Command prompt won't change directory to another drive

Question

I'm trying to compile some java (learning java currently), and to do so I need to change command-prompt's directory.

C:\...\Admin> cd D:\Docs\Java
C:\...\Admin> cd
C:\...\Admin

It doesn't change the directory. I try again using quotes:

C:\...\Admin> cd "D:\Docs\Java"
C:\...\Admin>

Again it doesn't change the directory. What am I doing wrong?

score 938 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

938

As @nasreddine answered or you can use /d

cd /d d:\Docs\Java

For more help on the cd command use:

C:\Documents and Settings\kenny>help cd

Displays the name of or changes the current directory.

CHDIR [/D] [drive:][path] CHDIR [..] CD [/D] [drive:][path] CD [..]

.. Specifies that you want to change to the parent directory.

Type CD drive: to display the current directory in the specified drive. Type CD without parameters to display the current drive and directory.

Use the /D switch to change current drive in addition to changing current directory for a drive.

If Command Extensions are enabled CHDIR changes as follows:

The current directory string is converted to use the same case as the on disk names. So CD C:\TEMP would actually set the current directory to C:\Temp if that is the case on disk.

CHDIR command does not treat spaces as delimiters, so it is possible to CD into a subdirectory name that contains a space without surrounding the name with quotes. For example:

cd \winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu

is the same as:

cd "\winnt\profiles\username\programs\start menu"

which is what you would have to type if extensions were disabled.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

Community

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answered Jun 16 '12 at 17:40

kenny

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@SZaman in my experience. CD never changed drive letter without it. – kenny Mar 10 '17 at 14:53
@kenny Indeed, it literally never has switched the drive letter, ever. – simontemplar Apr 01 '17 at 13:14
@kenny I wish rather than just be idle and do anything when you attempt to change to a directory on a different drive, it would give you an error message saying "ERROR - the file you're trying to access resides on another driver. Specify -d..." – committedandroider Oct 22 '19 at 22:21
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@committedandroider yes it's a flaw for sure, just do it ;) – kenny Oct 23 '19 at 09:44
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this isn't working for me in windows 11 – Lost Crotchet Nov 23 '22 at 20:00

Nasreddine · Answer 2 · 2012-06-16T17:32:07.333

202

The directory you're switching to is on another drive, you need to switch to that drive using :

C:\...\Admin> d:

then you can cd into the directory you want.

C:\...\Admin> d:
D:\>cd "Docs\Java"

D:\Docs\Java>

edited Jun 16 '12 at 17:32

answered Jun 16 '12 at 17:11

Nasreddine

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@Prageethgodage: assume, you are on `C:\my Folder` and have files on a folder at another (network)drive in `Z:` Do a `cd z:\very\long\path\you\dontwant\to\write\each\time`. You are still on `C:\my Folder`). Then you can just `dir z:` (will list files on your very-long-path) or `copy z:*.jpg` (note: NOT `z:\*.jpg`!), which will copy files form your very-long-path`. A simple `z:` will switch to your Z: drive, where you are in your very-long-path. Very convenient, if you work a lot on command prompt. – Stephan Aug 27 '18 at 05:32
why can't directly change to that directory? What the hell is going on their developers mind?! – mohammadsdtmnd Jan 01 '23 at 15:11

Krishna · Answer 3 · 2023-02-01T16:09:25.910

58

Use drive letter d for changing to D drive like:

  C:\> d:

When changing drives, you just need to type the drive letter, like d: (don't use the backslash, like d:\ it doesn't work).

You only use cd when moving between directories within the same drive.

edited Feb 01 '23 at 16:09

answered Oct 08 '15 at 11:34

Krishna

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This is the only right solution to change drives in Windows. Thank you! – gaya Feb 18 '22 at 10:49

score 41 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 08 '17 at 11:08

41

The short answer

The correct way to go from C:\...\Adminto D:\Docs\Java drive, is the following command :

cd /d d:\Docs\Java

More details

If you're somewhere random on your D:\ drive, and you want to go to the root of your drive, you can use this command :

cd d:\

If you're somewhere random on your D:\ drive, and you want to go to a specific folder on your drive, you can use this command :

cd d:\Docs\Java

If you're on a different drive, and you want to go to the root of your D:\ drive, you can use this command :

cd /d d:\

If you're on a different drive, and you want to go to a specific folder on your D: drive, you can use this command :

cd /d d:\Docs\Java

If you're on a different drive, and you want to go to the last open folder of you D: drive, you can use this command :

cd /d d:

As a shorthand for cd /d d:, you can also use this command :

d:

answered Jul 08 '17 at 11:08

John Slegers

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Also, if you try switching to a network drive, my workaround was to go into the drive from Solution Explorer and type cmd on the address bar. That opens it up – Artorias2718 Feb 26 '19 at 18:28
For some reason, none of the ways worked for me except the shorthand method listed at the end. – 9Deuce Aug 26 '20 at 19:43
@Artorias2718 Not the same thing but if you "shift+R_click" inside the folder you will have the option to open a terminal there. I have Powershell and WLS avaliable, if you need cmd you can type "cmd" and hit enter in the Powershell prompt. – dmb Jan 06 '23 at 19:15

score 39 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 06 '17 at 16:01

39

you should use a /d before path as below :

cd /d e:\

answered Dec 06 '17 at 16:01

Abolfazl Miadian

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thanks this worked.. what is /d for? – rishi jain Jun 12 '23 at 12:46

score 16 · Answer 6 · edited Aug 11 '22 at 18:20

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In order to move to D drive in windows use,

C:\Users\Balaji>d:

In order to move to E drive use,

C:\Users\Balaji>e:

same will be applicable for other drives.

edited Aug 11 '22 at 18:20

StayOnTarget

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answered Jul 11 '19 at 06:45

Balaji Dinakaran

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score 9 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 25 '13 at 11:50

If you want to change from current working directory to another directory then in the command prompt you need to type the name of the drive you need to change to, followed by : symbol. example: assume that you want to change to D-drive and you are in C-drive currently, then type D: and hit Enter.

On the other hand if you wish to change directory within same working directory then use cd(change directory) command followed by directory name. example: assuming you wish to change to new folder then type: cd "new folder" and hit enter.

Tips to use CMD: Windows command line are not case sensitive. When working with a file or directory with a space, surround it in quotes. For example, My Documents would be "My Documents". When a file or directory is deleted in the command line, it is not moved into the Recycle bin. If you need help with any of command type /? after the command. For example, dir /? would give the options available for the dir command.

score 6 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 30 '17 at 07:05

You can change directory using this command like : currently if you current working directoris c:\ drive the if you want to go to your D:\ drive then type this command

cd /d D:\

now your current working directory is D:\ drive so you want go to Java directory under Docs so type below command :

cd Docs\Java

note : d stands for drive

score 4 · Answer 9 · edited Mar 27 '19 at 12:24

The cd command on Windows is not intuitive for users of Linux systems. If you expect cd to go to another directory no matter whether it is in the current drive or another drive, you can create an alias for cd. Here is how to do it in Cmder:

Go to $CMDER_ROOT/config and open the file user_aliases.cmd
Add the following to the end of the file:

cd=cd /d $*

Restart Cmder and you should be able to cd to any directory you want. It is a small trick but works great and saves your time.

score 4 · Answer 10 · answered Apr 28 '21 at 07:45

4

An easier way is to use PowerShell instead, that not require any additionnal flag:

W:\> cd C:\path\on\different\disk

answered Apr 28 '21 at 07:45

DevMultiTech

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score 2 · Answer 11 · answered Feb 24 '17 at 09:12

I suppose you are using Windows system.

Once you open CMD you would be shown with the default location i.e. like this

C:\Users\Admin - In your case its admin as mentioned else it will be the username of your computer

Consider if you want to move to E directory then simply type E:

This will move the user to E: Directory. Now change to what ever folder you want to point to in E: Drive

Ex: If you want to move to Software directory of E folder then first type

E:

then type the location of the folder

cd E:\Software

Viola

score 2 · Answer 12 · answered Aug 26 '18 at 21:53

2

you can use help on command prompt on cd command by writing this command cd /? as shown in this figure

answered Aug 26 '18 at 21:53

Mohammed Awney

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score 2 · Answer 13 · answered Nov 23 '22 at 07:58

If you want to jump from C: Drive to any drive just type the drive name with colon like (E:) in Anaconda and Enter, Anaconda redirect you in that E:Drive.

Now take the folder path and use cd .\<<Folder_Path>> and then Enter.

I have put the screenshots for your reference:

score 1 · Answer 14 · answered Nov 28 '22 at 22:02

1

Long story short:

While it indeed has been cd driveletter:\ before (e.g. cd d:\),

in Windows 10, it's driveletter:\ only (e.g. d:).

answered Nov 28 '22 at 22:02

Giorgi Tsiklauri

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Command prompt won't change directory to another drive

14 Answers14

The short answer

More details

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