How to Copy and Paste in the Windows Command Prompt [1]

Sometimes it is convenient to copy something from a document or file and paste it into the Windows command line. Long commands are easily mistyped and a copy-and-paste operation is often the best way to proceed, The usual keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V doesn’t work but there is an easy way to enable copying and pasting into the command line. Here is the procedure:

1. Open a command prompt (See this previous tip [3] for the procedure)
2. Click the little icon in the upper left corner of the command prompt window (outlined in white in example figure on right)
3. In the menu that opens, choose “Properties” (Example shown in figure on right)
4. In the dialog box that opens, make sure the "Options" tab is selected and then place a check by “QuickEdit Mode” (Shown in figure below)
5. Click the “OK” button (not shown in figure)

Now whenever you want to paste some text into the command prompt, copy it to the clipboard the usual way and then right-click on the desired location in the command line. The copied text will be pasted.

This tip applies to Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8. And there you have it - no more struggling with trying to type long complicated commands.

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This tips section is maintained by Vic Laurie [5]. Vic runs several websites with Windows how-to's, guides, and tutorials, including a site for learning about Windows and the Internet [6] and another with Windows 7 tips [7].

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