Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsUse this Linux commands cheat sheet to choose a command by what you need to do: navigate, inspect files, manage data, search text, check system state, or connect to another machine. Examples use ordinary shell syntax and common Linux utilities; availability and options vary by installation. Run man command or, for many GNU utilities, command --help to check your local version.
Navigate and identify your location
pwd— print the current working directory.ls— list directory entries. Usels -lato include hidden entries and show additional metadata.cd— change the working directory of the current shell. In Bash,cdis a shell built-in, not a separate program.
Inspect files
cat file— write a file’s contents to standard output; most useful for short files.less file— page through longer text.lessmay need to be installed on a minimal system.head fileandtail file— inspect the beginning or end of a file.tail -f filefollows appended output on implementations that support it.file path— identify a file type when the utility is installed.stat path— inspect file metadata.
Create, copy, move, and remove files
mkdir directory— create a directory.touch file— create an empty file if it does not exist, or update its timestamps; permissions can prevent either operation.cp source destination— copy a file. Copying directories requires an appropriate recursive option; confirm its exact form in the local manual.mv source destination— move or rename a path.rm file— remove a directory entry. This can be difficult or impossible to undo. Check the path carefully, especially before using recursive or elevated-privilege options.
Search and transform text
grep pattern file— print lines matching a pattern.find directory— locate directory entries; consultman findfor the available tests and actions.sort file— sort lines.uniq— report or filter adjacent repeated lines; usesort file | uniqwhen duplicates may not be next to each other in the original input.cut— select fields or character positions from lines. Check the local manual for delimiter and selection syntax.wc file— count lines, words, or bytes.sedandawk— separate text-processing utilities for editing or processing input. Their supported features can vary by implementation, so check local documentation before relying on less-common syntax.
Change permissions and ownership
chmod— change a file’s mode bits, which control access. A mistaken change can block access or expose data; check the path and intended permissions first.chown— change a file’s owner;chgrp— change its group. These changes are subject to permissions and system policy, and often require elevated privileges.umask— view or set the shell’s file-creation permission mask, which affects permissions on newly created files and directories.
Check processes and system state
ps— report process status.top— display ongoing process activity when installed.kill— send a signal to a process. Sending a signal does not necessarily terminate it immediately.uname— report system information, such as the kernel name or machine architecture.df— report filesystem space.du— estimate space used by files and directories.free— report memory information where installed.
These are common Linux administration commands, not a guarantee that every minimal installation includes every utility. Use the local manual to check availability and options.
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Check networks and connect to other systems
ip— inspect or configure network interfaces and routes on systems using iproute2.ping— test reachability using ICMP when permitted.ss— inspect sockets on systems with iproute2.curlorwget— transfer data from URLs when installed.ssh— connect to a remote system when the client is installed and access is configured.
A command’s availability does not guarantee a successful connection: permissions, firewall rules, network policy, and remote configuration can affect the result. Use man command or the installed tool’s help for its supported syntax.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Create archives and compress data
tar— create or extract archives. Compression may be handled by an option or an external compressor, depending on the command and build.gzipandxz— compress or decompress data in their supported formats.zipandunzip— create or extract ZIP archives where installed.
An archive groups files; compression reduces data size. The two operations are related but distinct. Check the installed manual for implementation-specific options.
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Get help and identify a command
man command— open the local manual page for a command.man -k term— search manual-page descriptions for a term.command --help— a common help pattern for GNU utilities, but not universal.type nameorcommand -v name— check how the current shell resolves a command. Results can distinguish a shell built-in from another command.
Local manuals are the practical reference for the utility actually installed on your system. A command name does not guarantee identical behavior or availability everywhere: Bash features differ from standalone utilities, POSIX shell syntax is preferable when portability matters, and package-management or service-management commands depend on the distribution or service manager. Confirm version-sensitive flags locally before using them.
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