Where is Control Panel?

You can use Control Panel to change settings for Windows. These settings control nearly everything about how Windows looks and works, and you can use them to set up Windows so that it’s just right for you.

Open Control Panel

In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel, and then select Control Panel.

For Windows 8.1 / Windows RT 8.1

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Search (or if you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search), enter Control Panel in the search box, and then tap or click Control Panel.

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Find Control Panel items

When you’re in Control Panel:

Use search. To find a setting you’re interested in or a task you want to perform, type a word or phrase in the search box. For example, type «sound» to find specific settings for your sound card, system sounds, and the volume icon on the taskbar.

Browse. You can explore Control Panel by selecting different categories (for example, System and Security, Programs, or Ease of Access), and viewing common tasks listed under each category. Or, under View by, click either Large icons or Small icons to view a list of all Control Panel items.

If you browse Control Panel by icons, you can quickly find an item in the list by typing the first letter of the item’s name. For example, to find Keyboard, type K, and the first Control Panel item beginning with the letter K—in this case, Keyboard—is selected in the list.

You can also use the arrow keys (Up Arrow, Down Arrow, Left Arrow, and Right Arrow) to scroll through the list of icons in Control Panel.

If you can’t find a setting in Control Panel, select the Start button > Settings . Many Control Panel features are now available in Settings .

Run command for Control panel

Control panel shows links to various configuration utilities, which are handy for administrators for computer maintenance. Run command to open control panel is ‘control’.

Open control panel from Run

You can follow the below steps to open control panel from Run window.

1. Open Run window from Start menu. Alternatively, you can press the shortcut key combinations [Windows]+[R]
2. Type in control and press enter.

This works on all Windows editions – Windows 7, Windows 7 and Server 2008, Server 2012 editions.

Run Control panel as administrator

We can use runas command to launch any program with a different user credentials. If you need to run control panel with administrator privileges, use the below command. We can run this either from Run window or from command prompt. In both the cases you would be prompted for administrator’s password.

It opens up control panel window after printing the above message.

Finally! Been looking for this for a month or so.
Best reference site ever I must say.

I like this site too.

I just checked that running ‘control panel’ also opens it up the same way. Though just running ‘control’ is fast and simple to remember.

but what if I want to DIRECTLY open something in the Control Panel,
such as Internet Options.
Do I type
control panelinternet options
doesn’t seem to do what I want.
BACK TO THE RESEARCH LAB…

‘inetcpl.cpl’ does this.

As the admin said inetcpl.cpl will do that.
Others that could be useful are
ncpa.cpl (Network connections)
appwiz.cpl (add/remove programs)
main.cpl (Mouse Properties)
sysdm.cpl (System Properties)
mmsys.cpl (Sound Properties)
timedate.cpl (Time/date)
powercfg.cpl (Power settings)
desk.cpl (display properties / resolution)
firewall.cpl (Firewall settings)
wscui.cpl (Action center)

Sorry, this command doesn’t works anymore….when it asks for password of administrator; it does not types anything…..it shows:

RUNAS ERROR: Unable to run – cmd
1327: Logon failure: user account restriction. Possible reasons are blank passwords not allowed, logon hour restrictions, or a policy restriction has been enforced.

Kshitij,
Looks like there could be a policy applied by admin of the system to not allow users run this command. Also it does not show anything when you type in the password, not even ‘*’s and the cursor stays at the same position.

how to open control panel and use it from control prompt by using dos commands please tell me

very well, working Perfect. just want to add if you are under domain then you can write like that:

normel PC
runas /user:administrator control
Domain PC
runas /user:domainnameshahid control

not working on windows 10 pro

I have one question. I want to run as administrator with full control of it desktop. what is command line ?

Thank for your sharing.

This command was over ridden by our domain group policy, which prevents users from seeing all applets. I’m a network admin. How can I get around the group policy? Thanks

I don’t think it would be possible to override the group policy. If it was restricting you to open control panel, I understand you would not be able to see those links to different tools/consoles. However as you probably know, you can open the application you need with direct run command.

How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 – Instant Ways

When you need to change any setting you open Control Panel on Windows 10. You can access it through command line, shortcut key and Start Menu, Windows Explorer, Power user menu, Personalize menu. Using many of these ways you could do it instantly. Here we will discuss How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 each way one by one.

Control Panel is a platform on the Windows Operating System that contains the collection of applets to customize settings. Alias you can say it a central place from where you customize settings like Credentials, PC Screen, Internet and Network, Keyboard, Language Fonts, look, Power, Sound, and a lot more on your Windows PC. So the Control panel is an important tool for us, but here we are discussing How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10.

How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10

From Taskbar Search

• Click on Search on Windows 10 Taskbar.

• Write Control Panel in the search box and click on the result at the top.

Open Control Panel from Run

Windows 10 Control Panel Command line:

• Hit WIndows+R at the same time.
• Write control panel in the box (You can also type only control).
• Press OK.

Open Control Panel on Windows 10 From Command prompt

• Launch run box by hitting Window+R altogether.
• Type cmd in the run box.

• Hit Enter.
• Copy the command from below and paste it in command prompt.

Via Desktop Toolbar to the Taskbar

• Locate and perform a right-click on a vacant spot on the taskbar and head to the top choice, Toolbars and put the cursor over it.

• Few additional options will appear, click onDesktop.

• Now, the Desktop toolbar will appear on the taskbar, click on its arrow. Then, click Control Panel and allow its shortcut items menu pop-up.

Through Power User Menu

At first, we want to clear that Power user menu is the menu that opens after right-click on Start icon on the Windows 10 Taskbar. For the solution of how to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 – Instant Ways through the power user menu:

• Right-click on Start icon at the lowest left side on the desktop screen.
• Click on Control Panel.

Update – The recent build has removed Control Panel from Power User Menu. However, a third-party tool is out there which can eventually show up Control Panel on the Power User Menu. If you wish to do so, the article – Display Control Panel on Power User Menu Instead Settings Windows 10 will guide you for the same.

Manually Through Start Menu

• Unwind Start Menu by hitting on Windows icon the taskbar at the lowermost right corner of your screen.

• Scroll down till W letter comes to view. Under W letter, press Windows system. On the second position from upward, you get Control panel.

• If you open Control panel repeatedly you view it on Most used segment whenever you launch the start menu.

Pin Control Panel to Start

• Type Control Panel in the Cortana search field.
• From the arrived search result, right click and choose Pin to Start option.

Pin Control Panel to Taskbar

• Alternatively, you can pin it to the taskbar. Type the phrase Control Panel on Cortana.
• You can see the control Panel (Desktop app) as an end result. Right-click on it and pick up Pin to taskbar.

• Launch Control Panel.
• Right-click the icon on the taskbar of Windows 10.
• The jump list will be visible with various choices, click on the that reads as Pin to taskbar.

Through Shell Command

• Press Win+R keys jointly.
• Copy the underneath particular Shell Command and paste in the space given after you open the run box.

• Tap Enter.

Through Task Manager

This is an absolutely lately discovered possible method. Emulate the underneath addressed steps to unwrap Control Panel via task manager in Windows 10.

• Administer a right click where you witness an unfilled section on the taskbar and go along with Task manager choice which is at the 3rd position from the bottom.

• Next, on the menu bar, click File followed by a click on the first choice Run new task.

• In the new dialog box, write out control.exe and click OK.

Using Shortcut Path

To access Control panel using the default shortcut path by means of its execution in the Run dialog box is a pretty straightforward job.

• Launch Run box via a strike on the combo of Win including R.
• Copy the below-written default shortcut path, paste here and press Enter –

Open Control Panel on Windows 10 From Settings

Click Win+I and once the Settings app opens, type Control panel. Press Control Panel or its icon in the search result drop-down on Settings application.

Final Words

In this way, the control panel is accessible from pretty near everywhere on your Windows 10 PC. But in this article, we have inscribed those ways which are extra suitable and help you to open very easily and instantly.

Update –

The Quickest Way to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 (using keyboard only) –

Press Windows logo key, type cp, and then hit Enter.

How to Open Control Panel

Use Control Panel to access most of your Windows computer’s settings

The Control Panel in Windows is a collection of applets, sort of like tiny programs, that can be used to configure various aspects of the operating system.

For example, one applet in Control Panel lets you configure the mouse pointer size (among other things), while another allows you to adjust all the sound-related settings.

Other applets can be used to change network settings, set up storage space, manage display settings, and much more. You can see what they all do in our List of Control Panel Applets.

So, before you can make any of these changes to Windows, you’ll need to open the Control Panel. Fortunately, it’s super easy to do—at least in most versions of Windows.

Surprisingly, how you open Control Panel differs quite a bit between Windows versions. Below are steps for Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. See What Version of Windows Do I Have? if you’re not sure.

Time Required: Opening Control Panel will probably only take a few seconds in most versions of Windows. It’ll take a lot less time once you know where it’s at.

Open Control Panel in Windows 10

Select the Start button.

Type Control Panel.

Not using a keyboard? Scroll to the bottom of the list of Start options and open the Windows System folder.

Select Control Panel from the list.

On most Windows 10 PCs, the Control Panel opens in the Category view, which sorts the applets into [presumably] logical categories. If you like, you can change the View by option to Large icons or Small icons to show all the applets individually.

Open Control Panel in Windows 8 or 8.1

Unfortunately, Microsoft made it especially difficult to access Control Panel in Windows 8. They made it a little easier in Windows 8.1, but it’s still far too complicated.

While on the Start screen, swipe up to switch to the Apps screen. With a mouse, select the downward-facing arrow icon to bring up the same screen.

Prior to the Windows 8.1 update, the Apps screen is accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, or you can right-click anywhere and choose All apps.

If you’re using a keyboard, the WIN+X shortcut brings up the Power User Menu, which has a link to the Control Panel. In Windows 8.1, you can also right-click on the Start button to bring up this handy quick-access menu.

On the Apps screen, swipe or scroll to the right and find the Windows System category.

Select Control Panel.

Windows 8 will switch to the Desktop and open the Control Panel.

Like in most versions of Windows, the Category view is the default view for Control Panel in Windows 8, but we recommend changing it to the arguably easier to manage Small icons or Large icons view. Do that by selecting Category from the menu at the top of Control Panel, and then choosing an icon view.

Open Control Panel in Windows 7, Vista, or XP

Open the Start menu.

Select Control Panel from the list in the right margin.

Windows 7 or Vista: If you don’t see Control Panel listed, the link may have been disabled as part of a Start menu customization. Instead, type control in the search box at the bottom of the Start menu and then choose Control Panel when it appears in the list above.

Windows XP: If you don’t see a Control Panel option, your Start menu may be set to «classic» or the link may have been disabled as part of a customization. Try Start > Settings > Control Panel, or execute control from the Run box.

In all three versions of Windows, a grouped view is shown by default but the un-grouped view exposes all the individual applets, making them easier to find and use.

Other Ways to Open Control Panel Applets

As we mentioned a few times above, the control command will start Control Panel from any command line interface in Windows, including Command Prompt.

Additionally, each individual Control Panel applet can be opened via Command Prompt, which is really helpful if you’re building a script or need quick access to an applet. See Command Line Commands for Control Panel Applets for a complete list.

Another way to access Control Panel applets is by enabling GodMode in Windows, which is a special folder that contains applets from Control Panel. It’s not Control Panel itself but instead an easy access folder of the tools found in the program.