Skip to content

Windows EXIT command

The Windows exit command is used to close the Command Prompt window or terminate a batch file. It allows users to exit the current Command Prompt session or terminate a batch file processing. By using the exit command, users can effectively close Command Prompt windows or end batch processes without any hassle. This command is a simple yet essential function for managing Command Prompt sessions and batch file operations in Windows operating systems.

EXIT Syntax:

Terminal window
exit

Options:

OptionDescription
/?Displays help for the exit command

Parameters:

ParameterDescription
noneExiting the Command Prompt or script

EXIT Usage:

Terminate the Command Prompt

Terminal window
exit

This command terminates the Command Prompt window.

Close Command Prompt after Running a Script

Terminal window
echo "Hello, World!" & exit

This command prints “Hello, World!” in the Command Prompt window and then exits the window.

Forcefully Close a Program

Terminal window
taskkill /im notepad.exe & exit

This command forcefully closes the Notepad program and then exits the Command Prompt window.

Prevent Execution of Following Commands with Fail-safe Exit

Terminal window
echo "This is a fail-safe exit command" & if errorlevel 1 exit

This command prints a message and uses a fail-safe exit in case of an error condition. The Command Prompt window exits if an error occurs.

How do I use exit in Windows?

To use the exit command in Windows, execute the following command:

Terminal window
exit

How can I force close Command Prompt using exit?

To force close Command Prompt using the exit command, run:

Terminal window
exit /b

How do I exit a batch file in Windows?

Exiting a batch file in Windows can be done by using the exit command. Here’s an example:

Terminal window
exit

How to exit a loop using the exit command in Windows Command Prompt?

To exit a loop using the exit command in Windows Command Prompt, you can use it with a conditional statement. For example:

Terminal window
IF %condition% == true exit

Can I close Command Prompt without confirmation using exit?

Yes, you can close Command Prompt without confirmation using the /q (quiet) option with the exit command. Here’s how:

Terminal window
exit /q

How do I use the exit command to return a specific ERRORLEVEL in Windows?

You can use the exit command to return a specific ERRORLEVEL by providing the desired number after the /b option. For instance:

Terminal window
exit /b 5

Applications of the EXIT Command

  • Exiting the Command Prompt
  • Closing a script or batch file
  • Terminating a loop or program execution