cd C:\
| Command | Result | | :--- | :--- | | c: | Switches to the C drive, landing in the last accessed folder on that drive. | | cd C: | (From another drive) Does nothing visible. Shows/sets the path for C: but doesn't switch to it. | | cd /d C: | Switches to the C drive instantly. | | cd /d C:\Windows | Switches to the C drive and navigates directly to the Windows folder. |
: Simply type the drive letter followed by a colon and press Enter. C: Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard cd to c drive
In the Windows Command Prompt, each drive maintains its own "current directory" state. When you type cd C: , the prompt interprets this as, "Show me the current directory of the C drive," or "Remember the C drive's path," but it does not execute the action of jumping to that drive. It essentially updates the path memory for C: without transporting you there.
This is the most common point of confusion. In a command-line environment, the (C:, D:, E:) and the directories (Folders like C:\Windows or C:\Users ) are treated differently. cd C:\ | Command | Result | |
This is done using the /d switch.
The cd (Change Directory) command is primarily designed to move within a directory tree. However, to jump from one drive to another (e.g., from D: to C:), you must explicitly tell the command that you are changing drives as well as directories. | | cd /d C: | Switches to the C drive instantly
And it will work immediately without requiring a /d switch. This is because PowerShell drives (PSDrives) function differently than legacy DOS drives.
In the Windows Command Prompt (CMD), the cd command is primarily used to change folders within a drive. To switch to a different drive entirely (e.g., from D: to C: ), you do not use cd . Instead, you use the drive letter followed by a colon. C:
In , the behavior is more intuitive. PowerShell treats drives and directories uniformly. You can go directly to the root of C: from any drive using:
or even just: