How to Add Windows Batch File to New Context Menu in Windows 10 A.bat file is a batch file that consists of a series of commands to be executed by the command line interpreter, stored in a plain text file. Batch files can be run from Windows Explorer but the console used to display them closes automatically at the end of the batch file, so a command at the end that prevents instantaneous exit is needed for any remaining output to be read before the console window closes.
On Windows 10, a batch file is a special kind of text file that typically uses a .bat extension, which can include one or multiple commands that Command Prompt can understand and run in sequence to perform various actions.
Usually, you can just input commands manually to perform a particular task, but a batch file simplifies the work of retyping commands, saving you time.
Also, even though, there are other tools, such as PowerShell, that write more advanced scripts, using batch files with Command Prompt is an effective option when you need to run commands to change system settings, automate routines, and launch applications or websites.
In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to get started creating and running your first batch file on your computer.
How to create a batch file on Windows 10
The process to write a batch (script or batch script) file is easy. You only need a text editor and a little bit of knowledge to run commands on Command Prompt. In the steps below, we detail the steps for creating a simple and advanced batch file, as well as the steps to write a script to change the system settings.
Writing a simple batch file
To create a simple batch file on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Notepad, and click the top result to launch the app.
- Type the following lines to create a simple batch file:The above script outputs the phrase 'Congratulations! Your first batch file executed successfully' on the screen.
- @ECHO OFF -- This turns off the display prompt to show only the message on a clean line. Usually, this particular line goes at the beginning of the file. (You can use this command without '@,' but the symbol hides the command being executed for a cleaner output.)
- ECHO -- This prints the desired text on the screen.
- PAUSE -- This prevents the console window from closing after executing the command. You can use this command at the end of the script or after a specific command when running multiple tasks and you want to pause between them.
- Click the File menu.
- Select the Save as option.
- Type a name for the script, for example, first_simple_batch.bat.Note: While batch files typically use the .bat file extensions, you may also see scripts using the .cmd or .btm file extensions.
Once you complete these steps, you can double-click the file to run it, or you can use the steps below to learn the different ways to execute a batch file on Windows 10.
Writing an advanced batch file
To create an interactive batch file that executes multiple commands, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Notepad, and click the top result to launch the app.
- Type the following lines to create a complex batch file:The above batch script will run a series of commands to query different system information, which are grouped into three different categories: OS INFO, HARDWARE INFO, and NETWORK INFO.
- @ECHO OFF -- This turns off the display prompt to show only the message on a clean line. Usually, this particular line goes at the beginning of the file. (You can use this command without '@,' but the symbol hides the command being executed for a cleaner output.)
- TITLE -- This displays a custom name in the title bar of the console.
- :: -- This allows you to add comments and documentation information, which are ignored when the batch file runs.
- ECHO -- This prints the text on the screen.
- PAUSE -- This prevents the console window from closing after executing the command. You can use this command at the end of the script or after a specific command when running multiple tasks and you want to pause between them.
- Click the File menu.
- Select the Save as option.
- Type a name for the script, for example, first_advanced_batch.bat.
After you complete these steps, you can run the script double-clicking the .bat file, or you can use the steps below to learn the different ways to execute a batch on Windows 10.
Writing an actionable batch file
You're not limited to showing information on a Windows 10 console. You can also write non-interactive batch files to perform virtually any task. For example, to write a batch file that runs a specific command without the need for user interaction, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Notepad, and click the top result to launch the app.
- Copy and paste the following command:The above command is just an ordinary command that maps a network folder as a drive using the 'z' drive letter.
- Click the File menu.
- Select the Save as option.
- Type a name for the script, for example, map-z-drive.bat.
Once you complete these steps, when you run the batch file, the command will map a shared network folder with the settings you specified without the need to open Command Prompt to type the commands manually. Although we only specified one command in the file, you can include as many commands as you like, as long as you write one per line.
How to run a batch file on Windows 10
On Windows 10, there are a least three ways to run a batch file. You can run a batch on-demand (using File Explorer or Command Prompt). You can create a scheduled task using the Task Scheduler. Or you can place the script in the Startup folder to run it every time you sign into your computer.
Running batch file on-demand
When you need to run a batch file on-demand, you can use File Explorer or Command Prompt.
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File Explorer
To run a batch file using File Explorer, use these steps:
- Open File Explorer.
- Navigate to the folder with the script.
- Double-click the batch file to run it.If you're executing a command that requires administrator privileges, you'll need to run the script as an admin by right-clicking the batch file and selecting the Run as administrator option.
After completing the steps, the batch will run each command in sequence displaying the results on the screen.
Command Prompt
To run a batch file from Command Prompt, use these steps.
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
- Type the path and the name of the batch file and press Enter:
C:PATHTOFOLDERBATCH-NAME.bat
Once you run the command, the output will display on the screen regardless of the script containing the 'PAUSE' command or not.
Running batch file on scheduled
To schedule a batch file on Windows 10, you'll need to use the Task Scheduler with these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Task Scheduler, and click the top result to open the experience.
- Right-click the 'Task Scheduler Library' branch, and select the New Folder option.
- Type a name for the folder, for example, MyScripts.
- Click the OK button.
- Expand the 'Task Scheduler Library' branch.
- Right-click the MyScripts folder.
- Select the Create Basic Task option.
- In the 'Name' field, type a short descriptive name for the task, for example, SystemInfoBatch.
- In the 'Description' field, create a description for the task. (This step is optional.)
- Click the Next button.
- Select the Monthly option.Task Scheduler allows you to select from a number of triggers, including on a specific date, during startup, or when you or a particular user signs in. Depending on your requirements, you'll need to configure additional parameters. In this case, we're selecting the option to run a task every month.
- Click the Next button.
- Using the 'Start' settings, specify when the task should start running and the time.
- Use the 'Monthly' drop-down menu to pick the months of the year that you want to run the task.
- Use the 'Days' or 'On' drop-down menu to specify the days that the task will run.
- Click the Next button.
- Select the Start a program option to run the batch file.
- In the 'Program/script' field, specify the path for the batch file.
- Click the Finish button.
Once you complete these steps, the task will be saved, and it'll run the batch file on the schedule you specified.
These instructions cover the steps to create a basic task. If you want to create a more customizable task, use this guide.
Running batch files on startup
Windows Batch File Programming Tutorial
Alternatively, if you want to run a batch file every time that you sign into your account, use these easy steps:
- Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command
- Type the following command, and click the OK button:Play Power Rangers Games! About PlayPowerRangersGame.com. Now is more easy to have fun with much loved Power Rangers characters, each child who wants to relax in his spare time are welcome to play these games. Free power rangers games to play now. Browser Power Rangers games - Play Free Games Online free. Stop those Moogers from entering the city from their portals in this new multiplayer Power Rangers Game! Go Go Samurai! Play Power Rangers Samurai: Portals of Power 2 Player at mi9.com.
shell:startup
- Copy and paste the batch file (or shortcut) in the Startup folder.Tip: To create a shortcut, right-click, hold, and drag the file into the folder, then release the right-click, and select the Create shortcuts here option from the context menu.
- Sign out of your account.
- Sign back into your account.
After completing the steps, every time you sign in to your account, the batch file will automatically execute in sequence the commands you wrote.
This guide is focused on Windows 10, but the ability to use batch files has been around for many years, which means that you can refer to these instructions if you're still running Windows 8.1, Windows 7, or an older version.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
Batch files in Windows are the script files. A batch file is an unformatted text file. This file consists of a series of commands and has a .bat or .cmd file name extension. The term “batch” is adapted from batch processing – which means non-interactive execution. With batch files in Windows, users can simplify repetitive or routine tasks. When users type the file name at the command prompt, cmd.exe runs the commands sequentially, as they appear in the file. Some typical commands used in the batch files in Windows are – Call, Echo, Endlocal, For, Goto, If, Pause, Rem, Setlocal, and Shift.
How to create .bat or batch files in Windows
As mentioned earlier, a batch file contains a series of DOS commands and are used to automate the frequently performed tasks. Thus, you don’t have to repeatedly write the same commands.
A batch file is created using a Notepad. The text file consists of the commands you want to execute. To create a Batch file, you have to write the command as text in Notepad, and save the file as a .bat file. To execute a command, you simply need to double-click the batch file. Hence, a well-written batch file in Windows can save a lot of time.
Some basic Commands in Batch Files:
- ECHO: To display the text on the screen
- @ECHO OFF: To hide the text
- START: To run a file with its default application
- REM: To enter a comment line in the program
- MKDIR: To create directories
- RMDIR: To remove directories
- DEL: To delete files
- COPY: To copy a file or files
- XCOPY: To copy files with extra options
- FOR/IN/DO: To specify files
- TITLE: To edit the title of the window
Cool and fun batch file tricks
1. Matrix
Remember the movie ‘Matrix’? You can actually make your background resemble that green Matrix screen with this batch file. It is definitely for the cool look and nothing else. To create this kind of batch files in Windows, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open a Text Document and rename it as “matrix.bat”. As soon as the text file’s extension is changed to .bat, its icon changes to a gear.
Step 2: Now you can edit the file to write your program. For this, right-click on the file and click on ‘Edit’. It should open in a notepad. Here are the command lines that you need to paste on the notepad.
Click on ‘Save’ and double click on it. It will give the Matrix effect in a window. Maximize the CMD windows and press F11 to get a better full-screen effect.
2. Password Creator
You can even create a password protected file that is created and accessed using a Batch (.bat) file. This is one of the lightly useful batch files in Windows that should work just fine for hiding things from people with little or no computer or batch file knowledge.
The result of the calculation in then printed to the Serial Monitor Window. Processing the StringIf all the received characters were numbers, the string is converted to an integer using rxstr., multiplied by 2 and the result stored in the result variable.
Follow these steps to create the Password Creator batch files in Windows:
Step 1: Open Notepad
Step 2: Copy and paste the following code:
Step 3: Set the password
The passwords are set by default to 1234. They can also be changed. To change the password, find in the code where it says:
And replace 1234 with your password of choice. Save the file with .bat extension.
When you open the file for the first time, it will flash, and another file will appear named “Hidden”. To hide this file, simply click the original file again and it will ask you if you want to hide the file. If you type Y, then it hides it, but if you type N, nothing happens. After you hide it and later want to access it, you need to click the original file again, and it will prompt you for a password.
However, you need to remember that the method is not fool proof. Anyone with little knowledge or experience in computer systems and Batch files will most likely be able to circumvent it rather quickly.
3. Color Tester
If you want to try color testing using the batch files in Windows, then here is a code for it. It’s simple, and it can be pretty useful.
Open a notepad and copy-paste the following code.
Save the files with an extension of .bat.
Batch File Programming Windows 10
If you want to know more about such Batch file tricks in Windows, you may visit Instructable.com.
TIP: Download this tool to quickly find & fix Windows errors automatically
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