Have you ever used the Command Prompt app? It opens a window that allows you to enter strings of code called commands that make changes to your Windows PC.
You might think that you need to be a coding expert to get the most out of Command Prompt, but there are some cool command prompts that allow you to make quick changes without a degree in programming. If you’ve been looking for a command prompt for Windows desktop personalization, look no further. This guide shows you ways to change your desktop plus tips for customizing the Command Prompt window itself.
Cool Command Prompts for Windows Desktop No. 1: Change Wallpaper
You can change your Windows desktop wallpaper with a simple command prompt. Make sure you open “Command Prompt” with the “Run as administrator” option.
Step 1. Type in:
reg add “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop” /v Wallpaper /t REG_SZ /d “C:\Path\To\Your\Image.jpg” /f
Step 2. Make sure you change “wallpaper_directory” to the actual file path of the image you want to use as a wallpaper. Tip: You can right-click on any image and click “Copy as path” to copy the correct file path to the clipboard.
Step 3. Press “Enter,” then enter the following command:
RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
And press “Enter.”
If the command works, your desktop wallpaper should change from the original image:
To your new choice.
No. 2: Change Any Display Settings
You can download some additional software, such as the QRes utility, to force Command Prompt to adjust settings such as your screen resolution. However, a quicker way to customize your Windows desktop is to use Command Prompt to open up your computer’s display settings.
Step 1. Start by opening “Command Prompt.” Type in:
start ms-settings:display
Step 2. Press “Enter,” and your computer will immediately take you to the Settings > System > Display window. Here you can adjust scale, resolution, and many more settings to personalize your Windows UI.
No. 3: Create an Aquarium
The Telnet Client feature lets you connect to remote text-based services from Command Prompt.
Step 1. To use it, search for “Turn Windows features on or off” in Windows Search and open the corresponding Control Panel result.
Step 2. Select the checkbox next to Telnet Client, then click “OK” and wait for Windows to install the feature.
Step 3. Once you’ve done this, open Command Prompt and enter:
telnet telehack.com
This connects to Telehack, an external service that provides a simulated retro internet environment. Telnet connections are unencrypted, so don’t enter passwords or other sensitive information into the session.
Step 4. Press “Enter.”
You will almost immediately see a page giving you details about the server you’re now connected to and possible commands.
Even if you don’t see the option in the command list, you can type aquarium, press “Enter,” and you will see a beautiful, animated waterscape that you can leave on your desktop as a decorative element.
Additional Tip: Customize Your Command Prompt Window
You can also customize the Command Prompt app itself:
- Use the minimize/maximize button to shrink or grow the window, or hover over any edge to access resizing arrows.
- Right-click on the title bar to access the option to change the color of the tab:
- You can also use the same menu to rename the Command Prompt tab, which is useful if you have multiple Command Prompt windows open.
