How to create and run a batch file in Windows

Last Updated on August 7, 2025 by Arnav Sharma

A batch file, or .bat file, is a simple text file that contains a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter in Windows. It is a powerful tool that can help automate repetitive tasks, perform system maintenance, and streamline various operations. In this guide, we will explore how to create, configure, and run a batch file on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Creating a Batch File

Creating a batch file is a straightforward process that involves writing a series of commands and saving them with a .bat extension. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open Notepad

You can use any text editor to create a batch file, but Notepad is the simplest option. To open Notepad, press Win + R, type notepad, and press Enter.

Step 2: Write the Batch Script

In Notepad, type the commands you want to execute. For example, here’s a simple batch script:

@echo off echo Hello, World! pause

This script will display “Hello, World!” in the command prompt window and wait for the user to press any key before closing.

Step 3: Save the File

Save your script with a .bat extension. In Notepad, go to File > Save As. In the Save As dialog, set the “Save as type” to “All Files” and enter a name with a .bat extension, such as example.bat. Click Save.

Running a Batch File

Method 1: Double-Click the File

To run the batch file, navigate to the folder where you saved it, and double-click the file. This will open a command prompt window and execute the commands in your batch file.

Method 2: Use Command Prompt

Alternatively, you can run the batch file from the command prompt:

1. Open Command Prompt by pressing Win + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to the directory containing your batch file using the cd command. For example: cd C:pathtoyourbatchfile
3. Type the name of your batch file and press Enter: example.bat 

Automating Batch File Execution

Batch files can be used to automate tasks by running them automatically at specified times or events.

Using Task Scheduler

You can use Task Scheduler to run a batch file automatically:

1. Open Task Scheduler by pressing Win + R, typing taskschd.msc, and pressing Enter.
2. In Task Scheduler, click “Create Basic Task” and follow the wizard to set up your task. Specify your batch file as the “Program/script” to run.

Adding to Startup Folder

To run a batch file every time Windows starts:

1. Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter.
2. Copy your batch file into the Startup folder.

Advanced Batch File Features

Running Multiple Commands

A batch file can execute multiple commands sequentially:

@echo off echo Starting tasks... xcopy C:source C:destination ipconfig /all pause

Using Conditional Statements

You can add logic to your batch files with conditional statements:

@echo off if exist C:example.txt ( echo File exists. ) else ( echo File does not exist. ) pause

Creating Loops

You can also create loops in your batch scripts:

@echo off for %%f in (C:files*.txt) do ( echo Processing %%f ) pause

Running with Administrator Privileges

To run a batch file with administrative privileges:

1. Right-click your batch file and select “Run as administrator.”
2. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click “Yes” to proceed.

Handling Errors

You can handle errors in your batch file using the errorlevel variable:

@echo off xcopy C:source C:destination if errorlevel 1 ( echo Error occurred during copy. ) else ( echo Copy successful. ) pause