Command Prompt is a command-line tool that has been around for a long time. Windows 10 users typically use this tool for an array of tasks ranging from accessing other tools and features to programs that do not offer a graphical interface.
On Windows 10, users were used to launch Command Prompt in regular or admin mode using the Power User menu (Windows key + X), but in the Creators Update, Microsoft is suddenly removing these options in favor of PowerShell.
PowerShell is similar to Command Prompt from the point of view that they both use command lines and you can accomplish the same tasks, but PowerShell is a more advanced tool typically used for scripting and it may not be for everyone.
If you don’t use PowerShell, it’s possible to bring back Command Prompt to the Power User menu, you just need to know where to find the settings.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to bring back “Command Prompt” and “Command Prompt (Admin)” to the Power User menu on Windows 10.
How to add Command Prompt to the Power User menu
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Open Settings.
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Click on Personalization.
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Click on Taskbar.
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Turn off the toggle switch for “Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the start button or press Windows key + X” to complete the task.
Taskbar settings on Windows 10
Once you completed the steps, when right-clicking the start button or using the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut, the Power User menu will display the options to open Command Prompt again.
If your Command Prompt options are still part of the Power User menu without you changing any settings, it’s probably because you’re not running the Windows 10 Creators Update.
Do you prefer Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows 10? Tell us in the comments below.
Originally published on January 2017, updated on April 2017.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He's also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ & Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn.