Windows command cd command

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cd

 

Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current directory. If used with only a drive letter (for example, chdir C:), chdir displays the names of the current directory in the specified drive. If used without parameters, chdir displays the current drive and directory.8 Useful Commands to Manage Your Files in Command Prompt - Make Tech Easier

Note

This command is the same as the chdir command.

Syntax

cd [/d] [<drive>:][<path>]
cd [..]
chdir [/d] [<drive>:][<path>]
chdir [..]

Parameters

Parameter Description
/d Changes the current drive as well as the current directory for a drive.
<drive>: Specifies the drive to display or change (if different from the current drive).
<path> Denotes the path to the directory that you want to display or change.
[..] Specifies that you want to change to the parent folder.
/? Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

If you enable the command extensions, the following conditions apply to the cd command:

  • It converts the current directory string to use the same case as the names on the disk. For example, cd c:\temp would set the current directory to C:\Temp.
  • Spaces ignored as delimiters, so <path> can contain spaces without enclosing quotation marks. For example: 
    cd username\programs\start menu

    equals:

    cd "username\programs\start menu"

    If you disable the extensions, you must use quotation marks.

  • To disable command extensions, type: 
    cmd /e:off

Examples

To return to the root directory, the top of the directory hierarchy for a drive:

cd\

To change to a different default directory from the one you are on:

cd [<drive>:[<directory>]]

To verify the change to the directory, type:

cd [<drive>:]