# Use the Command Line on Windows

The compiler provides a shortcut to access the command line with the appropriate environment variables already set.

To invoke the compiler from the command line:

1. Open the Windows Start menu.
2. Scroll down the list of apps (programs) in the Start menu and find the Intel oneAPI 2021 folder.
3. Left click on the folder name and select your component. The command prompts shown are dependent on the versions of Microsoft Visual Studio you have installed on your machine.
4. Right click on the command prompt icon to pin it to your taskbar. This step is optional.
5. The command line opens.

You can use any command recognized by the Windows command prompt, plus some additional commands.

Because the command line runs within the context of Windows, you can easily switch between the command line and other applications for Windows or have multiple instances of the command line open simultaneously.

When you are finished working in a command line, use the exit command to close and end the session.

Parent topic: Use the Command Line