Example usage for start.
start "Log viewer" notepad.exe .\app.logstart command
Start a program or command in a separate window, optionally waiting for it to finish.
Documented syntax
start <"title"> [/d <path>] [/i] [{/min | /max}] [{/separate | /shared}] [{/low | /normal | /high | /realtime | /abovenormal | /belownormal}] [/node <NUMA node>] [/affinity <hexaffinity>] [/wait] [/b] [/machine <x86|amd64|arm|arm64>] [<command> [<parameter>... ] | <program> [<parameter>... ]]The linked Microsoft Learn article is the upstream authority. Availability may depend on Windows release, role, optional feature or interactive tool context.
Examples
Parameters, options and clauses
| Option / clause | Description |
|---|---|
"<title>" | Set a window title; the first quoted argument is treated as the title. |
/d <path> | Set the starting directory. |
/min /max | Start the window minimized or maximized. |
/wait | Wait for the started application to finish. |
/b | Start without creating a new command window. |
<command> [<parameters>] | Specify the program and its arguments. |
"title" | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
/i | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
{/separate | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
{/low | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
/node <NUMA node> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/affinity <hexaffinity> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/machine <x86 | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
[<command> [<parameter>... ] | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
<parameter> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
/? | Display command help or the supported command-line usage. |
/separate | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/shared | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/low | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/normal | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/high | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/realtime | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/abovenormal | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/belownormal | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/node | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/affinity | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
<hexaffinity> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
/machine | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
<program> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
Review a command and its target before running it. Commands that alter files, services, accounts, disks, permissions or databases may be difficult to reverse. Test in a safe environment and keep backups.