Some Windows tools never go out of style. I’ve used Windows for years, and no matter how much Microsoft redesigns Settings, I still end up typing commands into the Run dialog box out of pure habit. It’s also faster than going through the Settings app or even the Control Panel manually. And the best part is that I can run most of these directly from the Start menu too.

appwiz.cpl

For quick uninstalls and repairs

This one’s a classic, and it still works exactly the way it did a decade ago. Type appwiz.cpl into Run, and it pulls up the old Programs and Features window. This is where all your installed apps and programs show up, along with publisher details, date of installation, size, and version number. And from here, you can uninstall and repair apps with a couple of clicks.

Windows 11 also shows all of this under Settings > Apps > Installed apps, but I still prefer the classic Programs and Features menu since it’s compact and quick to open.

mmsys.cpl

Take control of sound settings

mmsys.cpl opens the old Sound settings panel, and from this tiny window, you can manage all your audio devices. You can change the default sound input or output device, disable headphones or speakers, and even do some basic troubleshooting.

Again, the Windows Settings app also lets you do most of this, but you often have to click through several menus. More importantly, this command opens the Sound tab, from where you can change or disable default Windows sounds for startup, low battery, errors, and more.

msconfig

Your troubleshooting command center

msconfig opens the System Configuration utility, which has been a part of Windows since the XP days. It’s something you’ll almost always need when troubleshooting your PC. The window is split into General, Boot, Services, Startup, and Tools tabs.

The Boot tab is the one that matters most. It lets you boot Windows into Safe Mode without going through the recovery menu. If you’re dual-booting, this is where you can specify which OS should load by default.

System Configuration is also the window you need to do a clean boot. The Services tab lets you hide all the system services and disable third-party ones. You can then switch to the Startup tab, which links out to the Task Manager, from where you can disable unwanted startup apps.

Cleanmgr

Free up storage in seconds

Typing cleanmgr into Run fires up Disk Cleanup, which is something I use every few weeks to clear out temporary files, old Windows update data, thumbnails, Recycle Bin, and more. There’s also a cleanup system files button, which lets you delete old system restore points and Windows installation files after an upgrade.

It’s a simple tool, really, but it can help free up several gigabytes of storage in a pinch. And with Disk Cleanup built-in, you honestly don’t need to rely on third-party storage cleanup apps.

Windows 11 has a Storage Sense feature which does pretty much the same thing, but I still find myself running cleanmgr when doing manual cleanups.

%temp%

For when temp files pile up

Disk Cleanup takes care of clearing most temporary files, but it doesn’t cover everything. Typing %temp% opens the folder where Windows and various third-party apps dump their temporary files. Windows cleans some of this automatically, but a manual cleanup can also help, especially if you’re facing issues.

You simply have to select everything inside this folder and delete it. Windows may not let you save every single file inside the folder, which is normal. You can skip those and delete the rest.

msinfo32

Know what’s inside your PC

This one opens the System Information window, which lays out pretty much every useful detail about your PC’s hardware and software. That includes the OS version, BIOS details, processor, installed memory, fast boot status, and a full breakdown of every driver and running process on your machine.

It’s obviously not something you’ll open every day, but it’s the one tool you need when you’re trying to figure out what’s actually inside your PC or laptop. The most useful option here is Export, which saves all this information as a text file in case you need to send it to someone for troubleshooting.

shell:startup

Run a lot more than apps at startup

Windows already lets you manage startup apps from Settings and Task Manager, but shell:startup is still relevant. It lets you launch specific websites and scripts at boot, which is something you can’t do from Settings or Task Manager.

Type shell:startup into Run and it opens the Startup folder directly. Then, drop the shortcut of the app, site, or script you want Windows to run every time at boot and you’re sorted. It’s also handy when an app or tool keeps opening at startup even after you’ve disabled it from the startup menu.