The command prompt in Windows 10 finally has CTRL+C and CTRL+V functionality yet, by default, the much-touted upgrade isn’t on. Let’s fix that oversight right now.

One of the things in the Windows 10 announcement press conference that made geeks throw their hands up in the air and say “it’s about time!” (myself included) was the announcement that the Windows 10 command prompt would finally include simple keyboard shortcut cut and paste functionality via the traditional CTRL+C and CTRL+V routes.

You’d think with how long we’ve all been waiting for this the feature would be enabled by default. Alas, you’ll need to perform a little tweak first to get the keyboard shortcuts you crave.

To activate the shortcuts open a command prompt (by running cmd.exe from the Windows Start Menu, for example) and then right-click on the title bar of the command prompt window as seen below.

Click the “Options” tab and enable “Use Ctrl+Shift+C/V as Copy/Paste.” Click “OK” to save your changes.

After decades of waiting and around 20 seconds in the properties menu, you now have native cut and paste shortcuts in the Windows command prompt.

On older versions of Windows 10, the interface is a bit different. Inside the “Command Prompt” Properties box, select the “Experimental” tab. There you’ll find the shortcut key option among other experimental console features.

Check “Enabled experimental console features (applies globally)” and then ensure “Enable new Ctrl key shortcuts” is checked. With these two items checked (as well as any other experimental options you wish to play around with), click “OK.”