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10 Tech How-To

Replace PowerShell with Command Prompt in Win+X Menu

Guide 10-21697 · Updated · Step by step

This guide shows you how to swap PowerShell for the classic Command Prompt in the Windows 10 and Windows 11 Win+X (power user) menu. This restores the familiar Command Prompt and Command Prompt (Admin) entries, which can be more convenient if you prefer the legacy console or work with scripts that rely on it.

What You’ll Need

  • A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11 (the steps work on both).
  • Administrator access to the PC (you’ll need to approve a UAC prompt or log in with an admin account).
  • Basic familiarity with the Registry Editor (you’ll be editing a specific key).

Step-by-Step

  1. Open the Registry Editor. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
  2. Navigate to the Win+X settings key. In the Registry Editor, copy and paste the following path into the address bar and press Enter: 
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  3. Create a new DWORD value. In the right-hand pane, right-click on an empty area, select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it exactly: 
    UseWinXPowerShell
  4. Set its value to 0. Double-click the newly created UseWinXPowerShell entry, set the Value data to 0, and click OK. This tells Windows to show Command Prompt instead of PowerShell.
  5. Restart File Explorer. The change takes effect immediately after restarting Explorer. To do this, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart. Alternatively, you can log off and back on, or simply restart your PC.
  6. Verify the change. Press Win + X (or right-click the Start button). You should now see Command Prompt and Command Prompt (Admin) in place of PowerShell entries.

Common Mistakes

  • Typo in the DWORD name. The value must be exactly UseWinXPowerShell (case doesn’t matter, but spelling does). A misspelled name will be ignored.
  • Setting the value to 1. A value of 1 enables PowerShell; 0 enables Command Prompt. Double-check that you entered 0.
  • Editing the wrong registry key. Make sure you’re in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Advanced, not HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or another location. The setting is per-user.
  • Not restarting Explorer. The change won’t appear until Explorer restarts. If you don’t restart it, you might think the edit didn’t work.

Tips

  • Reverting the change: To go back to PowerShell, simply set the same DWORD value to 1 (or delete the UseWinXPowerShell value entirely) and restart Explorer again.
  • Admin vs. standard: The Win+X menu shows both a normal and an admin version. The admin version will trigger a UAC prompt when clicked.
  • Keyboard shortcut: You can still press Win + X then A to open the admin Command Prompt quickly after this change.
  • If you need PowerShell occasionally: You can still open PowerShell from the Start menu or by typing powershell in the Run dialog. This change only affects the Win+X menu.

Troubleshooting

The Win+X menu still shows PowerShell after following the steps.

  • Double-check that the DWORD is named correctly and its value is 0.
  • Ensure you restarted File Explorer. If you’re unsure, sign out and sign back in.
  • If you’re on a corporate-managed PC, a Group Policy might override this setting. Contact your IT administrator.

I get an error when trying to create the DWORD.

  • Make sure you’re logged in with an account that has write access to the registry. If you’re not an administrator, you’ll need to provide admin credentials.

The Command Prompt opens but immediately closes.

  • This is usually not related to the Win+X change. It could be a system file issue. Try running sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to check for corruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will this change affect other parts of Windows?
A: No, it only changes the Win+X menu entries. The Start menu, Task Manager, and other shortcuts remain unchanged.

Q: Can I have both Command Prompt and PowerShell in the Win+X menu?
A: No, the default menu only shows one or the other. You can pin PowerShell to the taskbar or Start menu if you need both.

Q: Does this work on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
A: Yes, the registry key works on both versions. The exact menu layout may differ slightly, but the entries will be replaced.

Q: I deleted the DWORD, but the menu still shows Command Prompt. Why?
A: The default behavior for Windows 10 is Command Prompt, so deleting the value reverts to that. To get PowerShell back, create the DWORD and set it to 1.

Q: Is this safe to do on a work computer?
A: Generally yes, but if your IT department has set policies, they may override this. It’s always best to check with your administrator if you’re unsure.

Q: Will this affect the terminal in Windows Terminal?
A: No, this only affects the Win+X menu. Windows Terminal, if installed, remains unaffected.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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