$_ Command Trail
Windows Terminal Basics

Windows PowerShell basics for beginners

Windows Terminal and PowerShell help you move through folders, list files, copy and rename items, and search text. Learn safe starter commands first, then practice them in Command Trail.

Start Windows practice View commands

Essential Windows Terminal Commands

  • pwd shows your current location in PowerShell.
  • dir lists files and folders.
  • cd Desktop moves into the Desktop folder.
  • cd .. moves up one folder.
  • mkdir notes creates a folder named notes.
  • echo hello > journal.txt writes text into a file.
  • copy journal.txt backup.txt copies a file.
  • ren draft.txt final.txt renames a file.
  • findstr error server.log searches a file for matching text.
  • Get-Command lists available PowerShell commands.

PowerShell vs Command Prompt

Windows supports older Command Prompt commands such as dir, copy, and ren, while PowerShell also supports modern commands such as Get-Command and Remove-Item. Command Trail introduces both styles gradually so beginners can recognize what they see in tutorials.