Where is Developer Command Prompt for VS2013?

For some reason, it doesn't properly add an icon when running Windows 8+. Here's how I solved it:

Using Windows Explorer, navigate to:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Visual Studio 2013

In that folder, you'll see a shortcut named Visual Studio Tools that maps to (assuming default installation):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\Tools\Shortcuts

Double-click the shortcut (or go to the folder above).

From that folder, copy the shortcut named Developer Command Prompt for VS2013 (and any others you find useful) to the first directory (for the Start Menu). You'll likely be prompted for administrative access (do so).

Once you've done that, you'll now have an icon available for the 2013 command prompt.


From VS2013 Menu Select "Tools", then Select "External Tools". Enter as below:

  • Title: "VS2013 Native Tools-Command Prompt" would be good
  • Command: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
  • Arguments: /k "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\Tools\VsDevCmd.bat"
  • Initial Directory: Select as suits your needs.

Click OK. Now you have command prompt access under the Tools Menu.


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You can simply go to Menu > All Programs > Visual Studio 2013. Select the folder link "Visual Studio Tools". This will open the folder. There is bunch of shortcuts for command prompt which you can use. They worked perfectly for me.

I think the trick here might be there are different versions for different processors, hence they put them all together.


I used a modified version of this answer - based on my experiences adding it to VS 2010:

  1. Select Tools >> External Tools in Visual Studio
  2. Click Add
  3. Title: I use Visual Studio Command &Prompt
    • &P Makes P a alt-shortcut key (when menu active)
    • I originally used C, but that conflicts with the existing shortcut for Customize
  4. Command: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
  5. Arguments: \k "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\Tools\vsvars32.bat
    • /k keeps a secondary session active so the window doesn’t close on the .bat file
  6. Initial Directory: I use $(ProjectDir) (from the dropdown)
  7. Click OK.

Now you have command prompt access under the Tools Menu.

See also: Add command prompt to Visual C# Express 2010