How to Use the Net Send command

Net Send is a command line tool on Windows XP used to send messages to other users and computers on the local network. On Windows Vista, Net Send is replaced by a command line tool with similar syntax and features, msg.exe. Net Send cannot send messages from a Windows XP computer to a computer using a later version of Windows.

Table of Contents

On Windows XP

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Open Command Prompt. You can use the net send command to send messages to other computers on the network. This command is entered through Command Prompt. You can open Command Prompt from the Start menu or press ⊞ Win + R and then type “cmd”.

If you are using Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10, see the next section. The net send command has been deprecated since Windows Vista and later and has been replaced by the msg command with similar functionality.

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Start command. Type net send then press space . Information will be added to the end of the command to specify the content and destination of the message.

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Define the audience to which you will send the message. There are a few different ways you can send messages to specific users or entire groups: ^{[1] X Research Source}

net send name – You can enter the name of a user or computer on the network to send a message to a specific audience. If the username has spaces, enclose it in quotes (for example, net send "Le Thao" ).
net send * – This command will send the message to all users on the current domain or workgroup.
net send /domain: name – This command will send messages to people in a specific workgroup or domain.
net send /users – This command will send a message to all users currently connected to the server.

On Windows Vista and later

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Check if your version of Windows supports the msg command. After discontinuing the net send command, Windows replaced it with the msg command with a lot of the same functionality. Unfortunately, the msg command is only available on Professional and Enterprise editions of Windows. If you are using the Home edition, you will need to upgrade to Professional or Enterprise to use the msg command. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can see the version of Windows you’re using by pressing ⊞ Win + Pause or right-clicking “Computer” and selecting “Properties”. Your version of Windows should show up under the “Windows edition” section.

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Open Command Prompt. Similar to net send , the msg command is also executed from the Command Prompt. You can press the ⊞ Win key and type “cmd” to open the program, or use other methods depending on the current version of Windows.

On Windows 7 and Vista – You open Command Prompt from within the Start menu.
On Windows 8.1 and 10 – Right-click the Start button and select “Command Prompt”.
On Windows 8 – Press ⊞ Win + X then select “Command Prompt”.

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Start command. Type msg then press Space . Then add the destination information as well as the message body at the end of the command.

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Defines who will receive the message. The msg command has several different route options than the previous net send command: ^{[3] X Research Source}

msg username – Enter a username in the network to send a message to that user.
msg session – Enter the name of the specific session you want to send the message to.
msg sessionID – Enter the number of the specific session you want to send the message to.
msg @ filename – Enter the name of the file containing the list of usernames, sessions, and/or session numbers you want to send the message to. This is suitable for lists of departments.
msg * – This command will send messages to people who are on the server.

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Specify the recipient’s server to which you want to send the message (optional). If you want to send a message to someone on another server, enter the server information after the recipient information. If you do not specify a server, the message will be sent on the current server.

msgid * /server: servername

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Set time limit (optional). You can add the number of seconds visible for time-restricted information. The time setting is added after the server information (if applicable).

msg * /time: seconds (e.g. a time limit of 5 minutes would be 300 seconds)

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Add message. After setting all the options, you can add the message text at the end of the command. You can also press ↵ Enter without entering the message, then the system will prompt you to enter the message content on its own line.

For example: msg @salesteam /server:EASTBRANCH /time:600 Hope everyone enjoys the details!

Steps

On Windows XP

On Windows Vista and later

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