How to Change Directories in CMD (Command Prompt)

This article teaches you two different methods to change directories in the command prompt in Windows 11 and Windows 10. It also teaches you what to do if you're unable to change directories. 

How to Open the Command Prompt in Windows 11 and 10

Before you can navigate around the command prompt in Windows 11 and 10, it's useful to know how to open the command prompt. Here's how to do so.

1. On the Windows 11 or 10 search bar, type cmd.

2. Select Open or click Run as Administrator to open the command prompt with full access rights to do whatever you need to do.

How Do I Change Directories in Command Prompt?

Changing directories in the command prompt can be a lot simpler than you'd think. Here's one method of doing so. This method works in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

1. Type cd followed by a space in the command prompt window.

2. Drag and drop the folder you want to browse into the window.

3. Press Enter.

How Do I Navigate to a Folder in Command Prompt?

If drag and drop isn't convenient or accessible, or you'd prefer to type your commands, there's another way of navigating to a folder in the command prompt easily enough. Here's how to do so in Windows 11 and 10.

1. In the command prompt window, type cd followed by the folder's name you wish to find.

   This only works for immediate folders straight after the one you're in.

2. Alternatively, type cd name\name to go down two levels of documents at once. For example: cd Admin\Downloads

3. If you want to go back one directory, type cd .. to go up a level before typing cd to go back to the original option. 

   If you feel lost within the directory, type dir and press enter to view the contents of the directory you're in.

Why Can't I Change Directory in CMD? 

If you can't change directories within the command prompt, you may be doing something wrong or have your permissions set incorrectly. Here are some things to bear in mind that should make it simple to change directories again. 

• Check you are typing the correct command. Make sure to start your command by typing cd. You may have mistyped something or typed too many characters. Be sure you're accurate in your syntax usage. 
• Check the directory exists. Check the directory you're trying to browse to exists; otherwise, your command won't work. Type dir to check the contents of a folder. 
• Check you're browsing the correct hard drive. If you have multiple hard drives installed, check you're browsing the correct one. Change hard drives by typing X: where X is the letter of the hard drive. 
• Check you have admin permissions. Check you're running the command prompt as an Administrator; otherwise, you may be limited with what you can do.