How To Fix Command Prompt Not Working on Windows 11/10

Command Prompt stopped working on your device? Don’t worry! You can easily resolve this issue by following a few workarounds that we have discussed in our post.

Command Prompt is a powerful Windows utility that allows you to perform advanced administrative tasks. It is also often used for simple troubleshooting to deal with common errors and bugs for solving certain kinds of critical Windows issues.

Image source: How to Geek

So, yes, if Command Prompt fails to open your device, this issue surely needs to be resolved on priority. In this post, we have listed a bunch of methods that you can use for fixing the “Command Prompt not working” issue on Windows 11.

Let’s get started.

Also read: How to Fix Can’t Run Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows 10

How To Fix Command Prompt Not Working on Windows 11

1. Scan Your Device for Viruses or Malware

Well, yes, the presence of viruses or malware on your computer can be a major cause of Command Prompt’s malfunction. To make sure that your device is 100% virus-free, we will seek the help of a third-party antivirus solution.

Download and install Systweak Antivirus on your Windows 11 PC or laptop. Systweak Antivirus offers round-the-clock protection against viruses, malware, spyware, trojans, adware, and other malicious threats. It protects your device like a shield against real-time threats and zero-day exploits.

Systweak Antivirus is designed to operate on Windows OS and hence it will make sure that it tracks down hidden traces or potential threats before they infect your device or data. It also optimizes your PC’s performance by removing malicious or unwanted startup items or apps.

2.Run the SFC Scan

SFC (System File Checker) is an in-built Windows utility that finds and replaces corrupt system files with a cached copy. By running the SFC scan on your device, you can easily fix corrupt system files and other discrepancies. Usually, the SFC scan is performed on Command Line Terminal. But as Command Prompt is not working on your computer, you can use Windows PowerShell as an alternative.

Tap the search icon placed on the Taskbar. Type “Windows PowerShell” and then hit Enter to launch the app.

In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter to execute it:

sfc/scannow

Image source: Microsoft Community

Sit back and relax while the System File Checker tool thoroughly scans your machine. This process might take a while. So, once the scan is completed, reboot your device and then try to launch Command Prompt to see whether it fixed the issue.

Also read: How to Edit Windows Registry Via Command Prompt

3. Update the Environment Variables Path

The next workaround to fix the “Command Prompt not working” is to update the system environment variables path. Here’s what you need to do:

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Sysdm.cpl” in the textbox and hit Enter.

In the System Properties window, switch to the “Advanced” tab. Tap on “Environment Variables”.

Tap on “Path” and then hit on the “Edit” button placed underneath.

Now hit on the “New” button and enter the following as path value:

C:\Windows\SysWow64\

Hit on OK when done. Reboot your device after making the above-mentioned changes.

Also read: 7 Command Prompt Tricks for Beginners You Should Know

4. Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode boots your machine with a minimal set of drivers and resources and is often used for troubleshooting critical issues. To boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode, follow these quick steps:

Press the search icon placed on the Taskar, type “System Configuration” and hit Enter.

In the System Configuration window, switch to the “Boot” tab.

Tap on “Safe Boot”, check on “Minimal” and then press the OK button.

Once your device boots in Safe Mode, launch Command Prompt to check if it’s functioning properly without any issues.

Also read: How to Boot into Windows 10 Safe Mode

5. Perform a System Restore

Tried the above-mentioned solutions and still no luck? Here comes the last resort. System Restore is a useful Windows utility that you can use to roll back your device to a previous checkpoint and undo all the recent changes. To perform System Restore on Windows 11, here’s what you need to do:

Launch the Start menu search, type “Create a Restore Point” and hit Enter.

Tap on “System Restore”.

Pick a restore point, follow the on-screen instructions to roll back your device to a previous checkpoint.

Also read: Command Prompt Not Opening In Windows 10? Here is How to Fix

Conclusion

Was this post helpful? We hope you were able to fix the “Command Prompt not working” issue on Windows 11 by using the above-listed workarounds. Command Prompt is an essential Windows tool that needs to be immediately fixed. If you’re unable to run Command Prompt even after trying these methods, it is a cause of concern. Contact Microsoft’s support team for further assistance.

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Good luck!