How to Create a Custom Windows Command Prompt

Last Updated: August 6, 2020 Tested

The windows command prompt (located at C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe) is a useful tool to perform various administrative tasks. The prompt is a string of characters (special and non special) that are displayed whenever the command prompt is waiting for input. Making the prompt less boring or more useful can make a lot of difference when working with the command prompt. It can be changed dynamically using the 'prompt' command, or permanently by creating a %prompt% user variable.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Changing the prompt dynamically

1
Press windows + r.
2
Type 'cmd' in the field and hit enter

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3
Type 'prompt', followed by the desired prompt string.
4
The new prompt is displayed at the new line.

Note that this only changes the prompt of the current command prompt session, which is reset the next time you run the command prompt.

Image titled Create a Custom Windows Command Prompt Step 4

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Changing the prompt permanently

1
Right-click My Computer > Properties.
2
Click on Advanced system settings.
3
Click on Environment Variables
4
Click New (under user variables).
5
Type 'prompt' in the variable name field.
6
Type the desired prompt string in the variable value field.
7
Click OK on each opened dialog.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make a website you can't get off of?

Community Answer

You can't do that. Simple as that. Why would you want to do that, anyway? It doesn't make sense.

Warnings

Avoid typing random gibberish in the command prompt. The Command Prompt is a powerful tool which can make permanent irreversible changes to your computer. It's quite possible to delete all the data on your computer!

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