Linux & Windows Command Cheat Sheet (Printable)
The commands we use every day on Debian, Ubuntu and Windows, on one page you can print or save as a PDF. Each section links to the full guide.
🖨️ Print or save as PDF Updated November 2026 · Debian 13/12, Ubuntu 24.04/26.04, Windows 10/11
Linux: updates sudo apt updateRefresh the package lists. apt list --upgradableSee which packages have updates. sudo apt upgradeInstall the updates. Automate security updates sudo apt full-upgradeAlso allow updates that add or remove packages (kernels). sudo apt autoremoveRemove packages that are no longer needed. uname -rShow the running kernel version. Update the kernel
Linux: health checks free -hMemory and swap; read the “available” column. Guide df -hFree space on every disk. Guide sudo du -sh /var/* | sort -hWhich folders use the most space. uptime · nprocLoad average, and the number of CPU cores to compare it with. Guide topLive list of the busiest processes (q to quit).
Linux: network ip aYour IP addresses. Guide ip routeYour default gateway. sudo ss -tulnpPorts that are listening, and which program owns each. Guide ping -c 4 example.comIs a host reachable? nslookup example.comCheck DNS (package bind9-dnsutils on Debian 13). Guide curl -I https://example.comCheck a website’s response and headers.
Linux: services, logs and users systemctl status nginxIs a service running? (replace nginx with any service). sudo systemctl restart nginxRestart a service. journalctl -u nginx --since "1 hour ago"Recent log lines of one service. journalctl -p err -bErrors since the last boot. sudo adduser annaCreate a user. sudo usermod -aG sudo annaGive a user sudo rights (log out and in again). Guide sudo ufw status verboseFirewall rules. Guide sudo fail2ban-client status sshdBanned IPs for SSH. Guide
Linux: files and backups ls -lahList files with sizes, owners and hidden files. sudo find / -xdev -size +500M 2>/dev/nullFind very large files. tar -czf backup.tar.gz folder/Pack a folder into one compressed file. rsync -av --dry-run src/ dest/Preview a copy; remove --dry-run to run it. Guide sudo chown anna:anna fileChange who owns a file.
Windows: repair and troubleshooting Open Terminal (Admin) from the Win+X menu for the commands marked “admin”.
sfc /scannowCheck and repair system files (admin). DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthRepair the Windows image when sfc cannot fix everything (admin). chkdsk C: /fCheck the disk for errors; runs at the next restart for C: (admin). Guide tasklistList running programs and their PIDs. taskkill /IM notepad.exe /FForce-close a frozen program. Guide winget upgrade --allUpdate installed apps from the command line. systeminfoWindows version, install date, memory and more.
Windows: network ipconfig /allIP address, gateway, DNS servers and MAC address. Guide ipconfig /flushdnsClear old DNS answers when a site will not load. ping -n 4 example.comIs a host reachable? tracert example.comWhere on the way does the connection stop? netstat -anoOpen connections and the PID that owns each.
Windows: keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + EscOpen Task Manager directly. Win + Shift + SScreenshot of part of the screen. Guide Win + VClipboard history (turn it on the first time). Win + LLock the PC. Win + XPower-user menu: Terminal (Admin), Device Manager, Disk Management.
