FOR - Looping commands - Windows CMD — by SS64.com

beginnerpageLink only (©)

Reference for the FOR loop in CMD batch files, which repeats a command for each item in a list, file, folder set, number range or command output. It notes loop variables need a single letter, that variables only expand at loop start unless delayed expansion is used, and gives a short example creating 26 folders.

Quick steps

  1. Example: FOR %%G IN (a,b,c) DO (md C:\demo\%%G)

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full article on ss64.com

Source: FOR - Looping commands - Windows CMD by SS64.com. Licence: Link only (©).

Source reviewed
2026-11-02
Link checked
2026-11-02
Tested hands-on
Not by Oddbyte.Me

batchcmdfor loop

More in Batch & CMD

Errorlevel and exit codes - Windows CMD — by SS64.com

intermediatepage

Explains how batch files check whether a command succeeded using %ERRORLEVEL% and IF ERRORLEVEL, including the gotcha that IF ERRORLEVEL n means n or greater. It covers why %ERRORLEVEL% does not update inside bracketed blocks, differences between .BAT and .CMD, and EXIT /B for returning codes.

robocopy — by Microsoft Learn

intermediatepage

The full command reference for robocopy, with every copy, retry, logging and job option plus a table of exit codes. Useful for backup scripts: it shows /MIR, /MT, /R and /W, /LOG, and how exit code 8 and above signals a real failure while lower values only describe what was copied. /MIR and /PURGE delete destination files missing from the source, so test with /L first.