Change to default start folder for Windows command prompt
The command prompt automatically starts in the Home Directory specified in your user profile.
A "workaround" to avoid messing with scripts and such is to create a new shortcut to cmd.exe
.
- Create a new shortcut to
%systemroot%\system32\cmd.exe
- Once the shortcut is created, right-click and select
Properties
- In the Shortcut tab, set the "Start in" field to the path you want to start in, ie,
C:\foo\bar\Something Else
- Click OK and try your new shortcut!
First method : Execute a change-directory command when cmd starts
From "How to change the default startup directory for Command Prompt?":
Click Start, Run, and type Regedit.exe.
Navigate to the following branch:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
On Windows 10 update 1909, the key is rather in the following location. No reboot is required.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor
In the right-pane, double-click Autorun and set the startup folder path as its data, preceded by "CD /d ".
If Autorun value is missing, you need to create it, of type String in the above location.
Example: To set the startup directory to F:\Windows, set the Autorun value data to "CD /d F:\Windows".
Second method : Change user's home folder
Right-click "My computer" and choose Manage.
Select "Local users and Groups" and then Users.
Double-click the user in question and go to the Profile tab.
Set in "Home folder" the required directory as the value of "Local path" and do OK.