Create a Batch Script in Windows

What a batch script is

A batch script is a plain text file with commands for the Windows Command Prompt. When you run it, Windows executes the commands one by one. Use it to automate boring jobs such as renaming files or cleaning folders.

Your first script

1. Open Notepad from the Start menu.

   

2. Type these lines:

@echo off
echo Hello, World!
pause

• @echo off hides the commands while the script runs.
• echo Hello, World! prints a message.
• pause waits for a key press, so the window does not close at once.
• Click File, then Save As. Set Save as type to All Files and name the file my_first_script.bat.

  

Run the script

Double-click the file. A window opens and shows the message.

Or use the Command Prompt:

1. Search for cmd in the Start menu and open it.

   

2. Go to the folder of the script with cd, then type its name:

cd C:\Users\YourName\Desktop
my_first_script.bat

Basic commands

A script can read arguments. Inside it, %1 is the first argument and %2 is the second.

Examples

Rename all .txt files in a folder

@echo off
for %%a in (*.txt) do ren "%%a" "renamed_%%a"
echo File renaming complete!
pause

Ask before deleting .bat files

@echo off
echo Are you sure you want to delete all .bat files? (Y/N)
set /p confirm=
if /i "%confirm%"=="Y" (
  del *.bat
  echo Batch files deleted!
) else (
  echo Deletion cancelled.
)
pause

Download a file with curl

@echo off
echo Enter the URL of the file to download:
set /p url=
curl -O %url%
echo Download complete!
pause

Quick recap

• A batch file is a text file that ends in .bat.
• Start with @echo off and end with pause while you test.
• Run it with a double-click or from cmd.