batch download free programs How to create and run batch file on . On Windows 10, a batch file typically has a ".bat" extension, and it is a special text file that includes one or multiple commands that run in sequence to perform various actions with Command Prompt. Although you can type commands manually to execute a particular task or change system on Windows 10, a batch file simplifies the work of having to re-type the commands, saving you time and avoiding mistakes. You can also use other tools like PowerShell to write even more advanced scripts. However, running batch files in Command Prompt is still relevant to execute commands to change settings, automate routines, and start apps or launch websites on your device. In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the steps to create and run a batch file. Also, we will outline the steps to create advanced scripts and rum them automatically on schedule using the Task Scheduler. How to create a batch file on Windows 10. It is a simple process to create a batch file. You need only a text editor and some basic knowledge crafting commands with Command Prompt. The instructions below outline the steps to create a basic and advanced batch file and write a script to change system settings. Create basic Windows 10 batch file. To create a basic batch file on Windows 10, use these steps: Open Start . Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the text editor. Type the following lines in the text file to create a batch file: Source: Windows Central. The above script outputs the phrase, "Congratulations! Your first batch file was executed successfully," on the terminal screen. Source: Windows Central. @ECHO OFF — Shows the message on a clean line disabling the display prompt. Typically, this line goes at the beginning of the file. (You can use the command without the "@" symbol, but using it hides the executing command to create a cleaner return.) ECHO — The command prints the text after the space on the screen. PAUSE — Allows the window to stay open after running the command. If you do not use this option, the window will close automatically as soon as the script finishes executing. You can use this command at the end of the script or after a specific command when running multiple tasks and want to pause between each task. Confirm a name for the script — for example, first_basic_batch.bat . Quick note: While batch files typically use the .bat file extensions, you can also find them using the .cmd or .btm file extensions. Once you complete the steps, you can double-click the file to run it. Alternatively, you can use the steps below to learn the different ways you can run a batch file on Windows 10 using Command Prompt, File Explorer, or Task Scheduler. Create advanced Windows 10 batch file. To create an advanced batch file with multiple commands, use these steps: Open Start . Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the text editor. Type the following lines in the text file to create a more advanced Windows 10 batch file: Source: Windows Central. The above script executes each line to query a series of system information, and the result will be divided into three categories, including "WINDOWS INFO," "HARDWARE INFO," and "NETWORK INFO." Also, the "START" command will open the web browser in the official support page outlining the Windows 10 system requirements, which you can check against your information. Source: Windows Central. @ECHO OFF — Shows the message on a clean line disabling the display prompt. Typically, this line goes at the beginning of the file. TITLE — Specifies a custom name in the title bar of the window. :: — Allows writing comments and documentation information. These details are ignored when the system runs the batch file. ECHO — The command prints the text after the space on the screen. START — Launches an app or website with the default web browser. PAUSE — Allows the window to stay open after running the command. If you do not use this option, the window will close automatically as soon as the script finishes executing. After you complete the steps, double-click the .bat file to run it or use the steps below to execute the script with Command Prompt, File Explorer, or Task Scheduler. Create actionable Windows 10 batch file. You can also write batch scripts for virtually any task that does not require user interaction. For example, to map a network drive, install an application, change system settings, and more. To create a non-interactive batch file, use these steps: Open Start . Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the text editor. Type the following command to map a network drive in the text file: Source: Windows Central. In the command, replace the \-NETWORK-SHARE\FOLDER-NAME for the network path for the folder you want to mount on the computer, and YOUR-USERNAME YOUR-PASSWORD with the username and password that grants access to the network files. This example maps a network folder as a drive inside File Explorer using the "Z" drive letter: net use z: \\10.1.4.118\shareone. Source: Windows Central. Quick note: The screenshot includes the "pause" command, but this is not required. It was added in this example to take a screenshot of the terminal. If you are accessing the files from another computer that uses a specific username and password, do not forget to use the /user: option with the correct credentials. Once you complete the steps, the batch file will map the network folder without opening a Command Prompt window. We only demonstrate a script with a single command, but you can include as many as you like, as long as you write them one per line. How to run a batch file on Windows 10. On Windows 10, there are at least three different ways to write batch files. You can run them on-demand using Command Prompt or File Explorer. You can configure the script to run it on schedule using the Task Scheduler console. Or you can save the batch files in the "Startup" folder, allowing Windows 10 to run them as soon as you sign into the account. Run batch file on-demand. If you want to run a script on-demand, you have two choices, including File Explorer or Command Prompt. Command Prompt. To run a script file with Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps. Open Start . Search for Command Prompt , right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option. Type the following command to run a batch file and press Enter : In the command, make sure to specify the path and name of the script. This example runs the batch file located in the "scripts" folder inside the "Downloads" folder: Source: Windows Central. After you complete the steps, the console will return the results, and the window won't close even if the script does not include the "PAUSE" command since you are invoking the script from within a console window that you opened manually. File Explorer. To run a batch file with the Windows 10 File Explorer application, use these steps: Open File Explorer . Open the folder containing the batch file. Double-click the script file to run it. (Optional) If a command requires administrator privileges, you will need to run the script as an admin by right-clicking the file and selecting the Run as administrator option. Source: Windows Central. Once you complete the steps, the script will run each command in sequence displaying the results in the console window. Run batch files on startup. Windows 10 also includes a known as "Startup" that the system checks every time it starts to run applications, shortcuts, and scripts automatically without the need for extra configuration. To run a script on startup, use these steps: Open File Explorer . Open to the folder containing the batch file. Right-click the batch file and select the Copy option. Use the + R keyboard to open the Run command. Type the following command: Source: Windows Central. Click the Paste option from the "Home" tab in the Startup folder. (Or click the Paste shortcut button to create a shortcut to the batch file.) Source: Copy and Paste Batch File startup folder. After you complete the steps, every time you sign into Windows 10, the batch file will execute automatically. Run batch file on schedule. To use the Task Scheduler to run the batch file automatically on a schedule, use these steps: Open Start . Search for Task Scheduler and click the top result to open the app. Right-click the "Task Scheduler Library" branch and select the New Folder option. Confirm a name for the folder — for example, MyScripts . Quick note: It is not a requirement to create a folder, but it's recommended to separate the system and your personal tasks. Select the Create Basic Task option. Source: Windows Central. In the "Name" field, confirm a name for the task — for example, SystemInfoBatch . Source: Windows Central. Select the Monthly option. Source: Windows Central. Quick note: On Windows 10, the Task Scheduler allows you to choose from different triggers, including a specific date, during startup, or when a user logs in to the device. In this example, we will select the option to run a task every month, but you may need to configure additional parameters depending on your situation. Use the "Monthly" drop-down menu to pick the months of the year to run the task. Source: Windows Central. Use the "Days" or "On" drop-down menu to confirm the days to run the task. Source: Windows Central. Select the Start a program option to run the batch file. Source: Windows Central. Select the batch file you want to execute. Source: Windows Central. Once you complete the steps, the task will save and run the script on your specified schedule. The above instructions are meant to schedule only a basic task. If you want to create a more customizable task with the Task Scheduler, use these steps. We're focusing this guide on Windows 10, but batch files have been around for a long time, which means that you can refer to these steps if you are still on an older version, including .1 or . More Windows 10 resources. For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: I'm excited about , and no one can convince me I shouldn't be. Our news writer is more excited about Windows 11 than any piece of tech in years, and he's not going to let anyone say he shouldn't be hyped. Minecraft Earth has officially closed its doors down for good. Right on schedule, Mojang Studios has offered one last farewell as Minecraft Earth closes down for good. The game will no longer be available or be functional. Grounded's Shroom and Doom Update is now available to everyone. The Shroom and Doom Update is one of the biggest releases yet for Grounded's early access, and it's now available to everyone. Highlights of the update include all-new building pieces and crafting recipes, the ability to tame pets, the terrifying Broodmother boss, Achievements, and more. These are the best PC sticks when you're on the move. Instant computer — just add a screen. That’s the general idea behind the ultra-portable PC, but it can be hard to know which one you want. Relax, we have you covered! Batch It. This automated image processing application offers something that many in the same category don't: it supports command line and scheduled batch image processes. You can resize images without losing detail or quality, optimize the quality of the JPEG images, convert images to progressive JPEG format and you can even use it in conjunction with a script from a Web . This image processor is quick and silent. It even lets you compress images for later use. You can run this software without human intervention. The Pro version of Batch It also provides individual correction of the image, creating image galleries and directory files. BatchDownload. It will help you instantly download images and view the galleries you build, but the feature that gives the free BatchDownload its name didn't work. BatchDownload can be accessed through your Tools menu or by a right-click of your mouse. Right-clicking gives you three options: Batch Download, Batch Download All Images, and Build Gallery. When we clicked on an individual image, a window popped up on our screen displaying the source URL for the image. You can save the image to a destination of your choice. We opted to download the image to our desktop and it worked in an instant. Then, we tried the Batch Download All Images option. First, we received a cryptic error message. When we tried it again, only one of the images from the page downloaded. On a better note, we found the Build Gallery option great for viewing images and their source pages back-to-back. BatchDownload includes a users manual, but we found that it doesn't offer much help. Novice users might need a little extra time to play around with the program. While we suspect that most users will want the batch download capabilities promised by the freeware, users who don't mind picking them one by one will like the gallery abilities BatchDownload offers. ImBatch. ImBatch is a batch image processing tool which can handle virtually an unlimited number of photos. The program has several settings, but is most useful at changing the size or changing between various supported image formats. This program is easy to operating and quickly transforms a photo (or photos) between around 30 different image formats. It also allows you to modify the image size either proportionally or manually. Tasks are easily created and processing the files in a batch mode, one after the other, is as easy as a following a couple of steps. Just-Install: batch install programs on Windows. Just-Install is a command line driven program for Windows that enables you to batch install a selection of programs on the it is run on. The Windows operating system does not ship with a package installer itself, but there are several third party tools such as Ninite or Chocolatey that you can run to install multiple programs in one operation. The main appeal of these programs is convenience as you may install a number of programs in one go instead of installing them separately. Many package installers for Windows add features such as silent installations to the process to make things more comfortable. One of the downsides is that the list of supported programs is usually limited. Just-Install. Just-Install supports roughly 120 different programs at the time of writing. You may install one, some or even all of them from the command line, or, batch files if you want. The first thing you need to do is load the program on the local system. Tap on the Windows-key, type cmd.exe, hold down Shift and Ctrl, and hit the Enter-key. This opens an elevated command prompt. Run the command msiexec.exe /i http://go.just-install.it. Doing so installs the program on the local system. The command tells Windows to install the program that is downloaded from the supplied URL. You may then run the program with parameters to install software on the Windows device. Installing Software in bulk. Below is a list of commands the software supports: just-install update : updates the Registry with the latest information about each supported program. just-install list : this lists all available packages on the command line in alphabetical order. just-install software1 software2 software3 : downloads and installs the specified packages on the system. Several parameters are supported, of which -d tells the program to only download but not install the selected applications, and -a to enforce the installation for a specific architecture if supported (e.g. -a x86 to install the 32-bit version of a program if available). Supported Programs. The 120 packages that Just-Install supports include popular programs such as Firefox, Chrome, CCleaner, VLC or 7-Zip. You also find several development related programs supported including Autohotkey, Python 2.7 and 3, Ruby or VisualStudio Express. The full list of supported programs is available on the developer homepage, or when you run the list command. While the selection covers a lot of ground, it is somewhat limited. It supports Gimp but not Paint.net, 7-Zip but not Bandizip, Firefox and Chrome but not Opera or Vivaldi, or VLC but not SMPlayer. Whether that is an issue or not depends on the programs you install on devices you manage or run. Some users will probably find 90% or even more of the programs they work with supported by just-install, while the value may drop to 20% or even less for others. Chocolatey, another batch installer for Windows, supports more than 4000 packages at the time of writing for instance and is as easy to use. Removing installed programs. All programs are installed, and as such listed by Windows when you open the list of installed programs (or apps). This includes the Just-install application which you may remove from the system there as well. Closing Words. Just-Install is a batch installer for Windows that supports 120 popular programs right now. It is relatively easy to use, and mostly useful when it comes to installing software after starting Windows for the first time on a new device or after installation.