Windows Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet

The Windows Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet: PowerShell and Command Prompt, Side by Side

Windows has two command languages, and this card teaches both at once. Every common task is shown in PowerShell and Command Prompt next to each other, so you always know the right command no matter which window you’re in. This two-sided, letter-size quick reference packs well over 100 commands and shortcuts onto one card. It’s designed to be laminated so it can sit next to your keyboard for years.

What’s included

• The Terminal app: how to open it (including as Administrator), plus keyboard shortcuts for tabs, split panes, the command palette, copy and paste, and settings.
• Getting help: Get-Help, Get-Command and Get-Member, how PowerShell’s Verb-Noun naming works, and time-saving tricks like Tab completion and history search.
• Side-by-side tables: PowerShell next to Command Prompt for:
  • Navigating folders
  • Creating, copying, moving, renaming and deleting files and folders
  • Viewing and writing files
  • Zipping and unzipping
  • Redirecting output and chaining commands
  • Managing processes and services
• Searching: find files by name and find text inside files, in both shells.
• The PowerShell pipeline: filtering, sorting, selecting, grouping, measuring and exporting to CSV or JSON, with a real example that finds your ten biggest files.
• System information and networking:
  • systeminfo and Windows and PowerShell versions
  • Drive space
  • ipconfig and DNS flushing
  • ping, tracert and port testing
  • netstat and downloads
  • SSH and saved Wi-Fi networks
• Installing apps with winget: search, install, update everything at once, and uninstall, all from the command line.
• Advanced section:
  • Repair and maintenance tools (sfc /scannow, DISM, chkdsk, Group Policy, the battery report, event logs, BitLocker status)
  • Environment variables
  • PowerShell comparison operators
  • Script basics
  • Batch files
  • Running Linux on Windows with WSL

Who it’s for

• Everyday Windows users who want to fix problems and work faster.
• Help-desk and IT support staff, and students preparing for certifications such as CompTIA A+.
• System administrators moving from Command Prompt to PowerShell.
• Developers and power users setting up their machines or WSL.

What makes it great

• Two languages, one card: PowerShell and Command Prompt side by side, so you can translate between them instantly.
• Covers the Terminal app itself: includes the shortcuts most guides skip.
• Real troubleshooting tools: the exact repair and network commands IT pros use to fix Windows problems.
• Plain English: every command has a short, clear description of what it does.
• Easy to scan: commands appear in a clean typewriter-style font, so they’re easy to read and type exactly.
• Safety notes: points out which commands need Administrator access and warns that deletes from the terminal skip the Recycle Bin.