Desktop App
Command-Line Interface (CLI) Reference Use Kudu from the terminal for automation and scripting. Run scans, cleaning, and maintenance tasks headlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Kudu includes a full command-line interface for running operations without the graphical UI. This is useful for automation, scripting, and managing headless servers.
Command Description scanRun a scan — specify system, browser, app, gaming, or all cleanScan and clean in one step
Command Description registry scanScan the registry for issues registry fixFix all detected registry issues
Command Description startup listList all startup items startup disable <name>Disable a startup item startup enable <name>Enable a startup item startup boot-traceAnalyze boot time impact of startup items
Command Description malware scanRun malware detection privacy scanCheck current privacy settings privacy applyApply privacy-friendly settings
Command Description services scanList services with safety classification services optimizeDisable all services marked as safe
Command Description updates checkCheck for available software updates updates runInstall available updates drivers scanCheck for stale drivers drivers updateInstall driver updates
Command Description repair scanRun SFC, DISM, and CHKDSK checks in sequence (read-only) repair fixRepair detected issues (requires admin, may need reboot for CHKDSK)
Command Description network cleanClean network caches (DNS, ARP, Wi-Fi, history) debloat scanScan for bloatware debloat removeRemove detected bloatware perf infoShow system information historyView scan history helpShow help for all commands
By default, Kudu prints human-readable text output. Add the --json flag to any command to get structured JSON output, which is useful for scripting and piping into other tools.
Code Meaning 0 Success 1 Error occurred
Kudu's CLI integrates well with system schedulers:
Windows Task Scheduler — Create a task that runs kudu clean on a schedulecron (macOS/Linux) — Add a cron job for automated maintenanceCI/CD pipelines — Include system checks in your build or deployment workflowsCustom scripts — Chain Kudu commands with other tools using --json output