Using the Terminal, for beginners

Some fixes ask you to type a command. The Terminal (Command Prompt on Windows) is just a window where you type an instruction and press Enter. This page shows how, on every computer.

#What it is

A plain window with a blinking cursor. You type (or paste) one line, press Enter (Mac: Return), and the computer does it and prints the result. You cannot break anything by opening it, and closing the window is always safe.

#Opening it on Windows

Press Windows + RA small Run box opens at the bottom left.
Type cmd and press EnterA black Command Prompt window opens.

To paste a command: Ctrl + V, or right-click inside the window. Then press Enter.

Example: to see your Node.js version, type node -v and press Enter. It prints something like v20.19.0. If it prints not recognized, Node.js is not installed for the whole PC, which is fine: the app keeps its own copy.

#Opening it on a Mac

Press Cmd + SpaceThe Spotlight search bar opens in the middle of the screen.
Type Terminal and press ReturnA white or black Terminal window opens.

Or: Finder → Applications → Utilities → Terminal.

To paste a command: Cmd + V, then Return.

#Opening it on Linux

Press Ctrl + Alt + T, or search for Terminal in your apps. To paste: Ctrl + Shift + V, then Enter.

#Four things worth knowing

Drag a file in to type its location. Instead of typing a long folder path, drag the file from Finder or File Explorer into the Terminal window; its full path appears, ready to use.
Passwords are invisible. When it asks for your password, nothing appears as you type, not even dots. Type it anyway and press Enter.
Names with spaces need quotes. "Free GST Billing - MAC.command". Dragging the file in adds what is needed for you.
To stop a command that keeps running, press Ctrl + C.

#Example: fixing the Mac launcher

If a Mac says the launcher could not be executed because you do not have appropriate access privileges:

Open TerminalCmd + Space, type Terminal, Return.
Type the start of the commandType chmod +x and then one space. Do not press Return yet.
Drag the launcher inDrag Free GST Billing - MAC from your Free-GST-Billing folder into the Terminal window. The line now ends with its location.
Press ReturnNothing is printed: that means it worked. Close Terminal and open the launcher again (Control-click → Open).