Fun with Windows - Fun with the "Run" Dialog Box

Tip: we also produced a powerful and popular utilities kit for Windows - WinExt^®, feel free to try it on your PC.

The "Run" dialog box can be opened by press <Win+R>, it looks like this:

It is used to start a program by typing its executable file's "full path", if you're used to launching the programs by typing instead of clicking on the icons, it will be a small but practical tool. In fact, not only to start programs, but also to access folders, documents, and even web pages. But we only use it to access the commonly used programs without path and extension, for other things, it is slower than use File Explorer or clicking icons.

Note: why on above screenshot I have not input "full path" for "mspaint", just executable filename without extension? Because there is a system environment variable names "PATH", it contains the paths of almost commonly used programs, and if you ignore the path, the "Run" box will search the typed program under these paths. For extension, if you have not inputted, "Run" will presume it is the executable file, such as *.exe, *.bat, etc.

Tip: once you started a program in "Run" successfully, it will remember the typed text, this feature will enable you to input fewer characters next time. E.g. type "m" the list will show the programs that start with "m", then I press <↑> key twice, <Enter>, Paint app will run.

String	Program
appwiz.cpl	Programs and Features
calc	Calculator
cleanmgr	Disk Cleanup
cmd	Command Prompt
control	Control Panel
desk.cpl	Settings -> Display
devmgmt.msc / hdwwiz.cpl	Device Manager
dfrgui	Optimize Drives
excel	Microsoft Excel
explorer	File Explorer
eventvwr	Event Viewer
firewall.cpl	Windows Defender Firewall
fonts	Fonts Manager
gpedit.msc	Local Group Policy Editor
intl.cpl	Region
lusrmgr.msc	Local Users and Groups
magnify	Magnifier
main.cpl	Mouse Properties
mmsys.cpl	Sound
msaccess	Microsoft Access
msconfig	System Configuration
msinfo32	System Information
mspaint	Paint
msra	Windows Remote Assistance
mstsc	Remote Desktop Connection
ncpa.cpl	Network Connections
netplwiz	User Accounts
notepad	Notepad
optionalfeatures	Windows Features
osk	On-Screen Keyboard
powercfg.cpl	Power Options
powerpnt	Microsoft PowerPoint
regedit	Registry Editor
resmon	Resource Monitor
secpol.msc	Local Security Policy
sysdm.cpl	System Properties
taskmgr	Task Manager
utilman	Settings -> Easy of Access
winword	Microsoft Word
write / wordpad	WordPad

In fact, from Windows 10, you can just type the command or program title in the search box after pressed <Win> key, it's easy and fast too:



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Tip: we also produced a powerful and popular utilities kit for Windows - WinExt^®, feel free to try it on your PC.