6 Exciting Windows Command Prompt Tricks to Enhance Your Skills

Quick Links

Customize How Command Prompt Looks
Watch Star Wars in Command Prompt
More Telnet Fun: Command Prompt Aquarium
Change the Window Title
Generate Random Dad Jokes
Trace Where Your Data Goes

The Command Prompt holds a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be unearthed. While many may view it as a mere tool for programming or troubleshooting, it can also serve up some unexpected entertainment! The next time you find yourself with a spare moment on your PC, dive into these delightful Command Prompt tricks.

1. Customize the Appearance of Command Prompt

If you weren’t aware, Command Prompt offers extensive customization options that can enhance not only aesthetics but also accessibility. You can tweak everything from background colors to font sizes and even window transparency.

To customize, simply right-click the Command Prompt icon in the upper left corner and select Properties. From here, navigate through the tabs labeled Font, Layout, and Colors to explore your options.

The options that appear when you click the CMD icon in the top-left corner of the CMD window.

Under the Terminal tab, you can also customize the text cursor itself. This functionality lets you create the perfect environment that resonates with your personality or needs, resulting in a practical and enjoyable user interface.

2. Watch Star Wars in Command Prompt

Imagine the astonished expressions when you tell friends you’ve watched Star Wars in Command Prompt! This little adventure requires you to enable Telnet first.

To enable Telnet, press Win + Q, search for telnet, and select Turn Windows features on or off. Then, within the Windows Features window, check the box next to Telnet Client and hit OK.

Once you’ve activated Telnet, type the command below and press Enter:

telnet telehack.com

After connecting, type:

starwars

Now, kick back and relish a charmingly quirky ASCII rendition of Star Wars as it unfolds in your Command Prompt window.

3. More Telnet Fun: Command Prompt Aquarium

Exploring the options available on Telehack reveals even more curiosity-inducing features. In addition to Star Wars, you can also experience a delightful ASCII aquarium simulation!

After connecting, simply type:

aquarium

This enterprising command will charm you with an animated aquarium display, making it so captivating that you might just want to set it as your screensaver!

4. Change the Window Title

Let’s pivot from visual entertainment and take a quick look at how to personalize your Command Prompt environment a little more. You can easily change the Command Prompt window title using the title command.

Enter the following command:

title Your Fun Title Here

You’ll instantly see the title of the Command Prompt change based on your entry. This can be a handy way to track multiple Command Prompt windows, especially when multitasking!

Changing the window title of CMD on Windows.

5. Generate Random Dad Jokes

Everyone enjoys a good dad joke, and they know how to break the ice! With a simple command in Command Prompt, you can access an endless list of these jokes.

Type the following command and press Enter:

curl https://icanhazdadjoke.com

This command will fetch a random dad joke for your amusement, ensuring you have a comedic anecdote to share at the perfect moment!

6. Trace Where Your Data Goes

This command is as entertaining as it is insightful and can be incredibly useful in networking. Using the tracert command followed by an IP address or domain name, you can see the route your internet traffic takes to reach its final destination.

Most home internet connections will show several jumps related to your ISP followed by further networking nodes. Every website connection will have a unique route, which makes the process both intriguing and educational.

Try this by typing:

tracert google.com

The results of the tracert command after being run on Google.

Despite its deceptively minimalistic interface, Command Prompt can serve as a gateway to numerous fun activities. The tricks we’ve discussed here are but a small sample, and the potential for exploration is immense. So, the next time you feel boredom creeping in, remember that fun is just a command away!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I open Command Prompt on Windows?

You can open Command Prompt by searching for “cmd”in the search box on your taskbar, or by pressing Windows + R, typing cmd, and hitting Enter.

2. Is Telnet enabled by default in Windows?

No, Telnet is not enabled by default. You need to manually activate it through the “Windows Features”option in the Control Panel.

3. Can I use Command Prompt for more than just these tricks?

Absolutely! Command Prompt can be used for a wide range of tasks, including system management, file navigation, and basic programming utilities, in addition to these fun activities.

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