch
`Win` + `Ctrl` + `D`	New virtual desktop
`Win` + `Ctrl` + `F4`	Close current virtual desktop
`Win` + `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `B`	Restart GPU driver
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Del`	Security screen
`Alt` + `F4`	Close app or open shutdown dialog
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + Right-click (taskbar)	Restart Explorer

PowerShell one-liners for IT tasks

System information and diagnostics

Get-ComputerInfo | 
Select CsName, WindowsVersion, OsBuildNumber
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version"
Get-Process | 
Sort CPU -Descending | 
Select -First 10
Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 20
Get-NetIPAddress | 
Where {$_.AddressFamily -eq 'IPv4'}

User and account management

Get-LocalUser
net user <username> /add
net localgroup administrators <username> /add
Get-LocalGroupMember Administrators

Disk and storage

Get-Volume
Get-Disk | Select Number, FriendlyName, OperationalStatus, Size
Get-PSDrive | Where {$_.Provider -like '*FileSystem*'}
chkdsk C:

Network and connectivity

Test-NetConnection google.com
ipconfig /all
Get-NetAdapter | Select Name, Status, MacAddress
ping 8.8.8.8 -t
Get-NetTCPConnection | Group-Object -Property State

Maintenance and cleanup

cleanmgr /sagerun:1
Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Temp -Recurse | Remove-Item -Force
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Application'; Level=2} | Select -First 10

Remote management and services

Enter-PSSession -ComputerName <hostname>
Restart-Computer -Force
Get-Service | Where {$_.Status -eq 'Stopped'} | Start-Service
schtasks /query /fo table /v

Sysinternals tools

The Sysinternals Suite provides additional utilities that go beyond what is built into Windows.

Tool	Purpose
Process Explorer	Detailed process and handle viewer
Autoruns	Manage all startup locations
TCPView	Monitor active network connections
Procmon	Track file system, registry, and process activity

Install the full suite using winget:

winget install Sysinternals

Notes

gpedit.msc and secpol.msc require Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.
Commands like regedit and lusrmgr.msc require administrator privileges.
Shell folder paths use the shell: prefix and work from Win + R or from File Explorer’s address bar.
PowerShell one-liners that modify users or services require an elevated session.