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8 ways to open Control Panel in Windows 10 or Windows 11
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Published onFebruary 14, 2022
published onFebruary 14, 2022
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There are many ways to open Windows Control Panel. Still the central hub of Windows, the Control Panel can help you manage almost all aspects of your operating system.
Be it keyword or mouse settings, password and users records, or fiddling with the sound and other hardware settings, Control Panel has access to all. Even though Microsoft is taking steps to replace Control Panel with Windows Settings, you can still control your PC from the Control Panel, and for some settings it’s the only place to go.
It’s therefore not a surprise that there are so many ways one can use to Open the Control Panel in Windows. So let’s first get started with some of the more straightforward ways at our disposal.
1. Start Menu search bar
TheStart menusearch bar is the place that lets you access almost all of your apps or folders from a single place. Not surprisingly, you can also use it to open Control Panel in your Windows. Here’s how:
Go to theStart menusearch bar, type in ‘control panel’ in the search box, and select the Best match. The Control Panel will be opened.
Related:How to customize your Windows 11 Start Menu in the best way
2. File Explorer
You can also open the Control Panel from theFile Explorer. The File Explorer, previously also called the Windows Explorer, is a file management application that works as a graphical user interface, which in turn helps you edit, manage data and other file contents.
Toopen the File Explorer, select the folder icon from the taskbar below.
In the File Explorer, selectDesktopand from there, click onControl Panel.
3. Run dialog box
The Run dialog box is a handy utility to help you access all kinds of files on your Windows computer. You can also launch the Control Panel with it. To get started, go to theStart menu, type in ‘run’ and select the Best match. Or alternatively, pressWindows key +R.
In the Run dialog box, type ‘control panel,’ and hitEnter. The Windows Control Panel will be launched.
4. Command prompt
You can alsouse the Windows Command promptto open the Windows Control Panel. Simply go to theWindows key + X. Or Alternatively, go to theStart menusearch bar, type in ‘cmd,’ and hitEnter.
When the Command prompt gets launched, type in the following command and hitEnter:
The Control Panel will be launched in your Windows 10 or 11.
5. Start menu shortcut
If you’ve to open the Control Panel almost every day, then there’s a sneaky way to access it. How? You can simply pin the Control Panel shortcut to the Start menu so that you can launch anytime from there. Here’s how:
Click on theStart button, and type in ‘control panel’. From there,right-clickon the Control Panel and selectPin to Start.
Now, whenever you want to open the Control Panel, simply click on theWindows Startbutton, and you’ll find theControl Panelicon in thePinnedsection.
6. Task Manager
Infamous as a rescuer for any and all hanged Windows processes, theTask Manageris a handy application in the Windows operating system; just any gamer.
But it has many other uses as well. One such use is its feature to launch different Windows apps. Here’s how:
To launch the Task Manager, go to the Windows power menu.Right-clickon theWindows Startbutton, and select theTask Manager. In the Task Manager, click onFile > Run new task.
In the new window, type in ‘control panel’ and hitEnter. The Task Manager will be opened.
7. Desktop shortcut
Desktop shortcuts are a handy way to launch different Windows apps. They are also super convenient, especially if you’ve to use the specified app again and again. Interestingly, you can also open theControl Panelwith a simple shortcut. Here’s how:
Right-clickanywhere in the desktop and selectNew > Shortcut. In the new dialog box that pops ups, type in ‘control panel’ in theBrowse…box, and hitEnter. Then give a relevant name to the screenshot (we’ve named it Control Panel), and selectFinish.
8. File Explorer’s address bar
The File Explorer’s address bar is located in the top-left corner of the Windows operating system. Interestingly, you can also use this address bar to open the Control Panel in your Windows. Here’s how:
Click on the>option in front of the computer icon. As soon as you do that, you’ll get a drop-down list from where you can select the Control Panel. Click on that icon of Control Panel, the Control Panel menu will be opened.
Open Control Panel in Windows 10 or Windows 11
And these are all the different ways to open Control Panel in your Windows. We hope one of these methods helped you launch the Windows Control Panel without any hassles. Be sure to also check out our separate guides on how to openTask Manageras well asFile Explorer.
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
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