Running a CMD or BAT in silent mode

I have proposed in StackOverflow question a way to run a batch file in the background (no DOS windows displayed)

That should answer your question.

Here it is:


From your first script, call your second script with the following line:

wscript.exe invis.vbs run.bat %*

Actually, you are calling a vbs script with:

  • the [path]\name of your script
  • all the other arguments needed by your script (%*)

Then, invis.vbs will call your script with the Windows Script Host Run() method, which takes:

  • intWindowStyle : 0 means "invisible windows"
  • bWaitOnReturn : false means your first script does not need to wait for your second script to finish

See the question for the full invis.vbs script:

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run """" & WScript.Arguments(0) & """" & sargs, 0, False
                                                         ^
                             means "invisible window" ---| 

Update after Tammen's feedback:

If you are in a DOS session and you want to launch another script "in the background", a simple /b (as detailed in the same aforementioned question) can be enough:

You can use start /b second.bat to launch a second batch file asynchronously from your first that shares your first one's window.


Include the phrase:

@echo off

right at the top of your bat script.


I think this is the easiest and shortest solution to running a batch file without opening the DOS window, it can be very distracting when you want to schedule a set of commands to run periodically, so the DOS window keeps popping up, here is your solution. Use a VBS Script to call the batch file ...

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell" ) 
WshShell.Run chr(34) & "C:\Batch Files\ mycommands.bat" & Chr(34), 0 
Set WshShell = Nothing 

Copy the lines above to an editor and save the file with .VBS extension. Edit the .BAT file name and path accordingly.