How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command

Summary

This article describes how to run Control Panel tools in Windows by typing a command at a command prompt or in the Open box.

More Information

To run a Control Panel tool in Windows, type the appropriate command in the Open box or at a command prompt.

NOTE: If you want to run a command from a command prompt, you must do so from the Windows folder. Also, note that your computer may not have all of the tools listed in this article, as your Windows installation may not include all of these components.

Control panel tool Command
——————————————————————
Accessibility Options control access.cpl
Add New Hardware control sysdm.cpl add new hardware
Add/Remove Programs control appwiz.cpl
Date/Time Properties control timedate.cpl
Display Properties control desk.cpl
FindFast control findfast.cpl
Fonts Folder control fonts
Internet Properties control inetcpl.cpl
Joystick Properties control joy.cpl
Keyboard Properties control main.cpl keyboard
Microsoft Exchange control mlcfg32.cpl
(or Windows Messaging)
Microsoft Mail Post Office control wgpocpl.cpl
Modem Properties control modem.cpl
Mouse Properties control main.cpl
Multimedia Properties control mmsys.cpl
Network Properties control netcpl.cpl
NOTE: In Windows NT 4.0, Network
properties is Ncpa.cpl, not Netcpl.cpl
Password Properties control password.cpl
PC Card control main.cpl pc card (PCMCIA)
Power Management (Windows 95) control main.cpl power
Power Management (Windows 98) control powercfg.cpl
Printers Folder control printers
Regional Settings control intl.cpl
Scanners and Cameras control sticpl.cpl
Sound Properties control mmsys.cpl sounds
System Properties control sysdm.cpl
NOTE: The Scanners and Cameras applet (sticpl.cpl) cannot be run in Windows Millennium. It has been replaced by the Scanners and Cameras Folder, which is similar in function to folders like Printers and Dial-up Networking.

Windows substitutes the name of the tool you want to run for %1%. For example:

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 .

Where did they move the Control Panel System applet in Windows 10?

Most Windows 10 users must be aware that Microsoft intends to move settings from the Control Panel to Setting and then gradually phase it out. When you launched the Control Panel, the System applet looked like this.

But in Windows 10 version 20H2 and later, you will notice that when you click on System and Security > System, the above information window does not open.

Where did the Control Panel System applet go?

The Control Panel had been an integral part of Windows since the beginning and helped in tweaking and customizing the operating system.

When you click in the System link in the Control Panel now, the corresponding System page in Settings opens.

In the About section, all the information such as your PC’s protection and security; and device specifications such as device name, processor, product ID, system type, device ID, etc. will be mentioned. You will also see information regarding Windows specifications such as the edition, version, OS build, and the date installed on.

How to open System Control Panel applet in Windows 10 20H2

If you wish the see the classic System applet in the Control Panel of Windows 10 20H2 and later, open the Run box, type the following, and hit Enter:

The Settings app is more touch-friendly as it has a proper layout that helps avoid accidental taps. Having two centers for customizing the computer and the operating system will mean more code and hence more memory usage. This is exactly opposite to the Windows 10 motto that wants the latest operating system to run smoothly even on low resource computers, tablets, etc.

Apart from this, there is another trick you can use to open System Properties in Windows 10 now.

Date: October 24, 2020 Tags: Control Panel

Windows 10 now hides the SYSTEM control panel, how to access it

Lawrence Abrams

With the release of Windows 10 20H2, Microsoft is now preventing access to the venerable SYSTEM control panel and is instead redirecting users to the newly updated ‘About’ settings page.

The SYSTEM control panel was first introduced in Windows NT 3.51 and Windows 95 and provides information about the installed version of Windows, the bit-type of the operating system, the computer name, workgroup, CPU, and memory.

As the control panel provides a lot of information about a computer, it is commonly used when troubleshooting a Windows PC or determining a computer’s basic information.

In July, BleepingComputer reported that Microsoft had updated their ‘About’ settings page to include most, but not all, of the information found in the SYSTEM page. At the time, Microsoft was also testing a hidden feature that would redirect a user to the About page when opening the SYSTEM control panel.

With Windows 10 20H2, Microsoft drove another nail into the control panel’s coffin and is now preventing users from accessing the SYSTEM control panel. Now, when a user tries to open it, they are brought to the About page instead.

With the testing of a modern Disk Management tool, refresh rate option, and a test that redirects the ‘Program and Features’ control panel to the ‘Apps & Features’ settings, we can see Microsoft’s gradual killing off of the Control Panel.

Ultimately, this is good because Windows 10 is a confusing mess of settings being located in different places. By organizing them under the Settings feature, it will make it easier to find a particular setting.

The good news for those who routinely use the SYSTEM control panel is that there is still a way to access it, which we describe below.

How to access SYSTEM in Windows 10 20H2

While Microsoft is redirecting the SYSTEM control panel, there is a way to access it via a specially crafted Windows shortcut.

To create a shortcut that opens the SYSTEM control panel, please follow these steps:

1. Minimize all open applications and folders so that you see the Windows Desktop.
2. Right-click on the Desktop and select New >Shortcut, as shown below.

A video illustrating how to make this shortcut in Windows 10 20H2 can be seen below.

This SYSTEM shortcut can also be launched directly from the Start Menu by searching for ‘SYSTEM’ and selecting the icon that appears under the Apps section.

In the current Windows 10 Insider preview builds (tested on Windows 10 20231), all other ways to access the SYSTEM control panel redirect to the new About page.

Where is the Control Panel in Windows 10? 15 ways to open it

Where is the Control Panel in Windows 10? How do you open the Control Panel? How many ways are there to open it? To answer these questions, we did a bit of testing and experimentation. We had to do that because, in Windows 10, the Control Panel is hidden compared to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. We managed to compile a list of fifteen different ways to open the Control Panel. Let’s see all of them, starting with the obvious ones and ending with the geekier methods:

NOTE: We wrote this tutorial using Windows 10 with May 2020 Update. If you are using an older version of Windows 10, some things might look different or might not be working as expected. Check your Windows 10 build and, if necessary, get the latest Windows 10 update available.

1. Open Control Panel in Windows 10 using search

One of the fastest ways to start anything in Windows is to use the search feature. In Windows 10, click or tap on the search box from your taskbar or press the Windows key on your keyboard. Then type “control” and click or tap the “Control Panel” search result or select it and press Open on the right pane.

An alternative yet lengthier way of using search to open the Control Panel in Windows 10 involves the use of the Settings app. Open Settings, then type “control panel” in its search field, and click or tap on the Control Panel in the list of results.

2. Use the Control Panel shortcut from Windows 10’s Start Menu

A slightly slower, but straightforward way of opening the Control Panel in Windows 10 is from the Start Menu. Click or tap on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard, and, in the Start Menu, scroll down to the Windows System folder. There you’re going to find a Control Panel shortcut: click or tap on it, and the Control Panel is launched.

3. Pin a Control Panel shortcut to your taskbar or Start Menu

To be able to access the Control Panel quickly, you might want to pin a shortcut for it, in a place where you get to see it without effort. Some places where you should consider pinning it are the taskbar or the Start Menu.

To do that in Windows 10, search for the Control Panel as we’ve shown you in the first method from this tutorial, or navigate to the Control Panel shortcut from the Start Menu apps list. Either way, when you find the Control Panel shortcut, right-click or press and hold on it, and then click or tap on “Pin to taskbar” or “Pin to Start,” depending on what you prefer.

4. Add a Control Panel desktop icon

You can also add a Control Panel icon on your desktop. You can find out how to do that in this guide: How to add or remove desktop icons (shortcuts) in Windows 10. If you don’t have time to read that tutorial, know that, basically, you have to open the Settings app, go to Personalization, Themes, and then click or tap on “Desktop icon settings.” Finally, select the Control Panel desktop icon and press OK.

5. Manually create a Control Panel shortcut wherever you want

In a similar fashion, you can also simply create a shortcut that opens the Control Panel and save it anywhere you want. It can be on your desktop, as well as in a folder. We’ve detailed the steps for creating a shortcut in this tutorial – the basic steps are: right-click or press and hold on an empty space on your desktop or in a folder, go to New in the contextual menu, and select Shortcut. Then, in the Create Shortcut wizard, point your new shortcut to “%windir%System32control.exe”, give it a name (Control Panel, for instance), and save it.

6. Open Control Panel using the shortcut from our collection

If you’d rather get an already-made Control Panel shortcut, know that we’ve assembled one of the most extensive collections of shortcuts for Windows. Download and extract it, and, inside, find the shortcut for the Control Panel in the “Windows 10 -> Administration Tools” subfolder.

7. Open Control Panel using File Explorer’s address bar

An ingenious way to start the Control Panel is to use the File Explorer. Open File Explorer and click or tap on the first caret button from the folder path bar at the top.

In the menu that shows up, select Control Panel to open it.

The Control Panel is now open, and you can use it as required.

8. How to open Control Panel by making File Explorer Show all folders

File Explorer offers yet another easy method to open the Control Panel in Windows 10, using its “Show all folders” option. Open File Explorer’s Folder Options window, select the View tab, enable “Show all folders” at the end of the “Advanced settings” list and click or tap on OK.

As soon as you do that, File Explorer shows an entry point for Control Panel in the navigation area. Click or tap on it, and the Control Panel opens.

9. Open Control Panel from the Desktop taskbar toolbar

This method is less intuitive, but the result might please many users. Go to the Desktop and right-click or press and hold on an empty space on the taskbar. Then, go to Toolbars and select Desktop.

This adds a Desktop toolbar to the right side of the taskbar. Click or tap on it and then double-click on the Control Panel to open it.

What is nice about this toolbar is that, if you just hover the mouse cursor on it, it also displays the main sections and shortcuts from the Control Panel. It can be a productive tool for many users.

10. Open Control Panel by running the control.exe file

The executable file for the Control Panel is control.exe. You can find it in the Windows folder in the System32 subfolder. Double-click or tap on it, and Control Panel is launched immediately.

11. How to open Control Panel from the Run window

Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run window. Then, type “control” and hit Enter on your keyboard, or press OK.

12. Open Control Panel from Command Prompt or PowerShell

If you like Command Prompt or PowerShell, you should know that the command for starting the Control Panel is control. 🙂 Type control in a Command Prompt or PowerShell window, and then press the Enter key on your keyboard. It immediately launches the Control Panel.

13. How to open Control Panel in Windows 10 from the Task Manager

One other way to open the Control Panel is to use the Task Manager. Launch Task Manager (a quick way to do it is to press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard). If the Task Manager opens up in its compact mode, click or tap on “More details.” Then, open its File menu and click or tap on “Run new task.”

In the “Create new task” window, type control and press Enter or OK.

14. Open Control Panel using the WinX menu

This method used to work in the first versions of Windows 10, but this changed since Windows 10 Creators Update. Before that, the WinX menu included a Control Panel shortcut by default. Although it’s not the case anymore, you can get it back regardless of your Windows 10 version by following the steps from this tutorial: Add the Control Panel and the Command Prompt to the WinX menu in Windows 10.

15. Use Cortana

In the end, here’s a method to open the Control Panel for the more talkative users out there: speak with Cortana. On the right side of the search box from your taskbar, click or tap on the Cortana icon to make her listen. Alternatively, you can also use your voice to say “Hey Cortana,” if you enabled this feature in Windows 10. Then, say “Control Panel.”

You might be tempted to use other similar commands, such as “Open Control Panel” or “Start Control Panel.” In our tests, they do not work as expected, meaning that they offer different results but never actually open the Control Panel. The only one that works is the one we have mentioned earlier: plain and simple “Control Panel.”

Which is your favorite way of opening the Control Panel in Windows 10?

These are all the methods we know of starting the Control Panel in Windows 10. Some of them are easy, while others are not as straightforward. We hope that you found this list helpful and, if you know other methods, do not hesitate to share them in the comments section below.