cmd | Dir command (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

The dir command is one of the most useful commands while navigating the command line, and is present in its different forms in several operating systems. In this article, we will look at the Dir command and learn several use cases for it.

What is the dir Command

dir command in Windows OS is a built-in function that allows the user to do the following task:

• View the contents of any directory
• Check file attributes (both hidden and read-only)
• Filter search results based on date or file type.

Basic Syntax

The general syntax of the dir command is:

dir [path] [options]

• **Path: specifies the location
• **Options: modifies to filter the output

**1. List Files & Directories

This command is used to list all files and directories in the current one:

help dir

help dir command

**Output :

Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.

DIR [drive:][path][filename] [/A[[:]attributes]] [/B] [/C] [/D] [/L] [/N] [/O[[:]sortorder]] [/P] [/Q] [/R] [/S] [/T[[:]timefield]] [/W] [/X] [/4]

[drive:][path][filename] Specifies drive, directory, and/or files to list.

/A Displays files with specified attributes. attributes D Directories R Read-only files H Hidden files A Files ready for archiving S System files I Not content indexed files L Reparse Points O Offline files - Prefix meaning not /B Uses bare format (no heading information or summary). /C Display the thousand separator in file sizes. This is the . .

output

**Usage explanation:

The command is mainly used for displaying the list of files and subdirectories in a directory. This could be done by executing the **Dir command without any arguments.

Dir

dir

Which would produce an output similar to this.

**Output

Directory of C:\Users

09/26/2020 11:34 AM . 09/26/2020 11:34 AM .. 09/02/2020 07:07 PM 1, 000 applese 09/24/2020 08:59 PM Public 10/20/2020 06:39 PM Soap 1 File(s) 1, 000 bytes 4 Dir(s) 13, 879, 459, 840 bytes free

Output

2. List Content of a Specific Directory

The output of the dir command in this enable users to specify a directory to view its contents. The syntax for this command is as follows:

**Input

dir C:\Users\gfg19310\Documents

List all content - Input

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\gfg19310\Documents

20-03-2023 13:02 . 20-03-2023 13:02 .. 20-03-2023 13:02 Custom Office Templates

List all content - Output

3. Show Hidden Files

Here, we will use /A option with the H attribute to include hidden files along with it. Here's the syntax:

**Input

dir /A:H

show hidden file - Input

**Output

07-06-2023 16:36 AppData 07-06-2023 16:36 Application Data [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming] 07-06-2023 16:36 Cookies [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies] 07-06-2023 16:36 Local Settings [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Local] 07-06-2023 16:36 My Documents [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\Documents] 07-06-2023 16:36 NetHood [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts] 11-12-2024 05:46 3,670,016 NTUSER.DAT 07-06-2023 16:36 688,128 ntuser.dat.LOG1 07-06-2023 16:36 1,085,440 ntuser.dat.LOG2 02-01-2025 10:40 1,048,576 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e87-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TxR.0.regtrans-ms 18-12-2024 09:56 1,048,576 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e87-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TxR.1.regtrans-ms 18-12-2024 09:56 1,048,576 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e87-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TxR.2.regtrans-ms 18-12-2024 09:56 65,536 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e87-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TxR.blf 07-06-2023 16:36 65,536 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e88-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TM.blf 07-06-2023 16:36 524,288 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e88-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TMContainer00000000000000000001.regtrans-ms 07-06-2023 16:36 524,288 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e88-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TMContainer00000000000000000002.regtrans-ms 07-06-2023 16:36 20 ntuser.ini 07-06-2023 16:36 PrintHood [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts] 07-06-2023 16:36 Recent [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent] 07-06-2023 16:36 SendTo [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo] 07-06-2023 16:36 Start Menu [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu] 07-06-2023 16:36 Templates [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates]

show hidden file - Output

4. List Files with Specific Extensions

To display files with a specific extension (e.g., .txt): Here's a sample

**Input

dir *.txt

Display Text -input

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 20-11-2024 14:45 0 Rapture.txt 14-11-2024 15:35 3 Rqapture.txt

Display Text -Output

5. View Subdirectories

To include all subdirectories and their contents, use the following command:

**Input

dir /S

dir /S

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\Saved Games

07-06-2023 16:36 . 07-06-2023 16:36 .. 0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\Searches

07-06-2023 16:38 . 07-06-2023 16:38 .. 08-11-2022 16:52 855 winrt--{S-1-5-21-1623517014-2252875782-278851815-1404}-.searchconnector-ms 07-06-2023 16:37 859 winrt--{S-1-5-21-2245693176-3959787992-2909979321-1244}-.searchconnector-ms 2 File(s) 1,714 bytes

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\Videos

07-06-2023 16:38 . 07-06-2023 16:38 .. 26-12-2024 13:37 Captures 0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\Videos\Captures

26-12-2024 13:37 . 26-12-2024 13:37 .. 26-12-2024 13:37 185,053 File Explorer 26-12-2024 13_37_47.png 11-10-2023 15:51 23,668 Network Connections .png

Fetching Directory

6. Sort by Date, Size, or Name

We can fetch data based on date, size or name. Let's check them out:

**By Date:

**Input

dir /O:D

dir /O:D

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

07-06-2023 16:36 3D Objects 07-06-2023 16:36 Contacts 07-06-2023 16:36 Favorites 07-06-2023 16:36 Music 07-06-2023 16:36 Saved Games 07-06-2023 16:36 Links 07-06-2023 16:37 OneDrive 07-06-2023 16:38 Searches 07-06-2023 16:38 Videos 07-06-2023 16:40 Documents 18-04-2024 12:51 2,635,835 get-pip.py 18-04-2024 16:16 2,635,835 get-pip.p 14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 14-11-2024 15:35 3 Rqapture.txt 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 20-11-2024 14:45 0 Rapture.txt 12-12-2024 18:45 my-node-project 18-12-2024 09:56 . 18-12-2024 09:56 .. 26-12-2024 10:02 Downloads 30-12-2024 18:34 Pictures 31-12-2024 16:02 Desktop

Output

**By Size:

**Input

dir /O:S

dir /O:S

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

18-12-2024 09:56 . 18-12-2024 09:56 .. 07-06-2023 16:36 3D Objects 07-06-2023 16:36 Contacts 31-12-2024 16:02 Desktop 07-06-2023 16:40 Documents 26-12-2024 10:02 Downloads 07-06-2023 16:38 Searches 07-06-2023 16:36 Favorites 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Saved Games 07-06-2023 16:38 Videos 07-06-2023 16:36 Links 07-06-2023 16:36 Music 12-12-2024 18:45 my-node-project 07-06-2023 16:37 OneDrive 30-12-2024 18:34 Pictures 20-11-2024 14:45 0 Rapture.txt 14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 14-11-2024 15:35 3 Rqapture.txt 18-04-2024 12:51 2,635,835 get-pip.py 18-04-2024 16:16 2,635,835 get-pip.p

Output

**By Name:

**Input

dir /O:N

dir /O:N

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

18-12-2024 09:56 . 18-12-2024 09:56 .. 07-06-2023 16:36 3D Objects 07-06-2023 16:36 Contacts 31-12-2024 16:02 Desktop 07-06-2023 16:40 Documents 26-12-2024 10:02 Downloads 14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Favorites 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 18-04-2024 16:16 2,635,835 get-pip.p 18-04-2024 12:51 2,635,835 get-pip.py 07-06-2023 16:36 Links 07-06-2023 16:36 Music 12-12-2024 18:45 my-node-project 07-06-2023 16:37 OneDrive 30-12-2024 18:34 Pictures 20-11-2024 14:45 0 Rapture.txt 14-11-2024 15:35 3 Rqapture.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Saved Games 07-06-2023 16:38 Searches 07-06-2023 16:38 Videos

Output

7. View Results Page by Page

This command is used where too many files exists, we can use the /P option to get results one page at a time. Here's the command:

**Input

dir /P

dir /P

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

18-12-2024 09:56 . 18-12-2024 09:56 .. 07-06-2023 16:36 3D Objects 07-06-2023 16:36 Contacts 31-12-2024 16:02 Desktop 07-06-2023 16:40 Documents 26-12-2024 10:02 Downloads 14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Favorites 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 18-04-2024 16:16 2,635,835 get-pip.p 18-04-2024 12:51 2,635,835 get-pip.py 07-06-2023 16:36 Links 07-06-2023 16:36 Music 12-12-2024 18:45 my-node-project 07-06-2023 16:37 OneDrive 30-12-2024 18:34 Pictures 20-11-2024 14:45 0 Rapture.txt 14-11-2024 15:35 3 Rqapture.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Saved Games 07-06-2023 16:38 Searches 07-06-2023 16:38 Videos

Output

8. List File Attributes

We can also include attributes such as read-only files and archives using the following command:

**Input

dir /A

dir /A

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

18-12-2024 09:56 . 18-12-2024 09:56 .. 07-06-2023 16:36 3D Objects 07-06-2023 16:36 AppData 07-06-2023 16:36 Application Data [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming] 07-06-2023 16:36 Contacts 07-06-2023 16:36 Cookies [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies] 31-12-2024 16:02 Desktop 07-06-2023 16:40 Documents 26-12-2024 10:02 Downloads 14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Favorites 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 18-04-2024 16:16 2,635,835 get-pip.p 18-04-2024 12:51 2,635,835 get-pip.py 07-06-2023 16:36 Links 07-06-2023 16:36 Local Settings [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Local] 07-06-2023 16:36 Music 07-06-2023 16:36 My Documents [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\Documents] 12-12-2024 18:45 my-node-project 07-06-2023 16:36 NetHood [C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts] 11-12-2024 05:46 3,670,016 NTUSER.DAT 07-06-2023 16:36 696,320 ntuser.dat.LOG1 07-06-2023 16:36 1,003,520 ntuser.dat.LOG2 02-01-2025 10:40 1,048,576 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e87-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TxR.0.regtrans-ms 18-12-2024 09:56 1,048,576 NTUSER.DAT{53b39e87-18c4-11ea-a811-000d3aa4692b}.TxR.1.regtrans-ms 18-12-2024 09:56 1,048,57 ..

Output

9. Display File Size

You can also check the file size (in bytes) using the following command:

**Input

dir /-C

dir /-C

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

18-12-2024 09:56 . 18-12-2024 09:56 .. 07-06-2023 16:36 3D Objects 07-06-2023 16:36 Contacts 31-12-2024 16:02 Desktop 07-06-2023 16:40 Documents 26-12-2024 10:02 Downloads 14-11-2024 15:32 3 example.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Favorites 20-11-2024 14:44 0 filename.txt 18-04-2024 16:16 2635835 get-pip.p 18-04-2024 12:51 2635835 get-pip.py 07-06-2023 16:36 Links 07-06-2023 16:36 Music 12-12-2024 18:45 my-node-project 07-06-2023 16:37 OneDrive 30-12-2024 18:34 Pictures 20-11-2024 14:45 0 Rapture.txt 14-11-2024 15:35 3 Rqapture.txt 07-06-2023 16:36 Saved Games 07-06-2023 16:38 Searches 07-06-2023 16:38 Videos

Output

Advanced Syntax

The above-mentioned syntaxes is for general usage. Now, let's see some of the advanced usage syntax along with their examples.

10. Save Output to a File

We can redirect the output to a text file (dir command) using the syntax below:

**Input (file name: rapture.txt)

dir /S > rapture.txt

dir /S > filename

**Output

A file name with the provided name will be created containing the directory list.

Output

11. Search for any Specific File

You can search for any file by its name (or even partial name), following this syntax:

**Input (file name: rapture - taken as a partial name "rapt")

dir rapt

*filename*

**Output

Directory of C:\Users\GFG19310.GFG

03-01-2025 11:03 7,854,908 Rapture.txt 1 File(s) 7,854,908 bytes 0 Dir(s) 116,168,089,600 bytes free

Output

12. Check the Total Number of Files

This syntax will summarise the total count of a file including directory:

**Input

dir /W

dir /W

**Output

Output

Bonus: Useful cmd Options (Summarization)

The **dir command is vastly used among users for managing and exploring directories through different ways and patterns in Windows OS. You can give it all a try and organize your work smoothly.