3 Ways To Prevent Command Prompt From Closing After Running Commands (Batch File Pause)

Whenever we run any batch file, the Command Prompt window will appear shortly, and it goes on simultaneously. You do not see what commands were running on the command prompt due to the batch file.

In the batch file, there are commands that perform actions related to the system, and these commands are executed sequentially. So what if you want to monitor your batch files and prevent Command Prompt from closing automatically if you run them?

The following are three ways to prevent the Command Prompt window from closing after running commands. Choose the option that works best for you.

#1 Prevent CMD window from closing using cmd /k command switch

Open the batch file in Notepad by right clicking on it and click on “Edit” from the list.

Then paste the following command at the end of your batch file

cmd /k

Next, save the file by pressing “Ctrl+S” and close the notepad. Double click your .bat file. You will see that CMD will remain open as long as you want it to stay open.

This is a very easy and handy way to prevent the Command Prompt window from closing after running commands.

#2 Stop CMD window from closing automatically using PAUSE command

The second way I am going to show you is also a simple method.

Edit your bat file by right clicking on it and select “Edit” from the list. Your file will open in notepad.

Now add “PAUSE” word at the end of your bat file. This will keep the Command Prompt window open until you do not press any key.

You can easily see each command which had run on the result of bat file in CMD as long as you do not press any key.

#3 Permanently stop all cmd windows from closing using Windows Registry

You can prevent Command Prompt window from closing after running commands through adding a Registry Key to the Windows Registry. To do this, type the following code in your Notepad and save the file with the .reg extension.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\powershell.exe\shell\open\command]
@=”\ ”C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe\” –noExit \ “& \\\ “%1\\\ ”\””

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Microsoft.PowerShellScript.1\Shell\0\Command]
@=”\ “C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe\ “ –NoExit \ “-Command\” \”if ( ( Get-ExecutionPolicy ) –ne ‘AllSigned’) { Set-ExecutionPolicy –Scope Process Bypass }; & \\\ ”%1” \\\ “\””

Double-click the saved file after it has been saved. Windows will save the registry values to the Registry. Run any command or batch script in CMD now, and the Command Prompt window will remain open as long as you keep it open.

These are all quick and easy ways to keep the Command Prompt window open, so you can configure and monitor each command executed through a batch file or Powershell script. If you have any other questions, please comment below. Many thanks.