The Command Prompt in Windows has been included in all versions of Windows. It is a handy command line interface program that you can use to execute commands. For example you can use the command prompt to execute the ping command.

The Windows 8 operating system has a different design and in previous versions of Windows you would access the command prompt through the start menu. But when this version was released, people were asking where the Windows 8 start menu was?

Not just that. Windows eight is built for touch screen computers so you can touch your way to the command prompt or use a keyboard.

How to Access the Windows 8 Command Prompt with a Touch Screen

1.  When you are on the start screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and then touch on the All apps icon.

2. On the Apps screen, swipe to the right. Under the Windows System heading, touch on Command Prompt.

Now you can type in your command.

How to Access the Windows 8 Command Prompt with a Keyboard

1. If you’re using a keyboard you can open Command Prompt via its shortcut on the Power User Menu, which you can access by pressing the WIN and X keys together. Then click on Command Prompt. Click Yes to the User Account Control message that appears.

How to Access the Windows 8 Command Prompt with a Mouse

1. Right click anywhere on the Start screen and then click on the All apps icon.

Run An Elevated Command Prompt

Some commands you run in command prompt will require administrative privileges just as they did in the previous versions of Windows. If you have an elevated commend prompt the window will say Administrator: Command Prompt. Otherwise you will only see the title of the window as Command Prompt.

To run the command prompt from an elevated position simple right click (or touch and hold) on the Command prompt option in the Windows system menu. Then choose Run as administrator from the menu that will show at the bottom of the screen. See this tutorial for running cmd as an admin on all other windows os.

Notes:

1. If you see any kind of error you might need administrative rights to run the command prompt.