Windows Linux Terminal & Shell Scripting Terminal

Windows `doskey /history` equivalent in Linux

Shows previously run commands. Linux keeps a much longer history than Windows.

Windows doskey /history

→

Linux equivalents

Debian/Ubuntu same command

history

Fedora same command

history

Arch same command

history

Overview

What this command does

Shows previously run commands. Linux keeps a much longer history than Windows.

Migration tip: Press Ctrl+R to search your command history interactively — type part of a past command and it appears. This is one of the most powerful terminal productivity shortcuts.

Practical tasks

Common use cases

View command history

Shows previously run commands. Linux keeps a much longer history than Windows.

history

Show all recent commands with numbers

history 20

Show last 20 commands

!42

Re-run command number 42 from history

Ready to run

Copyable Linux commands

Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.

history

history 20

history | grep apt

!42

Walkthrough

Examples with explanations

# Windows: doskey /history
history               # show all history
history 20           # last 20 commands
history | grep apt  # find past apt commands

# Re-run a command by number:
  42  sudo apt update
!42                   # runs command 42 again

# Best shortcut:
Ctrl + R              # then type to search history

Reference

Common options and variations

Command or option	Use
`history`	Show all recent commands with numbers
`history 20`	Show last 20 commands
`!42`	Re-run command number 42 from history
`!!`	Re-run the last command
`!string`	Re-run last command starting with 'string'
`Ctrl+R`	Interactive reverse history search

Distro differences

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

This command is the same on Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux when the relevant tool is installed.

Distribution	Package manager / base	Equivalent command	Difference to notice
Debian/Ubuntu	same command	`history`	Same command on this distribution.
Fedora	same command	`history`	Same command on this distribution.
Arch	same command	`history`	Same command on this distribution.

Keep learning

What this command does

Common use cases

View command history

history

history 20

!42

Copyable Linux commands

Examples with explanations

Common options and variations

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

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