Last month some media channel started spreading news that Microsoft is killing its cmd.exe or Command Prompt in all of its upcoming updates. No sooner did the news spread, than IT companies and developers started bashing the Redmond based tech giant. People were extremely disappointed with this new step. Command Prompt is one of the most important aspects of Windows operating system. Even though Windows Powershell is there, but the importance of cmd is incomparable.
However, things took a U turn when Microsoft revealed that it’s nothing but rumor. The company lashed out at the media outlets for spreading such false news without confirmation. Microsoft had just set the Power Shell as the default command line interface in the WIN-X menu. But it did not kill the Command Prompt. This decision of making PowerShell the default was misinterpreted by some. Microsoft said that it’s impossible for them to remove cmd.exe as it’s the backbone of the OS.
This is what Microsoft wrote:
The Windows Cmd / Command-Line shell is NOT being removed from Windows in the near or distant future!
The Cmd shell remains an essential part of Windows, and is used daily by millions of businesses, developers, and IT Pro’s around the world.
Much of the automated system that builds and tests Windows itself is a collection of many Cmd scripts that have been
created over many years, without which we couldn’t build Windows itself!
Cmd is one of the most frequently run executables on Windows with a similar number of daily launches as File Explorer,
Edge and Internet Explorer!
Many of our customers and partners are totally dependent on Cmd, and all it’s quirks, for their companies’ existence!
Further it requested all media channels to clarify with the authentic news. It also gave some insight on the difference between PowerShell Command Prompt and MS DOS.
PowerShell in the Shell: In an effort to bring the best command line experiences to the forefront for all power users, PowerShell is now the defacto command shell from File Explorer. It replaces Command Prompt (aka, “cmd.exe”) in the WIN + X menu, in File Explorer’s File menu, and in the context menu that appears when you shift-right-click the whitespace in File Explorer. Typing “cmd” (or “PowerShell”) in File Explorer’s address bar will remain a quick way to launch the command shell at that location. For those who prefer to use Command Prompt, you can opt out of the WIN + X change by opening Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, and turning “Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell in the menu when I right-click the Start button or press Windows key+X” to “Off“.
About Nick
Nick is a Software Engineer. He has interest in gadgets and technical stuffs. If you are facing any problem with your Windows, feel free to ask him.