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cd

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Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012

Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current directory. If used with only a drive letter (for example, cd C:), cd displays the names of the current directory in the specified drive. If used without parameters, cd displays the current drive and directory.

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> Specifies 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 command extensions are enabled, the following conditions apply to the cd command:

  • The current directory string is converted to use the same case as the names on the disk. For example, cd c:\temp would set the current directory to C:\Temp if that is the case on the disk.

  • Spaces aren't treated as delimiters, so <path> can contain spaces without enclosing quotation marks. For example:

    cd username\programs\start menu

    is the same as:

    cd "username\programs\start menu"

    If extensions are disabled, the quotation marks are required.

  • 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 the default directory on a drive that is different from the one you are on:

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

To verify the change to the directory, type:

cd [<drive>:]