snippetbashTip

replace — Replace files. See also: `robocopy`, `move`, `del`. More information: <https://learn.microsoft.com/w

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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commandfilesclirobocopyreplaceseealso

windows

Problem

How to use the replace command: Replace files. See also: robocopy, move, del. More information: <https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/replace>.

Solution

replace — Replace files. See also: robocopy, move, del. More information: <https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/replace>.

Replace the destination file with the one from the source directory:

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}}

Add files to the destination directory instead of replacing existing files:

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /a

Interactively copy multiple files, with a prompt before replacing or adding a destination file:

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /p

Replace even read only files:

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /r

Wait for you to insert a disk before it replaces files (originally to allow inserting a floppy disk):

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /w

Replace all files in subdirectories of the destination:

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /s

Replace only files in the destination directory which are older than the files in the source directory:

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /u

Display help:

replace /?

Code Snippets

Replace the destination file with the one from the source directory

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}}

Add files to the destination directory instead of replacing existing files

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /a

Interactively copy multiple files, with a prompt before replacing or adding a destination file

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /p

Replace even read only files

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /r

Wait for you to insert a disk before it replaces files (originally to allow inserting a floppy disk)

replace {{path\to\file_or_directory}} {{path\to\destination_directory}} /w

Context

tldr-pages: windows/replace

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