How to enable telnet for troubleshooting when CMD reports: "'telnet' is not recognized as an internal or external command"

Description

Support may request that telnet be used from a client PC to troubleshoot a network connection. Some Windows installations may disable telnet client by default, causing the windows command prompt to indicate that it is not installed. Usually telnet can be re-enabled in Windows without installing additional software

Resolution

1. From the Windows Start Menu, select "Control Panel"
2. Open the "Turn Windows features on or off" dialogue:
   1. If using the 'Classic View'/icons select "Programs and Features"
   2. If using the Category View' select "Programs" and under "Programs and Features" select "Turn Windows Features on or off"
3. On the left navigation panel, select "Turn Windows features on or off"
4. Check the box next to "Telnet Client" and click OK.

Windows' cmd  command prompt should now recognize telnet as an installed command.

Additional Information

Your campus may prohibit you from using telnet.  Check with your I.T. Department.

See also: Using telnet as a tool for troubleshooting connection problems on hosted Voyager servers

• Article last edited: 05-19-2016