Resolved: CMD.exe/CMD Continuously Popping up in Windows 10

"Hey there, have you ever encountered an issue where the Command Prompt keeps appearing with a black window displaying the path: c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe? I close the window, but it instantly reappears. I've tried closing it multiple times, yet the CMD window keeps popping up continuously. Do you have any idea how to resolve this? If you know how to fix this on my computer, please assist me. Many thanks in advance!"

According to the Microsoft community and Google search results, the issue of "CMD keeps popping up" is not a new one, and many Windows users have encountered it. However, most users are still unsure how to address this problem when it arises. So, what can you do if you encounter this issue in Windows 10/8/7? Fortunately, in this article, you will discover three reliable methods and two efficient tool-based solutions to effectively resolve the random CMD pop-up error. If you are experiencing the same problem with CMD continuously appearing on your Windows PC, follow these solutions provided here to fix it immediately.

Solutions to "CMD.exe Keeps Popping up" Error in Windows

Here, we'll present three methods to help you address random CMD pop-up errors. You can choose any one of these methods to resolve the issue on your own: 1. Method 1: Disabling Command Prompt Auto-Start 2. Method 2: Checking for Malware or viruses 3. Method 3: Modifying Registry Settings Follow the steps for each method carefully: ### Method 1: Disabling Command Prompt Auto-Start 1. Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type `services.msc` and hit Enter to open Services. 3. In the Services window, scroll down and find "Command Prompt" or "Windows Command Processor." 4. Right-click on it and select "Properties." 5. In the Properties window, change the Startup type to "Disabled." 6. Click "Apply" and then "OK." 7. Restart your computer to apply the changes. ### Method 2: Checking for Malware or Viruses 1. Download and install a reputable antivirus or anti-malware software, such as Malwarebytes or Windows Defender (if not already enabled). 2. Update the software to the latest virus definitions. 3. Perform a full system scan. 4. Quarantine or remove any detected threats. 5. Reboot your computer. ### Method 3: Modifying Registry Settings **Caution:** Changing registry settings can be risky. Make sure to create a backup before proceeding. 1. Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type `regedit` and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. 3. Navigate to `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run`. 4. On the right panel, carefully examine each value. If you find any suspicious entries related to Command Prompt, right-click them and select "Delete." 5. Alternatively, search for "Command Prompt" in the search bar at the top-right corner of the Registry Editor, and delete any suspicious keys. 6. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer. After applying one of these methods, your random CMD pop-up errors should be resolved.

Method 1: Perform a Clean Boot to Resolve Random CMD Popup Error

Here, we'll guide you through the process of clean booting Windows 10 as an example for you to follow, enabling you to clean boot your PC.

1. Click "Start" and search: msconfig > choose "System Configuration";
2. In System Configuration, click "Services" > check "Hide all Microsoft services" > then click "Disable all";
3. Navigate to "Startup" in System Configuration > click "Open Task Manager";
4. In Task Manager, select each startup item one by one and click "Disable" > then close "Task Manager";
5. On the Startup tab of System Configuration, click "OK" > Restart your PC.
After following these steps, your computer should function normally, and you shouldn't see any CMD windows popping up anymore.

Method 2: Use SFC to Resolve the Issue of CMD.exe Continuously Popping Up

SFC, also known as System File Checker, is a utility that can be employed to scan all crucial Windows files on your computer and fix them if needed. The continuous appearance of errors in the Command Prompt (CMD) in Windows can often be attributed to missing or corrupted system files, such as Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files. Let's explore how to run SFC to address the issue of CMD.exe unexpectedly showing error messages on your PC: 1. **Open Command Prompt with Administrative Privileges:** - Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard. - Click on "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu that appears. If you're using Windows 10, you might see "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" instead; in this case, click on it. 2. **Run the SFC Scan:** - In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` sfc /scannow ``` - This command will initiate a comprehensive scan of your system files, checking for any integrity violations or corruption. 3. **Wait for the Process to Complete:** - The scanning process may take some time, so please be patient. - SFC will automatically repair any corrupted or missing system files it finds. 4. **Reboot Your Computer:** - After the scan is finished, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. 5. **Verify if the Issue is Resolved:** - Upon restarting, check if the unexpected CMD.exe error messages persist. If the issue still occurs after running SFC, you might need to try additional troubleshooting steps, such as running the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool or checking for malware. However, in most cases, SFC should resolve the problem with system files and alleviate the CMD errors.

1. Press Win + R, type: cmd, and click "OK" to open Command Prompt; 2. Type: sfc /scannow and press Enter; 3. After the scan completes, restart your PC and check if the CMD.exe issue has been resolved.

Method 3: Repair Bad Sectors and Remove Viruses Causing CMD to Pop Up Randomly

If the system partition has bad sectors or gets hit by some unknown virus or malware, CMD might misbehave. So, to fix this random CMD popping up issue, you can use a partition manager tool to repair those bad sectors and then run antivirus software to scan and clean your PC.

Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master on your computer. Then, locate the disk, right-click the partition that you want to check, and choose "Advanced" > "Check File System".

Step 2. In the Check File System window, select the "Try to fix errors if found" option and click "Start".

Step 3. The software will start to check your partition file system on the hard drive. When it is done, click “Finish”.

Step 4. Download and run antivirus software on a Windows PC to eliminate any viruses or malware that might be causing CMD to display error messages. Afterward, restart your computer and verify if the issue has been resolved and everything is functioning properly.

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Additional Solutions for the Random Command Prompt Popup Error

If the previous three methods did not resolve your issue, you can attempt two additional options to prevent the Command Prompt from opening randomly:

Option 1: Install the Latest Update

1. Install the latest updates on your Windows PC; 2. Restart the Windows system to fix any corrupted files; 3. Launch the Command Prompt by typing 'cmd' in the search bar, then right-click 'Command Prompt' and select 'Run as administrator'. In the Command Prompt window, type: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and press Enter; 4. Wait for that process to finish, then type the following command: SFC /ScanNow, and hit Enter.

Following this, restart your PC and retain all the changes. Afterwards, you can verify if the random CMD error popping up issue has been resolved or not.

Option 2: Create a New User Account

Occasionally, if a user's profile becomes corrupted, CMD may not operate correctly. In such cases, you can attempt to create a new user account to check if CMD.exe functions properly: 1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 2. Click on "Accounts" and then select "Family & other users." 3. Under "Other users," click on "Add someone else to this PC." 4. Choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information" and then click "Add a user without a Microsoft account." 5. Create a new local account with a different username and password. 6. Log out from your current user account and log in to the newly created account. 7. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking the Start button, selecting "Command Prompt (Admin)." 8. Test if CMD.exe is working correctly by running basic commands like "dir" or "ping." If CMD works fine in the new user account, it indicates that there might be an issue with your original user profile. You can then consider repairing or restoring the corrupted profile, or continue using the new account.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog > Type: control userpasswords2 and click OK; 2. In the User Accounts window, under the 'Users' tab, click 'Add'; 3. In the 'How will this person sign in?' window, click 'Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended)'; 4. On the next window, select 'Local Account' > Choose a username > "Next" > "Finish"; 5. Back on the previous User Account window, select the newly created user > click 'Properties'; 6. Click 'Group Membership' > select 'Administrator' > 'Other' > 'Administrator'; 7. Click 'Apply' > then click 'OK'.

After that, check if the Command Prompt still keeps popping up. If it does, restart your PC and log in with your new user account, and everything should work correctly.