The xcopy and the xcopy32 commands have the same switches. This article describes the switches that available when you run the commands outside of Windows (in MS-DOS mode), and when you run the commands from an MS-DOS window.

The following command line includes the syntax and the switches that you can use with the xcopy and the xcopy32 commands in MS-DOS mode: NOTE: The square brackets ([]) indicate optional switches. The brackets are not part of the command.

The following table describes the optional switches you can use with xcopy and xcopy32:

source	Specifies the file to copy.
destination	Specifies the location and the name of new files.
/a	Copies files with the archive attribute set. This switch does not change the attribute.
/m	Copies files with the archive attribute set, and turns off the archive attribute.
/d:date	Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
/p	Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/s	Copies folders and subfolders except empty ones.
/e	Copies any subfolder, even if it is empty.
/v	Verifies each new file.
/w	Prompts you to press a key before copying.

WARNING: Long file names are not retained in MS-DOS mode.

NOTE: In Windows Millennium Edition (Me) only, an /h switch is added to the xcopy and the xcopy32 commands. This switch copies hidden and system files in MS-DOS mode. However, the Xcopy files are not automatically included on the Windows Me boot disk.

The following command line includes the syntax and the switches for the xcopy and the xcopy32 commands when you run it from an MS-DOS window:NOTE: The square brackets ([]) indicate optional switches. The brackets are not part of the command.

The following table describes the optional switches you can use with xcopy and xcopy32 when you run the command in an MS-DOS window:

source	Specifies the file to copy.
destination	Specifies the location and the name of new files.
/a	Copies files with the archive attribute set. This switch does not change the attribute.
/m	Copies files with the archive attribute set, and turns off the archive attribute.
/d:date	Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
/p	Prompts you before each destination file is created.
/s	Copies folders and subfolders except for empty ones.
/e	Copies any subfolder, even if it is empty.
/w	Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/c	Continues copying even if errors occur.
/i	If the destination does not exist, and you are copying more than one file, this switch assumes that the destination is a folder.
/q	Does not display file names while copying.
/f	Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/l	Displays files that are going to be copied.
/h	Copies hidden and system files.
/r	Overwrites read-only files.
/t	Creates a folder structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty folders or subfolders. Use the /t with the /e switch to include empty folders and subfolders.
/u	Updates the files that already exist in that destination.
/k	Copies attributes. Typical xcopy commands reset read-only attributes.
/y	Overwrites existing files without prompting you.
/-y	Prompts you before overwriting existing files.
/n	Copies using the generated short names.