The START command in Windows CMD is a versatile tool that allows users to open files, launch applications, or run scripts from the command line. This command is particularly useful for automating tasks, creating batch files, or simply speeding up your workflow by launching multiple applications or scripts simultaneously.

Understanding the START Command

The basic syntax for the START command is as follows:

START [options] "title" [path/file] [parameters]

• options: Various options can be used with the START command to modify its behavior.
• "title": The title of the window in which the command or application will run. If you don't want to specify a title, you must include empty quotes ("").
• path/file: The path to the executable file or script you want to run.
• parameters: Any additional parameters you want to pass to the executable or script.

Practical Examples

1. Opening a Text File with Notepad

   To open a text file named example.txt with Notepad, you can use:

   START notepad.exe "C:\Path\To\Your\File\example.txt"

2. Launching a Web Browser

   To open a website in your default web browser, use:

   START "" "http://www.example.com"

   The empty quotes are necessary because the URL is treated as the title if no title is specified.

3. Running a Batch File

   To execute a batch file named script.bat, use:

   START "" "C:\Path\To\Your\Batch\script.bat"

4. Using START with Command-Line Options

   To open a new command prompt window and run a command, you can use:

   START cmd.exe /k "echo Hello, World!"

   The /k option tells CMD to execute the command and then remain open.

5. Opening an Application Maximized

   To open an application maximized, use the /MAX option:

   START /MAX notepad.exe

6. Running an Application with a Specific Priority

   You can also set the priority of the process using the /LOW, /NORMAL, /HIGH, /REALTIME, /ABOVENORMAL, or /BELOWNORMAL options. For example:

   START /HIGH notepad.exe

Tips for Using the START Command

• Always use quotes around file paths that contain spaces.
• When using the START command in batch files, remember that it will not wait for the started application to close before continuing to the next command. If you need to wait, consider using the CALL command instead.
• The START command can also be used to open folders in Windows Explorer by specifying the folder path.