Windows start command equivalent in Linux
Runs a command in the background.
start command
command &
command &
command &
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "start command" is used to start background process. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "command &". Runs a command in the background. This reference is grouped under Services & Processes → Processes.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows start command maps to command & for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux services and processes.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Start background process
Runs a command in the background.
command &
Start background process
command --help
Show command help when supported
man command
Open the manual page when installed
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
command &
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows equivalent: start command
command &Reference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
command & | Start background process |
command --help | Show command help when supported |
man command | Open the manual page when installed |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "command &" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | command & |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | command & |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | command & |
Same command on this distribution. |
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