How to create ls in windows command prompt?

Question

I want to use ls in windows command prompt and make it run the dir command.

How can I do that?

Solution 1

You could:

• create a batch file called ls.bat and have it contain the dir command only
• add the directory where the ls.bat file exists to your PATH environment variable

You could then execute ls from a command prompt.

Solution 2

You can solve this question with one simple command:

echo @dir %* > %systemroot%\system32\ls.bat

Make sure you run cmd.exe as admin first if you are on vista and up

Solution 3

Its an old question but for the record:

http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/coreutils.htm

Gives you ls and a whole lot more!

Solution 4

Easiest way I have found is:

1. Install Git for Windows
2. Add the bin directory of Git to your Path variable. Mine was located in C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin.
3. Start a command prompt and enjoy ls in all its glory.

Solution 5

I have a solution but it's dirty:

Create a file named ls.bat containing only "dir".

Put it in C:\windows\system32 (or any directory in PATH env var).

That (should) works!

Edit: Something more consistent: https://superuser.com/questions/49170/create-an-alias-in-windows-xp

View more solutions

Comments

[aF.]

+1, I forgot to say that was windows xp but that is good for windows vista/7 :)

[Pete Kirkham]

+1 ls * and dir * don't do the same thing, so aliasing dir is a bit pants.

[MrHappyAsthma]

I wish I could rate this more than once. Worked marvelously.

[David 天宇 Wong]

why not put the ls.bat in system32 folder so you don't have to add the PATH

[hmjd]

@David天宇Wong, it is very possible that the user may not have write access to that folder.

[nicorellius]

does this still work if you use it with args: ls dir ? I think you would need to modify the ls.bat to handle args... or you could try aliases: superuser.com/questions/49170/create-an-alias-in-windows-xp

[ajon]

This is better because you can still use the dir options.

[alexvetter]

I recommend echo dir %1 /B > %systemroot%\system32\ll.bat for a simple list because I use ll more often than ls.

[demented hedgehog]

This is the best answer. Ignore the voting and do this.

[mrcrowl]

I like: @echo off\ndir /w %1% to get closer to ls format

[Aitor]

work like a charm.. no more unrecognized command on windows! thank you!!

[Adaline Simonian]

I'd recommend using dir %* instead to allow for any number of command line arguments to be passed to dir through ls.bat. Otherwise, using dir %1, at most you can only use one argument when using the ls script.

[Captain Man]

@Vartan it's a shame that your comment is the first below the "show more" threshold. Hopefully @secghost will see this and modify their answer someday. I'd like to add that doing @dir %* will also remove the extra line so it is even more identical to dir

[Adaline Simonian]

@CaptainMan Oh, yeah! Totally forgot about @; nifty bit of syntax to use to avoid a mess of output. Though, it'd be so much easier if Windows was POSIX-compliant. At least we can dream.

[Christopher Schneider]

I've come back to this answer several times. Should definitely be on top.

[DragonKnight]

when i execute it it tells me access denied in windows 10. i gave write access to my user but yet didnt work. any idea?

[Pierre Poliakoff]

It works for me in Windows10 (but you have to use a command line that has administrator privilege

[david.barkhuizen]

while you're at it you may also want to add: echo cls %1 > %systemroot%\system32\clear.bat

[War Gravy]

Marry me. This was the biggest life saver ever.

[phil]

Great suggestion that gives access to full functionality of ls and all it's optional arguments. Just a slight update, I have installed the latest version of git for windows and the ls.exe can now be found in C:\Program Files\Git\ usr \bin

[user2925656]

best solution ever for linux user on windows, npm install cash-global -g . Would be great to add ls -l as ll (LL) also.

[jackD]

Its a saviour mate

[MadBoomy]

excellent answer, it shouldn't be possible to comment on this ;-)

[Christopher Schneider]

A binary is unnecessary. Just use a symlink or bat file.

[Johan]

Yes, or just start bash.exe in git folder (instead of cmd) and enjoy a ~complete shell (with ls).

[omikes]

don't forget to add C:\Program Files (x86)\GnuWin32\bin to your path

[omikes]

git bash is hideous, i like the path option

[information_interchange]

You could also install cygwin and use the ls there :>

[Danielr]

Please don't hack my facebook.

[D4ITON]

to use clear comand instead cls echo cls > %systemroot%\system32\clear.bat