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Guide · Open source

How to use Cmder: install, tabs, shortcuts and tips

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Cmder is a console emulator package for Windows. It bundles a tabbed terminal window based on ConEmu, a Monokai color scheme, enhanced command-line completion through Clink, and a custom prompt. This guide shows you how to install it, open the shells it supports, use the keyboard shortcuts and set up a portable or shared configuration.

Cmdercmderdev/cmder · ★ 27k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the release. Get the latest Cmder release from the GitHub releases page.
  2. 2Extract to a non-admin folder. Pick a location that does not require Administrator access, such as a folder in your user profile or a USB stick.
  3. 3Add your own tools (optional). Place executables in the bin folder to have them added to your PATH.
  4. 4Run Cmder.exe. Double-click Cmder.exe to open the tabbed console window.
  5. 5Open the shell you need. Use Shift + Alt + 1 for CMD or Shift + Alt + 2 for PowerShell, or open the new tab dialog with Ctrl + T.
  6. 6Register the right-click menu (optional). From an Administrator terminal, run the register command so you can choose Cmder Here in File Explorer.

Install Cmder on Windows

Cmder is distributed as a download rather than an installer. Download the latest release from the project's releases page, then extract the archive.

Extract it to a folder that does not require Administrator access. The README warns that the path should not be C:\Program Files or anywhere else that would need Administrator rights to modify configuration files.

  • Download the latest release from the GitHub releases page.
  • Extract the archive to a non-admin folder.
  • Run Cmder.exe from that folder.
git clone https://github.com/cmderdev/cmder

Choose a portable or shared setup

The single user portable setup keeps everything in one folder, so you can run Cmder from a USB stick or cloud storage. Because the project is designed to be self-contained, you can carry your console, aliases and binaries between machines.

The shared install extracts Cmder to a shared location and uses the /C argument to create a per-user config folder. That folder contains bin, config (with profile.d) and opt subfolders.

  • Portable: extract, optionally add your own executables to %cmder_root%\bin, then run Cmder.exe.
  • Shared: extract to a shared location, then run Cmder.exe /C %userprofile%\cmder_config.
  • Files in the bin folder are added to your PATH by default. Files in opt are not added to PATH, so you control what gets included.
cmder.exe /C %userprofile%\cmder_config

Open the shells Cmder supports

Each Cmder tab runs one of several shells. Cmder, PowerShell and Bash tabs all run on the Windows Console API and can use ConEmu's color schemes, key bindings and other settings from the ConEmu Settings dialog.

The Cmder tab is cmd.exe enhanced with Git, a Git-aware prompt, Clink and aliases. The PowerShell tab is powershell.exe enhanced with Git and a Git-aware prompt. Admin versions of these tabs are also listed.

  • Cmder: cmd.exe with Git, Git-aware prompt, Clink (GNU Readline) and aliases.
  • PowerShell: powershell.exe with Git and a Git-aware prompt.
  • Bash: bash.exe, a Unix/Linux-style shell on Windows.
  • Mintty: bash.exe rendered by ConEmu, supports xterm and xterm-256color TERM types but does not use ConEmu color schemes.

Add Cmder to the Windows right-click menu

If you want to open Cmder in any folder, register a Windows Shell Menu shortcut. Open a terminal as Administrator, go to the folder where you placed Cmder, and run the register command. If you see an Access Denied message, you are not in an Administrator prompt.

After registering, right-click in or on a folder in File Explorer and choose Cmder Here.

  • Open a terminal as Administrator.
  • Navigate to the Cmder folder.
  • Run the register command with ALL.
.\cmder.exe /REGISTER ALL

Use the keyboard shortcuts

Cmder's shortcuts cover tabs, the shell and window display. Some shortcuts exist but are not yet documented in the README.

  • Ctrl + T: new tab dialog.
  • Ctrl + W: close tab. Ctrl + D closes the tab when the command line is empty.
  • Shift + Alt + 1 opens a CMD tab; Shift + Alt + 2 opens a PowerShell tab.
  • Ctrl + Tab and Ctrl + Shift + Tab switch between tabs; Ctrl + number switches to a specific tab.
  • Alt + Enter toggles fullscreen.
  • Ctrl + Alt + U moves up one directory level.
  • Ctrl + R searches command history.
  • Shift + mouse selects and copies text from the buffer.

Use the command line arguments

Cmder.exe accepts arguments that change how it starts. The most useful for everyday use are /START to set the starting folder, /SINGLE to start in single mode, and /TASK to run a task after launch. /X forwards parameters to ConEmu.

  • /C [user_root_path]: individual user Cmder root folder.
  • /M: use conemu-%computername%.xml for ConEmu settings instead of user_conemu.xml.
  • /START [start_path]: folder to start in.
  • /SINGLE: start in single mode.
  • /TASK [task_name]: task to start after launch.
  • /REGISTER and /UNREGISTER [ALL, USER]: add or remove the Windows Shell Menu shortcut.

What people use it for

  • Keeping a consistent terminal setup on several Windows machines by carrying a Cmder folder on a USB stick.
  • Working in cmd.exe, PowerShell and Bash tabs side by side in one window.
  • Opening a terminal in any folder from File Explorer with Cmder Here.
  • Running Git-aware prompts and using Git, curl and wget that come with the full edition.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cmder free?

Cmder is released under the MIT licence, according to the project's repository details. The MIT licence allows free use, modification and distribution, subject to its terms.

Does Cmder need to be installed?

No. The project is designed to run without installation. Extract the release to a folder that does not need Administrator access and run Cmder.exe.

Does Cmder work on Mac or Linux?

The project is described as a Windows package, and the README does not describe other platforms. If you use macOS or Linux, the README does not support Cmder there.

Why won't Bash tabs work in Cmder mini?

Only the full edition includes a pre-installed bash based on git-for-windows. The README says the pre-configured Bash tabs may not work on the mini edition without additional configuration. You can also use an external bash such as WSL or Cygwin.

Why do I get Access Denied when registering Cmder Here?

The /REGISTER command needs an Administrator prompt. Open the terminal as Administrator, navigate to the folder with cmder.exe, and run the register command again.

What is the difference between Cmder and ConEmu?

Cmder is based on ConEmu with a configuration overhaul, a Monokai color scheme, Clink completion and a custom prompt. The project links a comparison page on conemu.github.io for the main differences.

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Our verdict

Cmder suits Windows users who want a nicer tabbed command-line window and a portable setup they can carry between machines. It is a poor fit for macOS or Linux users, anyone who needs the Bash tabs to work in the mini edition without extra setup, or teams that need strict control over bundled executables, since the portable folder can be edited freely.

Install options & downloads