How-To

How to Launch Chrome from the Command Line

By Brian Burgess

Published December 4, 2023

Chrome is the most popular browser and if you prefer to do computing from the command line you can launch Chrome from the command line.

Most computer owners use Google Chrome as it’s the most popular desktop web browser. And if you do a lot of computing from the command line, you might want to know how to launch Chrome from the command line.

The Command Prompt, Run dialog, and PowerShell are powerful tools that allow you to make several system changes and launch apps. That includes launching Chrome, which is a straightforward process.

You can launch Chrome directly, open it in Incognito mode, or open it to a specific webpage. So, in this guide, we’ll show you how easy it is to launch Google Chrome using commands in the built-in Windows utilities.

There are different scenarios when launching Chrome from the command line can be helpful. For example, you may have too many open Windows that you don’t want to minimize to find the desktop shortcut or use the Start menu. Whatever the reason, we’ll show you how to launch Chrome from the command line on Windows.

Launch Chrome from the Command Prompt or PowerShell

Launching Chrome from Command Prompt or PowerShell is easy to do, and most of the commands work in either utility.

To launch Chrome from the Command Prompt

1. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell or cmd, and open the utility (with or without elevated privileges) — in this example, we’re using PowerShell.
2. Type in the following command and press Enter:

   start chrome

   

3. Once you run the command, Chrome opens as if you launched it from the Start menu or double-clicked the desktop icon.

Launch Chrome in Incognito Mode

1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Type in the following command and press Enter:

   start chrome /incognito

   

3. Chrome will launch on your desktop in Incognito mode for a more private browsing experience.

Open Chrome to a Specific Site

You can use the following steps to launch Chrome from Command Prompt or PowerShell to a specific site.

1. Open PowerShell or the Command Prompt with or without elevated privileges.
2. Type the following at the prompt and press Enter. For example, we’re opening groovyPost from PowerShell, but you can replace the URL with any page.

   start chrome www.groovypost.com

   

3. Google Chrome will launch on your desktop to the webpage specified in the command.

Open Chrome to a Specific Page in Incognito Mode

You can also open Chrome to a specific page from the Command Prompt in Incognito mode.

1. Launch the Command Prompt with or without elevated privileges.
2. Type the following command, replacing the URL with any page:

   start chrome /incognito www.groovypost.com

   

3. Chrome will open on your desktop to the site you specified in the URL of the command in Incognito mode.

Launch Chrome from Run Dialog

You can also launch Chrome from the Run dialog if you prefer not to use Command Prompt or PowerShell.

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type the following command and press Enter or click OK:

   chrome

   

3. Chrome will launch on your desktop as usual.

Open Chrome in Incognito Mode from Run Dialog

1. Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box.
2. Type the following command and press Enter or click OK:

   chrome /incognito

   

3. Chrome will launch on your desktop in Incognito mode like the Command Prompt or PowerShell utilities.

Launch Chrome to a Specific Site from Run

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type the following and press Enter or click OK:
   

   chrome www.groovypost.com

   

3. Chrome will launch on the desktop to the site you specified.

Open Chrome to a Specific Site in an Incognito Tab

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type the following command and press Enter or click OK (you can change the URL to any page):

   chrome /incognito www.groovypost.com

   

3. Chrome will open on your desktop to the specified page in Incognito mode.

Opening Chrome from the Command Line

Whether you prefer to use PowerShell, the Command Prompt, or the Run dialog, launching Chrome in different modes and to specific pages is straightforward using the above commands.

Of course, you can manage other apps and settings from the command line. But since Chrome is the number one browser and the commands are quick and easy, you’ll get it running by running basic commands.