How to Send a Network Message via Command Prompt in Windows 11/10

Want to send a quick message to another computer on your home, school, or office network without opening an email app or installing extra software? You can try using Command Prompt in Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Windows includes a command-line utility called msg that can send messages to users or sessions on supported Windows systems. For example, you might want to notify a coworker that a shared printer is available or tell someone on a remote desktop session that their computer needs to restart.

However, there is one important thing to know. Sending a message to another computer isn’t always as simple as typing a command. The target computer must support the messaging method, and the required permissions and network settings must be in place.

Let’s learn in detail!

Send Network Message via Command Prompt

You can use the Windows msg command to send a text message to a user or session on a supported Windows computer. The general syntax is msg username /server:computername “Your message”.

For example, if the target computer is named OFFICE-PC and the recipient’s account is Liam, the command would look like this:

msg Liam /server:OFFICE-PC “Please check the shared printer.”

This command is not guaranteed to work on every Windows computer connected to the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. 

The msg utility is primarily designed for messaging users and sessions on supported Windows systems, and remote delivery depends on system configuration and permissions.

1: Connect Both Computers to the Same Network

Before sending a message, make sure your computer and the target computer can communicate over the network.

For a home or office setup, both computers can usually connect to the same router through Wi-Fi or Ethernet. They don’t necessarily need to use the same connection type, provided the network allows communication between them.

If one computer is connected to a guest Wi-Fi network and the other is connected to the main network, the router may prevent them from communicating.

You should also confirm that the target computer is powered on and connected to the network. If it’s asleep, disconnected, or shut down, remote communication may fail.

Keep in mind that being on the same network doesn’t automatically enable the msg command. The target Windows edition, user session, permissions, and relevant services also matter.

2: Find the Name of the Target Computer

To send a message to another computer, you’ll need to know its computer name.

On the target PC, press Windows + I to open Settings. In Windows 11, select System > About. In Windows 10, open System > About.

Look for the Device name field. For example, the computer might be named OFFICE-PC, DESKTOP-123, or RECEPTION.

Write down the name exactly as it appears. You’ll use it in the Command Prompt command later.

You can also check the computer name by opening Command Prompt on the target computer and entering:

hostname

Press Enter, and Windows will display the computer’s name.

If you’re working with several computers, make sure you identify the correct target. Sending a message to the wrong computer name may result in an error or send the message to a different intended recipient.

3: Find the Recipient’s Windows Username

The next step is to identify the Windows account or session that should receive the message.

On the target computer, open Command Prompt and enter:

whoami

Press Enter. Windows displays the current account in a format similar to OFFICE-PC\Liam.

The portion after the backslash is usually the username, which in this example is Liam.

However, the msg command targets a user or session that Windows recognizes for messaging. The account must be available in a supported session, and remote permissions must allow delivery.

If multiple people use the target computer, make sure you’re using the correct account or session name. A computer name alone doesn’t identify which user should receive the message.

4: Open Command Prompt on Your Computer

Now that you have the target computer name and recipient username, open Command Prompt on the computer you’ll use to send the message.

Click Start, type Command Prompt into the search box, and open the application.

For commands that only inspect network information, a standard Command Prompt window is generally sufficient. If your network administrator requires elevated permissions for a particular operation, follow your organization’s approved procedure.

You can check whether the msg utility is available by entering:

msg /?

Press Enter. If Windows displays the command’s usage information, the utility is available.

If Windows reports that msg isn’t recognized, your Windows installation or environment may not provide the utility through that command path. Don’t download an unknown executable to replace it.

5: Send a Message Using the MSG Command

Once you have the target computer name and recipient username, you can try the msg command.

Use the following syntax:

msg username /server:computername “Your message”

Replace username with the recipient’s Windows username and computername with the target computer’s name.

For example:

msg Liam /server:OFFICE-PC “Please call me when you’re available.”

Press Enter to run the command.

If the target environment supports remote messaging and your account has the necessary permissions, the recipient may see a message window containing your text.

You can send a different message by changing the text inside the quotation marks. Keep the quotation marks around a message that contains spaces so Windows interprets it as a single message.

If the command returns an error, don’t assume that the computer name is incorrect. Remote messaging may be unsupported or blocked by the target system’s configuration.

6: Send a Message to All Eligible Sessions on a Computer

The msg command also supports an asterisk (*) as the recipient. This targets all eligible user sessions on the specified system, rather than one named user.

For example:

msg * /server:OFFICE-PC “The meeting starts in five minutes.”

Press Enter to execute the command.

Use this option carefully, especially in a workplace or shared computing environment. The message may reach multiple users, and delivery depends on the target system’s session configuration and your permissions.

The asterisk doesn’t mean that Windows will automatically broadcast the message to every computer on your Wi-Fi network. It refers to eligible sessions on the specified server or computer.

If you need to notify several independent computers, you may need an approved administrative messaging tool or a separate command for each supported target.

7: Check Whether the Target Computer Is Reachable

If the command fails, check whether your computer can reach the target over the network.

Open Command Prompt and enter:

ping OFFICE-PC

Replace OFFICE-PC with the target computer’s actual name.

Press Enter and review the results.

If you receive replies, the computer is responding to ICMP network requests. If you see a timeout, the computer may be offline, the name may not resolve, or a firewall may be blocking ping requests.

A failed ping does not prove that the computer is unreachable. Some computers block ping requests while allowing other network traffic.

You can also check name resolution by entering:

nslookup OFFICE-PC

This may help you identify whether the computer name resolves through your network’s configured name-resolution service.

Remember that a successful ping or name lookup doesn’t guarantee that msg will work. The messaging utility has its own session, permission, and compatibility requirements.

Why NET SEND May Not Work?

You may find older tutorials that recommend the net send command for sending messages between Windows computers.

For example, older instructions may show a command such as:

net send OFFICE-PC “Hello from my computer”

This method belongs to older Windows networking environments. The Messenger service it depended on was discontinued in modern Windows versions, so net send isn’t a reliable method for sending network messages in Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Use msg only when the target system supports the required messaging functionality. If you need straightforward computer-to-computer notifications on a modern network, consider an approved messaging application, Microsoft Teams, or another communication tool available to both users.

Choose a method that fits your environment rather than trying to enable an obsolete service.

FAQs

1. Can I send a message to another computer using Command Prompt?

Yes, under supported conditions. The msg command can send text to users or sessions on compatible Windows systems, provided the necessary permissions and configuration are in place.

2. Does the MSG command work on every Windows 10 and Windows 11 computer?

No. The command’s availability and ability to deliver remote messages depend on the Windows environment, target sessions, permissions, and configuration. Being connected to the same network isn’t enough by itself.

3. Why does the MSG command show Access Denied?

This usually indicates that your account doesn’t have the required permission to send a message to the specified user or session. On a managed network, an administrator may need to review the configuration.

4. Can I send a message to every computer on my network?

The msg * syntax targets eligible sessions on the specified computer or server. It does not broadcast a message to every device connected to your router.

5. Is NET SEND supported in Windows 11?

No. The old Messenger service used by net send was discontinued in modern Windows versions. For supported Windows environments, check whether msg is available or use a modern communication tool.