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How to Fix Command Prompt Not Working On Windows 11

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Command Prompt is quite a powerful utility available in Windows. You can perform various command-line tasks with the help of a terminal. However, this can be a problem if, due to some reason, this utility does not work fine on your PC. Users have recently encountered a new problem related to the command prompt, saying that the utility is not working in Windows 11. If you are facing an issue with the Command Prompt, then there is nothing to worry about it.

Fix Command Prompt Not Working On Windows 11

In this article, we will be discussing how you can fix Command Prompt not working on Windows 11.


Disable Antivirus

The first reason you face the issue with the Command Prompt is because of the antivirus. If you have any third-party antivirus on your PC, then you are likely to face the issue. Therefore, you should try disabling the antivirus on your PC. Check if disabling works for you or not. If it doesnโ€™t, then try temporarily uninstalling the antivirus. If you still face the issue, then it was not caused due to antivirus but due to some other reasons.

Perform SFC And DISM Scan

You may also face the issue due to corrupted files on your PC. You should try performing SFC and DISM scans on your PC through Windows PowerShell to fix the issue. To do so, follow the steps given below-

  • Press theย Windows + Xย key combo, and then from the menu that opens up, click onย Windows Terminal (admin). This will openย Windows PowerShellย with administrative privileges.
  • In theย Windows PowerShell, type the commandย SFC /scannowย and hitย Enterย to execute.

Command Prompt Not Working On Windows 11

Now, wait for the process to complete. Once the process is completed, close the Windows PowerShell and restart your PC. This should most probably fix the issue. If the SFC scan doesnโ€™t fix the issue, you should try running the DISM.

Ensure you have run the Windows PowerShell with administrative privileges. You can do so by following the steps given above. Next, you will have to perform DISM by executing the steps given below one-by-one-

Command Prompt Not Working On Windows 11

  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth

You should now be able to use Command Prompt without any issue. However, if Command Prompt is still not working in Windows 11, you should move to the next step in this article.

Update The System Environment Variable Path

The next thing you can try to fix the issue is updating the system environment variables path. To do so, follow the steps given below-

  • Press theย Windows + Rย key combo to open theย Run dialog boxย and then typeย sysdm.cplย in theย Run dialog box.ย Hitย Enterย to open theย System Propertiesย app window on your PC.

Run Dialog Box

  • You will be headed to theย Advancedย tab in theย System Propertiesย app window. Here, click on theย Environment Variablesย button.

Command Prompt Not Working On Windows 11

  • Next, selectย Pathย under theย Environment Variablesย and click on theย Editย button.
  • Click on theย Newย button and enter the following path in theย Environment Variable-ย C:\Windows\SysWow64\

Edit Environment Variables

  • Click onย OKย and then restart your PC.
  • This should fix the issue, and you should now be able to use Command Prompt in Windows 11.

Create Shortcut

If you cannot open the Command Prompt through the Start Menu, you should try creating a shortcut and then running the Command Prompt using it. Follow the steps given below to create a shortcut for Command Prompt and then run the utility-

  • Right-click anywhere on your desktop, and then on the context menu, click onย Newย and then selectย Shortcut.ย 
  • On the next window that opens up, enterย cmd.exeย in the given field and click on theย Nextย button.ย 

Create Shortcut

  • When asked to enter a name for the shortcut, enter a suitable name and then click onย Finish.ย 
  • Now, double-click on the shortcut you created on the desktop to run the Command Prompt without any issue.ย 

Create New User Account

If you cannot access the Command Prompt with your user account, then you create a new user account and then try running Command Prompt using it. You can create a new user account by following the steps given below and then open the Command Prompt-

  • Open theย Settingsย app on your PC by pressing theย Windows + Iย key combo.
  • Head to theย Accountsย tab in the left sidebar of theย Settings, and then on the right side click onย Family & other users.ย 

Settings

  • Click onย Add accountย button under theย Other users.

Other Users

  • On the next window that opens up, click onย I donโ€™t have this personโ€™s sign-in information.ย 
  • Now follow the on-screen instruction to create a new user account.
  • After creating a new user account, log off from your PC, log in again using the new account you created, and then try running theย Command Promptย again.

Ensure You Can Run The Command Prompt In Safe Mode

ย If you cannot run the Command Prompt when you boot your PC normally, you should try running the Command Prompt in the safe mode. To boot your PC in safe mode and then run the Command Prompt, follow the steps given below-

  • In theย Start Menu, search forย System Configurationย and hitย Enterย to open it.
  • Head to theย Bootย tab in theย System Configuration.

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  • Check the checkbox sayingย Safe Bootย and then click onย OK.
  • Restart your PC when you are asked to open the safe mode.
  • Once you are in safe mode, try running the Command Prompt, and you should be able to do it without any issue.

Perform System Restore

If none of the above fixes work, you should try performing a system restore. To perform a system restore, follow the steps given below-

  • Open theย Start Menu, and search forย Create a restore pointย here. Click on the relevant search result, and you will be headed to theย System Protectionย tab in theย System Properties.ย 

Create A Restore Point

  • Here, click onย the System Restoreย button under theย System Restoreย section.
  • You will be given two options here,ย Recommended Restoreย andย Choose a different restore point.ย 

System Restore

  • Select an option, and then click onย Next.ย Now follow the on-screen instructions to get ahead with reverting your PC to the working state.

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Final Words

If Command Prompt is not working in Windows 11, you can follow the steps given in this article to fix the issue. We have discussed all the troubleshooting steps to help fix the issue you have been facing.

Anurag Jain
Anurag Jainhttps://itechhacks.com
Anurag is a Senior content analyst with 4 years of experience in the industry. Based in India, He is extremely skilled at Windows related to How to Troubleshooting matters. His favorite topics are Windows 11, Android, and How To's.

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