Create basic Windows 10 batch file

To create a basic batch file on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the text editor.
3. Type the following lines in the text file to create a batch file:
4. @ECHO OFF
5. ECHO Congratulations! Your first batch file was
executed successfully.
6. PAUSE

Source: Windows Central

The above script outputs the phrase, "Congratulations! Your first batch file
was executed successfully," on the terminal screen.

Source: Windows Central

o @ECHO OFF — Shows the message on a clean line disabling
the display prompt. Typically, this line goes at the beginning of the
file. (You can use the command without the "@" symbol, but using it
hides the executing command to create a cleaner return.)
o ECHO — The command prints the text after the space on the
screen.
o PAUSE — Allows the window to stay open after running the
command. If you do not use this option, the window will close
automatically as soon as the script finishes executing. You can use
this command at the end of the script or after a specific command
when running multiple tasks and want to pause between each task.
7. Click the File menu.
8. Select the Save as option.
9. Confirm a name for the script — for example, first_basic_batch.bat.
Quick note: While batch files typically use the .bat file extensions, you can
also find them using the .cmd or .btm file extensions.
Once you complete the steps, you can double-click the file to run it.
Alternatively, you can use the steps below to learn the different ways you
can run a batch file on Windows 10 using Command Prompt, File Explorer,
or Task Scheduler.

Create advanced Windows 10 batch file

To create an advanced batch file with multiple commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the text editor.
3. Type the following lines in the text file to create a more advanced
Windows 10 batch file:
4. @ECHO OFF
5. :: This batch file details Windows 10, hardware,
and networking configuration.
6. TITLE My System Info
7. ECHO Please wait... Checking system information.
8. :: Section 1: Windows 10 information
9. ECHO ==========================
10. ECHO WINDOWS INFO
11. ECHO ============================
12. systeminfo | findstr /c:"OS Name"
13. systeminfo | findstr /c:"OS Version"
14. systeminfo | findstr /c:"System Type"
15. :: Section 2: Hardware information.
16. ECHO ============================
17. ECHO HARDWARE INFO
18. ECHO ============================
19. systeminfo | findstr /c:"Total Physical Memory"
20. wmic cpu get name
21. wmic diskdrive get name,model,size
22. wmic path win32_videocontroller get name
23. :: Section 3: Networking information.
24. ECHO ============================
25. ECHO NETWORK INFO
26. ECHO ============================
27. ipconfig | findstr IPv4
28. ipconfig | findstr IPv6
29. START https://support.microsoft.com/en-
us/windows/windows-10-system-requirements-6d4e9a79-
66bf-7950-467c-795cf0386715
30. PAUSE

Source: Windows Central

The above script executes each line to query a series of system
information, and the result will be divided into three categories, including
"WINDOWS INFO," "HARDWARE INFO," and "NETWORK INFO." Also,
the "START" command will open the web browser in the official support
page outlining the Windows 10 system requirements, which you can check
against your information.
 Source: Windows Central
o @ECHO OFF — Shows the message on a clean line disabling
the display prompt. Typically, this line goes at the beginning of the
file.
o TITLE — Specifies a custom name in the title bar of the
window.
o :: — Allows writing comments and documentation information.
These details are ignored when the system runs the batch file.
o ECHO — The command prints the text after the space on the
screen.
o START — Launches an app or website with the default web
browser.
o PAUSE — Allows the window to stay open after running the
command. If you do not use this option, the window will close
automatically as soon as the script finishes executing.
31. Click the File menu.
32. Select the Save as option.
33. Type a name for the script — for
example, first_advanced_batch.bat.
After you complete the steps, double-click the .bat file to run it or use
the steps below to execute the script with Command Prompt, File Explorer,
or Task Scheduler.
 Create actionable Windows 10 batch file
You can also write batch scripts for virtually any task that does not require
user interaction. For example, to map a network drive, install an
application, change system settings, and more.

To create a non-interactive batch file, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the text editor.
3. Type the following command to map a network drive in the text file:
4. net use z: \\PATH-NETWORK-SHARE\FOLDER-NAME
/user:YOUR-USERNAME YOUR-PASSWORD
Source: Windows Central
In the command, replace the \PATH-NETWORK-SHARE\FOLDER-
NAME for the network path for the folder you want to mount on the
computer, and YOUR-USERNAME YOUR-PASSWORD with the
username and password that grants access to the network files.
This example maps a network folder as a drive inside File Explorer using
the "Z" drive letter:
net use z: \\10.1.4.118\shareone

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: The screenshot includes the "pause" command, but this is not
required. It was added in this example to take a screenshot of the terminal.
If you are accessing the files from another computer that uses a specific
username and password, do not forget to use the /user: option with the
correct credentials.
5. Click the File menu.
6. Select the Save as option.
7. Confirm a name for the script — for example, mount-z-network-
drive.bat.
Once you complete the steps, the batch file will map the network folder
without opening a Command Prompt window.

We only demonstrate a script with a single command, but you can include
as many as you like, as long as you write them one per line.

How to run a batch file on Windows 10

On Windows 10, there are at least three different ways to write batch files.
You can run them on-demand using Command Prompt or File Explorer.
You can configure the script to run it on schedule using the Task Scheduler
console. Or you can save the batch files in the "Startup" folder, allowing
Windows 10 to run them as soon as you sign into the account.

Run batch file on-demand

If you want to run a script on-demand, you have two choices, including File
Explorer or Command Prompt.

Command Prompt

To run a script file with Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps.

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select
the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to run a batch file and press Enter:
C:\PATH\TO\FOLDER\BATCH-NAME.bat
In the command, make sure to specify the path and name of the script.
This example runs the batch file located in the "scripts" folder inside the
"Downloads" folder:
C:\Users\useraccount\Downloads\first_basic_batch.bat
 S
ource: Windows Central
After you complete the steps, the console will return the results, and the
window won't close even if the script does not include the "PAUSE"
command since you are invoking the script from within a console window
that you opened manually.

File Explorer

To run a batch file with the Windows 10 File Explorer application, use these
steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Open the folder containing the batch file.
3. Double-click the script file to run it.
4. (Optional) If a command requires administrator privileges, you will
need to run the script as an admin by right-clicking the file and selecting
the Run as administrator option.

Source: Windows Central

5. Click the Yes button
Once you complete the steps, the script will run each command in
sequence displaying the results in the console window.
 Run batch files on startup
Windows 10 also includes a special folder known as "Startup" that the
system checks every time it starts to run applications, shortcuts, and scripts
automatically without the need for extra configuration.

To run a script on startup, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Open to the folder containing the batch file.
3. Right-click the batch file and select the Copy option.
4. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open
the Run command.
5. Type the following command:
shell:startup

Source: Windows Central

6. Click the OK button.
7. Click the Paste option from the "Home" tab in the Startup folder. (Or
click the Paste shortcut button to create a shortcut to the batch file.)
 Source: Copy and Paste Batch File startup folder
After you complete the steps, every time you sign into Windows 10, the
batch file will execute automatically.

Run batch file on schedule

To use the Task Scheduler to run the batch file automatically on a
schedule, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Scheduler and click the top result to open the app.
3. Right-click the "Task Scheduler Library" branch and select the New
Folder option.
4. Confirm a name for the folder — for example, MyScripts.
Quick note: It is not a requirement to create a folder, but it's recommended
to separate the system and your personal tasks.
5. Click the OK button.
6. Expand the "Task Scheduler Library" branch.
7. Right-click the MyScripts folder.
8. Select the Create Basic Task option.

Source: Windows Central

9. In the "Name" field, confirm a name for the task — for
example, SystemInfoBatch.

Source: Windows Central

10. (Optional) In the "Description" field, write a description for the task.
11. Click the Next button.
12. Select the Monthly option.

Sou
rce: Windows Central
Quick note: On Windows 10, the Task Scheduler allows you to choose
from different triggers, including a specific date, during startup, or when a
user logs in to the device. In this example, we will select the option to run a
task every month, but you may need to configure additional parameters
depending on your situation.
13. Click the Next button.
14. Use the "Start" settings to confirm the day and time to run the task.
15. Use the "Monthly" drop-down menu to pick the months of the year to
run the task.
 S
ource: Windows Central
16. Use the "Days" or "On" drop-down menu to confirm the days to run
the task.

Source: Windows Central

17. Click the Next button.
18. Select the Start a program option to run the batch file.
 Source
: Windows Central
19. In the "Program/script" field, click the Browse button.
20. Select the batch file you want to execute.

Sour
ce: Windows Central
21. Click the Finish button.
Once you complete the steps, the task will save and run the script on your
specified schedule.

The above instructions are meant to schedule only a basic task. If you want
to create a more customizable task with the Task Scheduler, use these
steps.

We're focusing this guide on Windows 10, but batch files have been around
for a long time, which means that you can refer to these steps if you are still
on an older version, including Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.