How to Open Command Prompt at Boot in Windows 11 Command Prompt is one of the most powerful recovery tools built into Windows. At boot, It becomes even more critical because it lets you troubleshoot startup failures, repair corrupted files, or recover user accounts before Windows loads. Let’s walk through the main ways to access the Command Prompt at boot in Windows 11. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Method 1: Advanced Startup from Settings If your system is still bootable, go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Advanced startup > Restart now. After the reboot, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt. You'll be prompted for an account and password before Command Prompt opens in the Windows Recovery Environment. Method 2: Shift + Restart Shortcut A faster way is to hold Shift while clicking Restart from the Start menu or login screen. This takes you directly into Advanced Startup, where you can again select Command Prompt from the recovery menu. Method 3: Use Windows 11 Installation Media If Windows won’t load, you can use Windows 11 installation media. Insert a bootable USB or DVD, restart, and boot from that device. When the setup screen appears, press Shift + F10 to instantly open Command Prompt without installing Windows. Method 4: Recovery Partition and Automatic Repair Another option is to trigger Automatic Repair from the recovery partition. Interrupt the boot process by powering off your PC as soon as the windows logo appears, repeating this two or three times. Windows will launch repair mode automatically. From there, select Advanced options > Command Prompt. What You Can Do with the Command Prompt at Boot Each of these methods gives you system-level access before Windows starts. This allows for offline repairs with SFC or DISM, fixing bootloader issues with BCDEdit, editing the registry, or even resetting forgotten local passwords. IT teams also use it to restore system images or back up data when a system becomes on bootable. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to open the Command Prompt at boot in Windows 11, linked in the description below.