How To Scroll The Command Prompt Window With The Keyboard

Of course, there actually is a way to scroll the command prompt with the keyboard, but it’s really complicated and requires too many keystrokes to be useful. This is a better way.

What we’ll do to solve the problem is create an AutoHotkey script that makes it so whenever you press Shift+Page Up/Down,  or Ctrl + Up/Down, it will send a mouse wheel scroll command to the window, scrolling it up or down.

Setting Up the Scrolling Window Script

Create a new AutoHotkey script, or paste the following into your existing script:

Once you’ve done so, save the script and double-click on it to start it up—you’ll be able to scroll the command prompt window with the keyboard now. Personally I prefer using Shift+Page Up or Down to scroll, since that’s the more Linux way to do it.

+PgDn::Send {WheelDown}Return

^Up:: Send {WheelUp}Return

^Down:: Send {WheelDown} Return

#IfWinActive

If you want to add this to your startup to run every time you start your PC, open up a new Windows Explorer window and type in the following into the location bar:

Then simply put a shortcut to the AutoHotkey script into that folder.

Extra: if you like this one, make sure to read our article on how to enable Ctrl+V for pasting into the Windows command prompt.

Downloadable Scrolling Window Script

Simply download, extract, and double-click on the script file. Note: if you want to remove the tray icon from the script when it’s running, you’ll need to add the #NoTrayIcon line to the beginning of the script.

Download ScrollingCommandPrompt AutoHotkey Script